IN a nice piece of symmetry, Geelong will bestow life memberships on good mates and Sunbury products Cam Guthrie and Mark Blicavs.
The pair will be honoured at the Cats’ Hall of Fame dinner next month, where former vice-president Bob Gartland will receive the R.J. Hickey Award for his services to the game.
Guthrie joined Geelong via the 2010 National Draft and has gone on to play 217 games after debuting in the opening round of the 2011 season.
He won the Carji Greeves Medal as club best-and-fairest in 2020, the same year he earned All-Australian selection.
“It’s really nice to be recognised for my input over the last 12 years of my career,” he said.
“I feel like I’ve dedicated a lot of myself to the Geelong Football Club, and it’s truly humbling to get some recognition back the other way.”
Geelong selected former Olympic hopeful Blicavs in the 2012 Rookie Draft after Geelong was alerted to his ability with a Sherrin by Guthrie’s dad Andrew.
He debuted in the opening round of 2013 – an Easter Monday clash with Hawthorn – and has played 215 matches.
Blicavs is a two-time winner of the Carji Greeves Medal – as a ruckman in 2015 and a defender in 2018.
“I was told that myself and Cam were receiving the life membership together around the same time; it’s pretty special,” he said.
“It’s pretty special for our families too. We obviously grew up together in Sunbury, and we have played all different sports together over that time.”
Gartland has had a strong hands-on involvement in the redevelopment of GMHBA Stadium over the past 20 years during his time on the Geelong board.
He’s also played a key role in preserving and honouring the 163-year history of the club.
Twitter: @tom_king79
