In my official retirement speech I spoke of the life long friendships I have made and cherished with the players and staff of the Geelong Football Club. The memories of both winning and losing in the hoops. Now I would like to acknowledge you.

Every time I ran out onto the ground, especially here at Kardinia Park, I felt a huge swell of emotion and pride knowing that you always had our back. Through the early days to the halcyon ones, you fronted up as a sea of blue and white and as a player, you made me feel invincible.

After each 2007 and 2009 Premiership, the over riding message from you, the supporter, was simple - "Thank you". So now it is my turn. I'm writing not to say good bye but to utter those same simple words in reply - "Thank you".

Thank you for welcoming me all those years ago as a discard from Port Adelaide. Thank you for cheering me on my good days and forgiving me for my bad days. Thank you for rolling up in your droves - rain, hail or shine. Thank you for always saying hello and now, thank you for saying good bye.

I will miss driving to the game and walking through the crowd - that real sense of belonging i felt from being a Cats player. From new born children to the old and wise, you were always there to wish me luck.

You make me proud to say I played for the Cats.

My time as a player has come and gone and with it, a raft of memories not to be forgotten. I will always have blue and white running through my veins. I owe everything to the club.

I now look forward to not only toasting success but rallying in defeat, cheering for The Mighty Cats. I'm now one of you - a supporter of the Geelong Football Club.

I'll be seeing you at the footy.

"We Are Geelong!"

Tom Harley