Geelong return home to GMHBA Stadium for the first time since Round 4, as they prepare for another tough clash with the GWS Giants on Sunday. 

Following their outstanding win against Collingwood last weekend, the Cats will be searching for their sixth win of the season as they face a Giants outfit that has lost their last three matches. 

Normally Geelong hold a strong advantage at home but GWS are one team that has been able to buck that trend, winning the last four matches between the two sides at GMHBA Stadium. 

Check out everything you need to know ahead of Sunday's big clash at GMHBA Stadium.   

KEY DETAILS  

2025 AFL Season - Round 9
Geelong Cats v GWS Giants
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Sunday 11th May, 3.20pm (AEST)

TEAM SELECTION

KEY PLAYER TO WATCH

Brad Close

Close's impact in the 2025 season has been somewhat underrated, ranked as the top player at Geelong for goal assists while also kicking six majors of his own. 

Following another terrific performance against Collingwood, Close's elite forward pressure will be even more important on Sunday against a Giants defensive unit that thrives on uncontested footy. 

GWS have excelled this year in their ability to accumulate uncontested possessions, particularly across half back lead by Lachie Whitfield and Lachie Ash, who both rank in the AFL's top five for uncontested possessions in 2025. 

Pressuring the Giants defenders will be critical on Sunday and nobody does that better than Brad Close. 

RECENT HISTORY - Geelong v GWS

Geelong hold a reasonably strong record against most teams in the competition, but GWS are one side that has caused some headaches for the Cats, particularly at GMHBA Stadium. 

The Cats have not beaten the Giants at GMHBA Stadium since Round 7 in the 2018 season, looking to snap a four game losing streak at the venue this weekend. 

The two sides have split the most recent four matches with two wins each, but GWS prevailed in the most recent two games by four points (2024) and seven points (2023). 

VENUE HISTORY - GMHBA Stadium 

Geelong have been brilliant at home so far in the 2025 season, notching a 78-point win over Fremantle and a 39-point win over Melbourne in their first two games at the venue. 

The Cats scoring power at GMHBA Stadium has been particularly impressive, averaging 133.3 points per game across their last three matches at home. 

Dating back to the middle of last year, Geelong have won six of their last seven matches at home with the lone loss coming against the Western Bulldogs. 

GWS are one team that have found success here however, winning their last four games at GMHBA Stadium by an average of eight points dating back to 2019. 

VFL CURTAIN-RAISER

Geelong's VFL team will be in action at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday, taking on the GWS Giants in a curtain-raiser clash from 11.35am. 

Cats fans can enter via Gate 13 and catch all the action, prior to the AFL sides doing battle from 3.20pm. 

The VFL Cats enjoyed a bye last weekend to rest and recover, but will be looking to get back on the winner's list against GWS after suffering back to back defeats in Round 4 and Round 5. 

Closest to Cure Challenge

RULE Prostate Cancer’s Closest to Cure challenge is back at GMHBA Stadium for the Geelong Cats v GWS Giants clash in support of the Australian Prostate Centre - a comprehensive clinic focused on the complete treatment and care of men with prostate cancer.

Held before the bounce on Sunday 11 May, Closest to Cure is a high-energy, stadium golf-style event that will see media and sporting personalities compete in a nearest-to-the-pin challenge.

Fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 2.45pm to see the Rule Golf Activation. 

Proudly supported by The Drain Man, this year’s line-up of talent includes Geelong greats Zach Tuohy and Cameron Ling, Channel 7 sports commentator Alister Nicholson, and television personality Nicky Buckley, each taking two shots at a pop-up par-3 green on the field in front of the home crowd prior to the commencement of the match.

The campaign seeks to shine a light on the impact of prostate cancer — now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men — and to rally the community to support.

TICKETS

Tickets for Geelong's Round 9 clash are on sale, follow the link here to secure your seat for Sunday's big game. 

With eight games remaining at GMHBA Stadium, there is no better time to lock in a Geelong Cats membership for the remainder of the 2025 AFL Season. 

Follow the link provided to see the full range of membership options. Geelong Cats 2025 Memberships

WHERE TO WATCH 

Geelong's Round 9 clash with the GWS Giants will be broadcast live and free on Channel 7 from 3.00pm AEST, ahead of the opening bounce at 3.20pm. 

Fox Footy will be broadcasting the match while you can also stream through Kayo from 3.00pm. 

For those tuning into the radio, K rock will be covering the game from 2.00pm on 95.5FM, krockfootball.live and throguh the AFL app.

Cats fans looking to catch all the action at home this year can secure a 2025 Digital Plus Membership, which includes a 12 month subscription to Kayo Premium. Follow the link below for more details. 

Cats Membership: 2025 Digital Plus 

Broadcast Details: 2025 AFL Broadcast Guide

Geelong has fallen agonisingly short of clinching another come from behind victory, going down to the GWS Giants by four-points at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday afternoon. 

The momentum ebbed and flowed throughout the match which culminated in a tense final quarter, but the Cats were unable to land the decisive blow despite generating plenty of chances. 

Bailey Smith was immense through the middle finishing with 34 disposals, 12 score involvements and 10 tackles alongside star midfielder, Max Holmes who was influential with 30 disposals and 14 score involvements of his own. 

Thrust into a more permanent ruck role, Mark Blicavs stood tall accumulating 20 disposals, 21 hit-outs and nine clearances to help the Cats gain the ascendancy through the middle of the ground. 

Geelong had to weather an early storm in the opening quarter as GWS piled on five of the first six goals, but the Cats were able to arrest momentum late and cut the margin back to 10 points at quarter time. 

Max Holmes was everywhere in the opening term accumulating 10 disposals and five score involvements, while Sam De Koning and Connor O'Sullivan picked off a combined seven intercept possessions to continue their strong form. 

A see-sawing second quarter saw the lead change hands five times, the Cats clawing their way back in front with a six goal term to take a narrow one point lead into the main break. 

One big takeaway for Geelong was their ability to gain ascendancy around stoppages after quarter time, winning the clearance battle 13-7 in the second term lead by an instrumental performance in the ruck by Mark Blicavs (13 hit-outs, four clearances). 

Max Holmes was simply dominant accumulating 18 disposals and 11 score involvements in the first half, Bailey Smith collected 17 possessions and seven score involvements of his own, while Jeremy Cameron was heavily influential with two goals from his 11 disposals. 

Momentum shifted once again early in the second half, GWS kicking four of the first five goals in the third term to leave Geelong seven-points adrift heading into the final break. 

Bailey Smith continued to make his mark on the contest, collecting 23 disposals between the second and third quarters to go alongside 10 score involvements. 

The two teams traded blows in a tense final term, with neither side able to string together consecutive goals through the first 25 minutes of the quarter. 

Geelong put their noses back in front late by a solitary point, before Jake Riccardi snatched the lead back for GWS with just three minutes on the clock. 

With time ticking down, Mark Blicavs drifted forward and took a massive contested mark, but his set-shot slammed into the left goal post to leave Geelong four-points behind with just over a minute left. 

The Cats created chances but could not land the knockout blow, falling four-points short in a thriller at GMHBA Stadium. 

2025 AFL Season - Round 9

GEELONG CATS     3.4      9.8     11.12     14.17     (101) 
GWS GIANTS        5.2      9.7       13.7       16.9     (105)
 
GOALS 
Geelong Cats: Mannagh, Cameron, Dempsey, Stengle 2, Neale, Miers, Henry, Duncan, Dangerfield, Close 1
GWS Giants: Hogan 7, Stringer 2, Ward, Thomas, O'Halloran, Greene, Green, Cadman, Riccardi 1

BEST
Geelong: Cameron, Holmes, Smith, Dangerfield, Blicavs, Dempsey
Greater Western Sydney: Callaghan, Briggs, Hogan, Taylor, Green, Whitfield

DISPOSALS
Geelong Cats: Smith 34, Holmes 30, Miers 23, Duncan, De Koning 21
GWS Giants: Green 37, Whitfield 30, Callaghan 29, Ash 25, Hogan 22

INJURIES
Geelong Cats: Nil
GWS Giants: Jake Stringer (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES 
Geelong Cats: Ted Clohesy (replaced Jhye Clark at three quarter time)
GWS Giants: Josaia Delana (replaced Jake Stringer in the second quarter)

Crowd: 28,407 @ GMHBA Stadium