Cats boss welcomes fixture

Vikki and Jason O'Meara with Kiara O'Neill and their children Aria and Eliza at Geelong's premiership family day. (Ivan Kemp) 300472_02

Geelong CEO Steve Hocking has welcomed the 2023 AFL fixture, saying Cats supporters are the big winners.

Off the back of the 2022 premiership, the Cats have been granted a strong mix of days, venues, and timeslots, including earlier start times for MCG blockbusters against Collingwood in Round 1 and Richmond in Round 9 to cater for traveling supporters on a Friday night.

“We’ve been thinking about our members in the Geelong region and certainly right down through the western districts,” Hocking told geelongcats.com.au on Monday.

“Right down to Warrnambool and areas like that, as far as getting up to the MCG and being able to get home at a reasonable time and also back through all the regional areas, we’ve got a lot of supporters in those regions as well.

“[Overall], if you have a look at the first 15 rounds, there’s something there for everybody, from Thursday nights right through to Friday nights, right through to Saturday nights and Saturday afternoons. We’ve catered for families… just a range of different football followers that support Geelong Cats.”

The Cats will unfurl their 2022 premiership flag in Round 6 against the Swans at GMHBA Stadium.

When the stadium redevelopment is closer to completion Geelong will play a six home games after it bye in round 13.

Geelong plays five of the first nine games at the MCG, including three of the first four against Collingwood, Carlton, and Hawthorn respectively.

ROUND 1

Friday March 17, 7.40pm

Geelong vs Collingwood, MCG

ROUND 2

Thursday March 23, 7.20pm

Carlton vs Geelong, MCG

ROUND 3

Sunday April 2, 2.10pm

Gold Coast vs Geelong, Metricon Stadium

ROUND 4

Monday April 10, 3.20pm

Geelong vs Hawthorn, MCG

ROUND 5

Sunday April 16, 12.40pm

Geelong vs West Coast, Adelaide Oval

ROUND 6

Saturday April 22, 7.25pm

Geelong vs Sydney, GMHBA Stadium

ROUND 7

Sunday April 30, 1.10pm

Essendon vs Geelong, MCG

ROUND 8

Sunday May 6, 2.10pm

Geelong vs Adelaide, GMHBA Stadium

ROUND 9

Friday May 12, 7.20pm

Richmond vs Geelong, MCG

ROUND 10

Saturday May 20, 2.35pm

Fremantle vs Geelong, Optus Stadium

ROUND 11

Saturday May 27, 4.35pm

Geelong vs GWS, GMHBA Stadium

ROUND 12

Saturday June 3, 7.25pm

Western Bulldogs vs Geelong, Marvel Stadium

ROUND 13

Bye

ROUND 14

Thursday June 15, 7.10pm

Port Adelaide vs Geelong, Adelaide Oval

ROUND 15

Thursday June 22, 7.20pm

Geelong vs Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium

ROUND 16

Thursday June 29 to Sunday July 2

Sydney vs Geelong, SCG

ROUND 17

Thursday July 6 to Sunday July 9

Geelong vs North Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium

ROUND 18

Thursday July 13 to Sunday July 16

Geelong vs Essendon, GMHBA Satdium

ROUND 19

Friday July 21 to Sunday July 23

Brisbane vs Geelong, Gabba

ROUND 20

Friday July 28 to Sunday July 30

Geelong vs Fremantle, GMHBA Stadium

ROUND 21

Friday August 4 to Sunday August 6

Geelong vs Port Adelaide, GMHBA Stadium

ROUND 22

Friday August 11 to Sunday August 13

Collingwood vs Geelong, MCG

ROUND 23

Friday August 18 to Sunday August 20

St Kilda vs Geelong, Marvel Stadium

ROUND 24

Friday August 25 to Sunday August 27

Geelong vs Western Bulldogs, GMHBA Stadium