Cats award life memberships to Blicavs, Cam Guthrie

THE Geelong Cats will induct Mark Blicavs and Cam Guthrie as life members of the AFL club and honour former vice-president Bob Gartland with this year’s R.J. Hickey Award.

To be presented at the 2022 Hall of Fame dinner in July, Guthrie and Blicavs will etch their names into Geelong’s history books.

Life membership of the Cats is an honour bestowed on very few and the first since Malcolm Blight, Colin Carter, and James Rahilly were nominated in 2018.

The club will also elevate its 27th Legend at the July event.

Since his debut in 2011, Guthrie has pulled on the hoops 217 times, with his breakout season in 2020 landing him his first Carji Greeves Medal and All-Australian blazer.

Guthrie reflected on his journey to date with great pride.

“It’s really nice to be recognised for my input over the past 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.”

Also drafted in 2011, Blicavs can be equally as proud of his contribution thus far.

Having played his 216th game against the Western Bulldogs, the 198cm versatile defender continues to display impressive leadership strengths and qualities both on and off the field.

“I was told that myself and Cam were receiving the life membership together around the same time, it’s pretty special,” Blicavs 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.”

The Hall of Fame dinner will also see the Cats honour Bob Gartland as the recipient of the 2022 R.J. Hickey Award.

Gartland’s contribution to the Geelong Football Club and broader community has been significant. He joined Geelong’s board in 2007 and was elected as vice-president in 2014.

His impact both on and off-field has been fundamental, through a range of roles across player welfare, welcoming new players to the club, and playing a vital role in the Kardinia Park stadium development.

Above all his innumerable contributions to the club, it is Gartland’s steadfast endeavour to honour the club’s past and enable current and future generations to learn about and respect the Club’s rich history that has seen him personify the Kardinia spirit for decades.