Geelong are cautiously optimistic Gary Ablett Snr, arguably the AFL club's greatest player, will attend their 150th birthday dinner.

The Cats hope to attract 200 former players to the black-tie dinner at the Geelong waterfront on August 8.

Club chief executive Brian Cook again strongly denied a weekend media report that Ablett Snr had requested a $10,000 appearance fee for the function.

"I am not overly confident, but I believe he will be there," Cook said.

"I would like to see all the past players get in his ear."

Cook also admits it has been tough to convince some former stars to put aside past differences.

"This is a celebration of the club, not necessarily of individualism - we would hope the individuals see that and come as part of it," he said.

Cook added the club would do whatever it takes to convince another former star, Graham "Polly" Farmer, to attend.

"If it needs five letters, we'll do that to get Polly there," Cook said.

To help promote the 150th birthday celebrations through July and August, the club invited former coaches Bobby Davis, Bill Goggin, Bill McMaster and Tom Hafey to watch Thursday's training and sit in on a team meeting.

The quartet, along with current coach Mark Thompson, were presented with commemorative guernseys the Cats will wear in rounds 16 and 19.

The blue hoops on the special jumper are made up of the names of every Geelong senior player to the end of last season.

"I came down here in 1948 and it's the greatest thing that's ever happened to me, to come to Geelong and be involved with the Geelong Football Club," Davis said.

Hafey, who coached the Cats in the `80s, said it was amazing to see the differences around the club.

"It's so much more scientific, for a start - the place, you wouldn't recognise it," he said.

"We just came into four walls and a bit of gym equipment in the corner.

"As you can see now, they've got staff - bigger than Ansett, they do so many things, don't they?"

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