The Cats' Whiskers Episode 22 2021 - Mark Yeates - a podcast by Wes Cusworth

Our guest on the Cats Whiskers was raised in Mount Gambier and went on to represent the Geelong in 154 games and kick 57 goals in a career that encompassed the entire 1980’s culminating during the 1990 season.

Mark Yeates, son of a former Cats Captain and 1963 premiership player, John, made his debut in the hoops in Round 15 at VFL Park, Waverley against Hawthorn in 1980.

Both the game itself (indeed his first kick in league football) and the opponent involved would hold special significance in the football story of our guest.

Starting as a wingman before spending time in most of the key positions on the ground, Mark is perhaps best remembered as a dashing and close checking, if undersized, Centre Half Back.

Mark featured in three finals series with the Cats and played a key role in the unforgettable 1989 Grand Final against Hawthorn – as Dermott Brereton will readily testify.

He represented Victoria in State of Origin football and if not for a poorly-timed Achilles injury that saw him miss an entire season, would have been named Geelong Captain in 1987.

Following his AFL career Mark was the playing coach of North Hobart in the Tasmanian Football League, leading the Demons to back-to-back premierships in the early nineties.

Mark got down to the final two for the Geelong senior coaching position in 1995, albeit that, in a sliding doors moment, the job went to Gary Ayers.

He was also a pioneer in women’s football having coached an all-female team at East Geelong in 2000 – long before the female game became fashionable.

Further episodes of The Cats Whiskers Episode 2 2022

Further podcasts by Wes Cusworth

Website of Wes Cusworth