Geelong will host 10 games at GMHBA Stadium next year for the first time since 1996.
The Cats will take on a strong mix of opponents who are set to make their way down the highway, including reigning premier Brisbane, Port Adelaide, Essendon and Richmond.
Geelong’s first home game is against Fremantle in Round 1 at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday 15 March at 1.20pm.
At home is a Thursday night clash against the Western Bulldogs in Sir Doug Nicholls Round, two Friday night games against Melbourne and Brisbane, and family-friendly timing for games against GWS Giants on a Sunday afternoon at 3.20pm and against the Gold Coast Suns in a Saturday twilight fixture .
The Cats will play seven games in Melbourne, with five matches at the MCG, including hosting the traditional Easter Monday clash against Hawthorn in Round 6 followed by blockbusters against Carlton and Collingwood the following two weeks.
In 2024, the club drew a record Cats home crowd of 87,775 for its game against the Blues at the MCG, with Geelong’s game against the Magpies at the same venue drawing 73,435 people.
The Cats will play twice at Marvel Stadium, with games against St Kilda (Round 2) and North Melbourne (Round 20).
Geelong Cats chief strategy and growth officer Marcus King welcomed the fixture.
“We are thrilled with the opportunities our 2025 AFL fixture presents from a football, fan, and commercial perspective and we can’t wait to kick-off the season in just 112 days’ time,” he said.
“From a football point of view, we are delighted to have a strong mix of teams both travelling down to Geelong and (in) our blockbuster fixtures up in Melbourne and interstate. We have a great spread and opponent mix throughout the season.
“A big focus as a club was to play 10 home games at GMHBA Stadium in 2025 and to secure this is an amazing result – it will be the first time since 1996 that this has happened.
“Economically, the broader Geelong region roughly has a direct economic impact of about five to seven million dollars per game played. It is a really significant outcome to both the club and the region to have the extra game at GMHBA Stadium in 2025.
“It is a credit to the club, Kardinia Park Stadium Trust and the investment from the government we can now attract marquee games in Geelong with 40,000 stadium capacity.”
With a mix of family-friendly and primetime TV slots, the Cats will play nine games broadcasted on free-to-air television (Channel 7) in the first 16 rounds.
Geelong will travel interstate six times in 2025, including Opening Round (Brisbane) and Gather Round (Adelaide) clashes, with trips to Western Australia (Round 12 vs West Coast), another visit to South Australia (Round 10 vs Port Adelaide), and two clashes in New South Wales (Round 18 vs GWS, Round 23 vs Sydney), with four of these trips to occur in the Cats’ first 12 games.
Geelong plays Brisbane, Port Adelaide, GWS Giants, Essendon, St Kilda and Richmond twice, while the club’s two byes will be in Round 3 and Round 16.
Geelong Cats 2025 AFL Fixture Snapshot
First game of the 2025 Premiership Season – Opening Round clash against the Lions Thursday 6 March.
10 home games at GMHBA Stadium, starting with Fremantle in Round 1 on Saturday 15 March.
Seven games in Melbourne, including five at the MCG against Hawthorn, Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon and Richmond.
Thursday night clash to kick off Gather Round against Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Thursday 10 April.
Six interstate trips: Brisbane (Opening Round), Adelaide (Round 5), Port Adelaide (Round 10), West Coast Eagles (Round 12), GWS Giants (Round 18) and Sydney (Round 23)
Sir Doug Nicholls Round matches against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval and Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium, the latter a Thursday night match.
Three Thursday night games and two Friday night games in the opening 16 rounds.
