It's back in 2022!

The Powercor Country Festival in 2022 will continue to support our regional communities and producers, and celebrate their contribution to our country, this year at the MCG.

Game Details:
Geelong Cats v Essendon 
Saturday 19 March
Bounce 2.10pm
MCG

Gates Open:
Public: 12:30pm
AFL Reserved: 12:30pm
MCC Reserve: 12pm

Click here to secure your seats for the Round 1 clash at the MCG.

Celebrate in style before the first bounce at the Round 1 Member Function: tickets available now. 

Geelong Cats Membership Services:

For Round 1, our Membership Team will be located in the Club Hub to assist with any of your questions or to help with Mobile membership. The Club Hub is located between Gates 3 and 4 on the external concourse at the MCG. 

Mobile Membership:

If you haven't already done so we recommend getting ready for Round 1 now by downloading the Geelong Cats App and accessing your Mobile Membership ticket for the game. Make sure you add your Mobile Membership ticket to your mobile wallet by following the instruction below.

More information on how to access Mobile Membership please click here.

General Admission Seating:

Cheer Squad Allocations:

Geelong Cats - M3 rows A-T
Essendon - M33 rows A-Z

Trams

Three tram routes provide access to the MCG.

No. 75 (City-Vermont South) travels along Flinders St and connects with the eastern suburbs via Wellington Parade.

No. 48 (Docklands/City-North Balwyn) travels along Collins Street and connects with the eastern suburbs via Wellington Parade. Both these routes stop just outside the MCG. 

No. 70 (Docklands/City-Wattle Park) travels along Flinders Street then detours via Melbourne Park and the tram stop is a short walk across the footbridge to the ground.

Please note that there will be a rail disruption on the Geelong Line from 19-20th March. The disruption is due to level crossing removal works at Deer Park and coaches will replace trains between Southern Cross and Wyndham Vale on Saturday and Sunday - trains are running between Wyndham Vale and Geelong. 

Buses

The Bus route 246 is run by National Bus Company, which links La Trobe University with Elsternwick Station in a useful service for patrons from the northern and southern suburbs. The 246 stops in Punt Road, just a punt kick from the ground.

Cars

Parking in Yarra Park is limited for this match. Click here for parking information and continue to check regularly for updates.

Ferries

Travel on the water with Port Phillip Ferries offering game day services. More information available here.

Trains

There are two train stations close to the MCG - Jolimont (otherwise known as MCG Station) is north of the ground and offers a five-minute stroll through Yarra Park to the ground. From any railway station in the central business district, take the Hurstbridge or Epping lines.

The other station is Richmond on the south eastern side of the MCG. It's a slightly longer walk to the ground but you can walk past the Punt Road Oval to the Great Southern Stand side. To get to Richmond station from the city, take any train on the Lilydale, Belgrave, Alamein, Glen Waverley, Dandenong, Pakenham, Cranbourne, Frankston or Sandringham lines.

V/Line will be running special footy coaches and trains between Geelong and Southern Cross on Saturday. Please find timetables and more information here.  

Arrive Early

In 2022, the process for entry into the MCG will take longer than usual. To ensure you are inside the MCG in time for the match start, arrive early and leave plenty of time for the entry process.

Download your seat ticket prior to your arrival at the MCG. To gain entry into the match, please show staff your proof of check-in and vaccination status before scanning your digital ticket at the turnstiles.

Stream the match live on Kayo, afl.com.au or the AFL app.

The Round 1 clash will also be broadcast on Fox Footy.

Check out the full 2022 Broadcast Guide now. 

Fans will be treated to a range of exciting activations and giveaways on the day with a farmer’s market, food trucks, footy activities and inflatables spread across the Yarra Park precinct. There also be live music from Imogen Clarke, the Mik Maks, Field, See & Mason, and headliner Casey Barnes. 

Half-Cat and Clawdia will be around for photos with the kids and a pop-up Cats Shop will be onsite for all your new-season Cats merchandise. 

All festivities kick off at 10am, so get there early to show your support for our regional communities and kick off the 2022 AFL season in style. 

Live Entertainment: Set Times