Geelong Cats players have been accused of ridiculing elderly people after they dressed up as pensioners for their Mad Monday celebrations, following their AFL grand final victory. The team, which fielded the oldest side in league history, arrived at Wharf Head in Geelong on a nursing home bus, complete with grey hair, makeup and walking frames.
The stunt was a response to critics who branded the Cats too old and slow to win the premiership. Senior players including Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins took part, with Dangerfield spending 90 minutes in hair and makeup to achieve the look. The club's social media team also posted a 'Geelong Retirement Home' image on Twitter after the win.
While many fans found the celebration humorous, others expressed outrage. A caller named Norm told 3AW radio: 'I don't see the funny side of belittling the elderly. I think it will taint Joel Selwood's accolades from Saturday.' Another listener, Diana, said she felt 'demoralised' by jokes about old age.
On Twitter, some users condemned the act, with one saying it 'reduced my wife to tears'. However, others defended the players, arguing they were satirising ageist commentary. One user wrote: 'These players were told they were too old to win and they are satirising the commentary around that.'
3AW host Dee Dee Dunleavy also disagreed with critics, stating: 'How can you be offended by someone in an old people's costume? They weren't saying old people are terrible. They were saying old people can win AFL grand finals.'
