SA Footy

It's impossible to look at the Geelong / Ford relationship as anything but remarkable. Simply nothing like it in world sport.

Incredible commitment spanning 100 years.

https://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/854 ... ke-history

Ahead of the 2021 AFLW and AFL season, Ford Australia and the Geelong Football Club have announced the next chapter of what is believed to be the longest sporting sponsorship in the world, with a historic signing today that will take the partnership to 100 years by 2025.

Ford Australia President and CEO Andrew Birkic and Geelong Football Club CEO Brian Cook signed the contract at the GMHBA Stadium, securing the deal for a further five years.

First signed in 1925, Ford and the Cats are believed to have the longest-running partnership in sporting history. This milestone demonstrates the long-lasting bond between the two Victoria-based organisations, and Ford’s ongoing commitment to Geelong, with its global research and development hub in Norlane, Geelong, the Ford YouYangs Proving Ground, and strong roots embedded across the community.

“If there’s one thing footy and Ford have in common, it’s the dedication and passion of their fans right throughout our histories,” said Andrew Birkic, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company, Australia and New Zealand.

“To put it into historical terms, Ford first signed on when we were making Model T and we’re still here with the Club as our Australian team works on advanced technology and engineer’s vehicles of the future. We’ve gone through nine Geelong Premierships, 18 Grand Finals, and 52 finals series together,” Birkic adds.

Following the upheaval of 2020, which saw the relocation of the AFL competition season and Ford Australia transfer most its team to work from home, resilience and mateship is yet another theme the Cats and Ford have in common.

“There is a lot of uncertainty in the world, but one thing we can all count on is the ongoing successful partnership between the Geelong Football Club and Ford,” Geelong Football Club CEO Brian Cook said.

“As the club’s sole major sponsor, we are thankful for the support that Ford has given us over the past 95 years. We believe this is the most enduring partnership in sport, and we see this partnership surpassing the century,” says Cook.

A significant moment for Ford Australia, the milestone has made its way to Ford’s Michigan headquarters, with Executive Chairman Bill Ford sending his well wishes Down Under in a letter to the Club.

“Community and commitment are important values that guide us at Ford, and our 95-year partnership with the Geelong Football Club is testament to that commitment. Geelong has always been a very important place for Ford, with many of our 2,500 Australian designers, engineers and specialists calling it home, and our extensive proving ground and engineering facilities in the region.”

“I am thrilled to see what’s next with the Geelong Football Club and look forward to continuing to build on our strong partnership. Go Cats!”

Today’s announcement, held at the Cats’ home ground, GMHBA Stadium, saw the official commemorative signing of the contract to take the sponsorship through to 100 years.

Flanked by Geelong superstars Joel Selwood, Patrick Dangerfield, Meghan McDonald and Becky Webster, the signing was shared by Ford’s own showstoppers, the all-new Puma SUV and all-new Escape.

Ford’s long-standing commitment to the Geelong community is not just with its home club, but also the many retired and current employees from the region, many of whom are employed at Ford’s Research & Development Centre in Geelong and its Proving Ground in the YouYangs.

As part of Ford’s ongoing investment into Australian innovation and STEAM education, Ford Australia is also a close partner of Deakin University Waurn Ponds campus, funding in part the Ford Australia Women in STEAM Scholarship.

For more information on the Ford Australia and Geelong Football Club partnership, visit http://www.ford.com.au/about-ford/spons ... tball-club

Geelong continue to go ford.



I'll see myself out.

Lightning McQueen wrote:Geelong continue to go ford.



I'll see myself out.

Yeah - Model T Ford.

Corona Man wrote:

Lightning McQueen wrote:Geelong continue to go ford.



I'll see myself out.

Yeah - Model T Ford.

Looking forward to thrashing you plonkers again this year.

regards,

REB

I feel like a traitor with two Mazdas in the drive and a Toyota out the front.
Zoom zoom, go Roos.

The ex still has my last Ford if that counts.

Rik E Boy wrote:

Corona Man wrote:

Lightning McQueen wrote:Geelong continue to go ford.



I'll see myself out.

Yeah - Model T Ford.

Looking forward to thrashing you plonkers again this year.

regards,

REB

Possibly so.

I look forward to 2/3 years time when the average age on your list is 67.

Corona Man wrote:

Rik E Boy wrote:

Corona Man wrote:

Lightning McQueen wrote:Geelong continue to go ford.



I'll see myself out.

Yeah - Model T Ford.

Looking forward to thrashing you plonkers again this year.

regards,

REB

Possibly so.

I look forward to 2/3 years time when the average age on your list is 67.

Bewdy. I might get a game.

Good Banter REB.

I like it!

Some gold from REB, come out and play a few shots early, good stuff.

On a serious note to have a sponsor for that long in this day and age is incredible really.

Steve Hocking will be Geelong new CEO

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mighty_tiger_79 wrote:Steve Hocking will be Geelong new CEO

Hopefully he tries as hard to f*ck Geelong up as much as he has the game itself.

Beautiful can **** up Geelong as much as he has the game!

Ha ha ha. Keep the salt coming gentlemen. Good appointment by the Cats, he's had his eye on that job for awhile. Gone off to the AFL for four years and comes back to the club as an experienced administrator who has stepped outside of Cat Park to earn his fur. Is the game as bad as it was two years ago? I think not. Was the game a defence first sport before Hocking joined the AFL? It most certainly was. I think 6-6-6 and the stand rule is good. I reckon the MRO is a mess but again, that was problem that Hocking couldn't resolve, not one that he created.

Now for extra fun, could we please have Brad Scott come in and take over for all of the conspiracy nuffies out there....a little extra salt for your shitburger. Quality stuff.

regards,

REB

Booney wrote:

mighty_tiger_79 wrote:Steve Hocking will be Geelong new CEO

Hopefully he tries as hard to f*ck Geelong up as much as he has the game itself.

Ok, I'll play. Hocking was employed to do exactly what he did and he had all sorts of wonderful and wacky suggestions for the game. But you know who actually decides what gets implemented? That's right, the CEO. In the media today it came out that Hocking wanted to double size the goal square and Gill said no. As one eyed as I am, I don't agree with everything Hocking has ever said and done for the AFL but it's severely blinkered to suggest he's anything but an experienced football administrator. You'll be waiting in vain for Hocking to **** up Geelong.

regards,

REB

Rik E Boy wrote:

Booney wrote:

mighty_tiger_79 wrote:Steve Hocking will be Geelong new CEO

Hopefully he tries as hard to f*ck Geelong up as much as he has the game itself.

Ok, I'll play. Hocking was employed to do exactly what he did and he had all sorts of wonderful and wacky suggestions for the game. But you know who actually decides what gets implemented? That's right, the CEO. In the media today it came out that Hocking wanted to double size the goal square and Gill said no. As one eyed as I am, I don't agree with everything Hocking has ever said and done for the AFL but it's severely blinkered to suggest he's anything but an experienced football administrator. You'll be waiting in vain for Hocking to **** up Geelong.

regards,

REB

This is spot on. Hocking takes all the blame for everything, but no big decisions made to the way the game is played would not be done without Gil’s backing, you are kidding yourself if you don’t believe this!

Rik E Boy wrote:

Booney wrote:

mighty_tiger_79 wrote:Steve Hocking will be Geelong new CEO

Hopefully he tries as hard to f*ck Geelong up as much as he has the game itself.

Ok, I'll play. Hocking was employed to do exactly what he did and he had all sorts of wonderful and wacky suggestions for the game. But you know who actually decides what gets implemented? That's right, the CEO. In the media today it came out that Hocking wanted to double size the goal square and Gill said no. As one eyed as I am, I don't agree with everything Hocking has ever said and done for the AFL but it's severely blinkered to suggest he's anything but an experienced football administrator. You'll be waiting in vain for Hocking to **** up Geelong.

regards,

REB

Bahahahahaha and I get called the happy clapper!

Fair dinkum, the bloke has been a train wreck for the AFL and if you think the CEO doesn't delegate to people below him you're kidding yourself.

McLachlan would have a say in many things at AFL house but not all of them, anyone who knows the role of a CEO knows they don't micro manage, they can't, there's too much to do, they delegate to trusted people and nobody was more trusted by McLachlan than Hocking.

COVID, AFLPA, hubs and you think the biggest decision Gil made was the size of the goal square?

Let's not forget all of these were implemented under Hocking to increase scoring :

6-6-6
The standing on the mark rule
3rd man up

Year PPG
2017 89.5
2018 83.5
2019 80.4
2020* 72.9 adjusted
2021 80.7

As well as the introduction of the ARC ( score review ) and the holding the ball interpretation, or was that all Gil?

Booney wrote:

Rik E Boy wrote:

Booney wrote:

mighty_tiger_79 wrote:Steve Hocking will be Geelong new CEO

Hopefully he tries as hard to f*ck Geelong up as much as he has the game itself.

Ok, I'll play. Hocking was employed to do exactly what he did and he had all sorts of wonderful and wacky suggestions for the game. But you know who actually decides what gets implemented? That's right, the CEO. In the media today it came out that Hocking wanted to double size the goal square and Gill said no. As one eyed as I am, I don't agree with everything Hocking has ever said and done for the AFL but it's severely blinkered to suggest he's anything but an experienced football administrator. You'll be waiting in vain for Hocking to **** up Geelong.

regards,

REB

Bahahahahaha and I get called the happy clapper!

Fair dinkum, the bloke has been a train wreck for the AFL and if you think the CEO doesn't delegate to people below him you're kidding yourself.

McLachlan would have a say in many things at AFL house but not all of them, anyone who knows the role of a CEO knows they don't micro manage, they can't, there's too much to do, they delegate to trusted people and nobody was more trusted by McLachlan than Hocking.

COVID, AFLPA, hubs and you think the biggest decision Gil made was the size of the goal square?

Let's not forget all of these were implemented under Hocking to increase scoring :

6-6-6
The standing on the mark rule
3rd man up

Year PPG
2017 89.5
2018 83.5
2019 80.4
2020* 72.9 adjusted
2021 80.7

As well as the introduction of the ARC ( score review ) and the holding the ball interpretation, or was that all Gil?

Don't worry mate, no matter what, you're still the original, the most consistent and the best happy clapper

If supporting my team through thick and thin is worthy of ridicule I wear the badge with honour.

Booney wrote:If supporting my team through thick and thin is worthy of ridicule I wear the badge with honour.

Me too. I think Hocking will do a good job.

regards,

REB

Selwood signs on for another year.
Will retire after we go back to back

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