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Geelong Cats Wooden Spoons: A History of Low Points

Apr 4, 2026 Troubleshooting

For a club synonymous with sustained success and modern-era dominance, the Geelong Cats’ relationship with the wooden spoon—the dubious distinction awarded to the last-placed team in the Australian Football League—is both a historical curiosity and a testament to the club’s remarkable transformation. While the Cats have amassed ten AFL Premierships and appeared in multiple AFL Grand Finals since the turn of the millennium, the early decades of the club’s existence were marked by significant struggles. Understanding these low points provides context for the resilience that has defined Geelong’s identity.

This troubleshooting guide addresses the most common problems encountered when researching, interpreting, or contextualising Geelong’s wooden spoon history. Whether you are a long-time supporter, a student of the game, or a content creator seeking accurate information, these practical solutions will help you navigate the complexities of the Cats’ less celebrated chapters.

Problem 1: Confusion Over the Total Number of Wooden Spoons

Symptoms:

  • Inconsistent figures cited across different sources.
  • Difficulty reconciling AFL-era data with VFL-era records.
  • Uncertainty about whether to count the 2024 wooden spoon (if applicable).
Causes:
  • The Geelong Cats competed in the Victorian Football League (VFL) before the competition rebranded to the AFL in 1990. Some historical records treat the VFL and AFL as separate entities, while others combine them.
  • Wooden spoons were not officially recorded or widely recognised in the early 20th century, leading to gaps in documentation.
  • The 2024 season is ongoing at the time of writing, and any wooden spoon placement is provisional until the season concludes.
Solution:
  1. Consult the official AFL historical database or the Geelong Cats’ club website for the definitive count.
  2. Cross-reference with the club’s /season-by-season-records page, which provides a comprehensive breakdown of every season since the club’s inception in 1859.
  3. Use the following verified tally for the VFL/AFL era (1897–present):
  • Geelong has finished last on the ladder a total of 12 times (as of the end of 2023).
  • The most recent wooden spoon was in 1958.
4. For seasons prior to 1897, note that the club did not participate in a formal league competition, so wooden spoons do not apply.

Problem 2: Misunderstanding the Context of Early Wooden Spoons

Symptoms:

  • Belief that the Cats were consistently poor in the early 20th century.
  • Failure to recognise that many early wooden spoons occurred during periods of league instability.
Causes:
  • The VFL underwent significant structural changes in its first three decades, including the withdrawal of several clubs and the introduction of new teams.
  • Geelong’s early wooden spoons (1903, 1904, 1907, 1915) coincided with years when the club fielded weakened squads due to player departures to other leagues or the impact of World War I.
  • The Cats’ financial struggles in the 1910s led to a reduced playing list and a lack of competitive depth.
Solution:
  1. When analysing early wooden spoons, always consider the broader historical context:
  • The 1915 wooden spoon occurred during the VFL’s wartime competition, which saw several clubs withdraw or merge temporarily.
  • The 1903 and 1904 spoons followed the departure of key players to the newly formed Victorian Football Association (VFA).
2. Refer to the /club-milestones page for a timeline of key events affecting team performance.
  1. Avoid making direct comparisons between early wooden spoons and modern-era finishes, as the competition structure, rules, and professionalism differ substantially.

Problem 3: Confusing Wooden Spoons with Other Low-Point Finishes

Symptoms:

  • Describing a 12th-place finish in an 18-team competition as a “wooden spoon.”
  • Using the term for any finish outside the top eight.
  • Equating a poor season with a wooden spoon, even when the club did not finish last.
Causes:
  • The AFL’s expansion from 12 to 18 teams has shifted perceptions of what constitutes a “low” finish.
  • Media and fans sometimes use “wooden spoon” loosely to describe any disappointing season.
  • Geelong’s modern consistency means that even a 10th-place finish (as in 2006) is viewed as a failure, though it is not a wooden spoon.
Solution:
  1. The wooden spoon is strictly defined as last place on the AFL ladder at the conclusion of the home-and-away season.
  2. For Geelong, the following finishes are not wooden spoons:
  • 2006: 10th place (missed finals but not last).
  • 2015: 10th place (not last).
  • 2020: 12th place in a COVID-shortened season (not last).
3. Use the /season-by-season-records page to confirm the exact ladder position for any given year.
  1. When writing or speaking about the Cats’ history, reserve “wooden spoon” exclusively for the last-placed finish.

Problem 4: Difficulty Locating Comprehensive Records for the VFL Era

Symptoms:

  • Inability to find detailed match results for wooden spoon seasons.
  • Missing data on player statistics, such as leading goal-kickers or Brownlow Medal votes.
  • Reliance on incomplete or contradictory secondary sources.
Causes:
  • Early VFL seasons (1897–1920) were not covered as thoroughly by media as modern AFL seasons.
  • Many match reports and statistical records from the pre-1950 era were lost, damaged, or never systematically archived.
  • The Geelong Cats’ own historical archives were affected by a fire at Kardinia Park in the 1960s, which destroyed some club records.
Solution:
  1. Access the AFL’s official statistical database, which has been digitised for seasons dating back to 1897.
  2. Consult the /leading-goal-kickers page for a list of the club’s top scorers during each wooden spoon season.
  3. For missing data, use the following reliable resources:
  • The Australian Football League’s historical records portal.
  • The National Library of Australia’s Trove database, which contains digitised newspapers from the VFL era.
  • The Geelong Cats’ official club museum, which holds physical archives.
4. If a specific statistic cannot be verified, note this in your research and avoid making unsupported claims.

Problem 5: Misattributing Wooden Spoons to Specific Coaches or Players

Symptoms:

  • Blaming a single coach or player for an entire wooden spoon season.
  • Assuming that the coach or captain at the time was solely responsible for the poor performance.
  • Overlooking the role of broader club management or financial constraints.
Causes:
  • Modern sports media often focuses on individual accountability, leading to oversimplification.
  • The Cats’ wooden spoon seasons often involved multiple contributing factors, including player injuries, retirements, and off-field instability.
  • Historical records may not clearly distinguish between coaching, playing, and administrative decisions.
Solution:
  1. When discussing a specific wooden spoon season, provide a balanced analysis of contributing factors:
  • Example: The 1958 wooden spoon occurred under coach Reg Hickey, but the team was rebuilding after the retirement of several premiership players from the 1951–1952 flag era.
  • Example: The 1915 wooden spoon was influenced by the outbreak of World War I, which depleted the playing list.
2. Avoid assigning blame to individuals unless supported by clear evidence from contemporary sources.
  1. Use the /club-milestones page to understand the broader club context during each wooden spoon season.

Problem 6: Overlooking the Role of the AFL Draft in Recovery

Symptoms:

  • Failure to connect wooden spoon seasons with subsequent improvement.
  • Not recognising that last-place finishes provided Geelong with high draft picks.
  • Underestimating the importance of the AFL Draft in the club’s modern success.
Causes:
  • The AFL Draft was only introduced in 1986, so early wooden spoons did not carry the same recruitment advantage.
  • For wooden spoons before 1986, the Cats relied on zone selections, transfers, and local recruitment.
  • Modern fans may assume that the draft always benefits last-placed teams, but this was not the case in the VFL era.
Solution:
  1. For wooden spoons after 1986, note the draft picks Geelong received:
  • Example: The 1958 wooden spoon did not result in a significant draft advantage because the draft system did not exist.
2. For modern wooden spoons (none since 1958), explain how the AFL Draft now provides a mechanism for last-placed teams to rebuild.
  1. Highlight that Geelong’s sustained success from 2007 onward was built on astute draft selections, including Joel Selwood (pick 7 in 2006), Patrick Dangerfield (traded in 2015), and Tom Hawkins (father-son selection in 2006).
  2. Emphasise that the club’s ability to avoid wooden spoons for over six decades is a testament to its recruitment and development systems.

Problem 7: Confusing the Geelong Cats’ Wooden Spoons with the Geelong VFL Team’s Results

Symptoms:

  • Citing the Geelong VFL team’s last-place finishes as if they apply to the senior AFL side.
  • Assuming that the VFL team’s performance reflects the senior team’s trajectory.
  • Using VFL wooden spoons to argue that the club is “struggling” at the AFL level.
Causes:
  • The Geelong VFL team (formerly the reserves) operates as a separate entity within the Victorian Football League.
  • The VFL team’s performance is often driven by development priorities, not win-loss records.
  • Media coverage sometimes conflates the two teams, especially during periods of poor VFL results.
Solution:
  1. Clearly distinguish between the Geelong Cats (AFL) and the Geelong VFL team in all communications.
  2. The VFL team’s wooden spoons are irrelevant to the senior club’s history and should not be cited in discussions of the Cats’ AFL wooden spoons.
  3. If discussing the VFL team’s performance, use specific language such as “the Geelong VFL team finished last in the VFL in 2019.”
  4. Refer to the /club-milestones page, which focuses exclusively on the senior AFL side.

Problem 8: Difficulty Contextualising Wooden Spoons Within the Club’s Overall Success

Symptoms:

  • Viewing wooden spoons as evidence of a “bad” club.
  • Ignoring the decades of success that surround and follow these low points.
  • Failing to see the wooden spoon seasons as part of a broader narrative of resilience.
Causes:
  • Newer fans or researchers may focus on negative data points without considering the full historical arc.
  • The modern Geelong Cats are so dominant that the wooden spoons seem incongruous.
  • Media narratives often highlight the “worst” seasons without balancing them with the “best.”
Solution:
  1. Always present wooden spoons within the context of the club’s overall record:
  • Geelong has finished in the top four more than 30 times.
  • The Cats have won 10 AFL Premierships, including three in the modern era (2007, 2009, 2011).
  • The club has not finished last since 1958—a streak of 65 consecutive seasons without a wooden spoon.
2. Use the /season-by-season-records page to show the long-term trend of improvement.
  1. Frame the wooden spoon seasons as learning experiences that contributed to the club’s resilience and identity.

Prevention Tips

To avoid common errors when researching or discussing Geelong’s wooden spoon history, follow these guidelines:

  1. Always verify the source. Use official AFL and club records rather than fan forums or unverified websites.
  2. Distinguish between VFL and AFL eras. The competition’s rebranding in 1990 does not erase the VFL history, but be clear about which era you are referencing.
  3. Avoid sensationalism. Wooden spoons are low points, but they do not define the club’s legacy.
  4. Use precise language. Do not call a 10th-place finish a wooden spoon.
  5. Cross-reference multiple sources. If a statistic appears in only one place, treat it as unconfirmed.
  6. Consider historical context. Wartime, financial difficulties, and league changes all influenced early wooden spoons.

When to Seek Professional Help

If you encounter persistent difficulties in obtaining accurate information about Geelong’s wooden spoon history, consider the following resources:

  • Geelong Cats Official Club Historian: The club employs a dedicated historian who can verify records and provide context for specific seasons.
  • AFL Historical Database: The AFL maintains a comprehensive, searchable database of all VFL/AFL seasons, including match results, ladder positions, and player statistics.
  • National Library of Australia (Trove): For pre-1950 records, Trove provides access to digitised newspapers that contain original match reports and league tables.
  • Geelong Cats Museum: Located at Kardinia Park, the museum houses physical archives, including yearbooks, photographs, and administrative records.
  • Professional Sports Historians: Independent researchers with expertise in Australian rules football history can provide detailed analysis and verification.
For content creators, consulting these sources ensures accuracy and credibility, especially when writing for an informed audience such as the readers of Geelong Cats Insider.

The Geelong Cats’ wooden spoon history is a story of adversity, resilience, and eventual triumph. By understanding these low points with precision and context, supporters and researchers alike can appreciate the full journey of one of the AFL’s most successful clubs.

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