Geelong return home for a blockbuster clash on Thursday night, as they take on the in-form Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium. 

The Cats are looking to build on last week's outstanding performance, as they defeated Port Adelaide by 76-points at Adelaide Oval inspired by a seven-goal haul from Jeremy Cameron. 

There are storylines everywhere this week; Mitch Duncan's 300th AFL game, Sir Doug Nicholls Round and Bailey Smith facing his old side. 

Check out all the key details you need to know heading into Thursday night's monumental clash under the lights at GMHBA Stadium. 

KEY DETAILS  

2025 AFL Season - Round 11 
Western Bulldogs v Geelong Cats
GMHA Stadium, Geelong
Thursday 22nd May, 7.30pm (AEST)

*Gates open at 5:30 PM. To avoid queues and enjoy a smooth entry, we recommend arriving at the venue as early as possible. PLUS if you're a member, arrive before 6.30pm for your chance to WIN a double pass into the Open Air Boxes. Don’t miss your chance to elevate your match day experience! Be in your seats by 7pm for team entry.

TEAM SELECTION

KEY PLAYER TO WATCH

Oisin Mullin

Chris Scott and the Geelong coaching team may have unlocked a new weapon over the past month, with Oisin Mullin doing an effective tagging job on some of the competition's best players. 

Last week Mullin was tasked with locking down Port Adelaide star, Zak Butters and did a brilliant job limiting him to 20 disposals and three clearances, his lowest total in both statistics this year. 

The Irishman also held Butters to just two score involvements, playing a significant role as the Cats romped to an impressive victory at Adelaide Oval. 

There is no guarantee he will play the tagging role again this week but if he does, there is a plethora of options for him to go to including the likes of Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore and Ed Richards. 

RECENT HISTORY - Geelong v Western Bulldogs 

This has been a favourable match-up for the Cats over the past two decades, but more recent history has seen the ledger start to even up. 

Geelong has won 22 of their past 27 matches against the Bulldogs and six of the last eight clashes, but the Dogs have won the last two games at GMHBA Stadium. 

Prior to those games the Cats had won 11 consecutive matches against the Bulldogs dating back to 2005, strong form that they will be looking to reignite on Thursday night. 

VENUE HISTORY - GMHBA Stadium 

Geelong have won six of their last eight matches at home with an average winning margin of 49 points, but the Cats also lost at GMHBA Stadium in their last outing against the GWS Giants. 

The Cats have won 11 of their last 13 games at home against the Western Bulldogs, but the two losses came in the most recent two clashes in 2023 and 2024. 

This year Geelong have won two of their three games at GMHBA Stadium, with still seven matches remaining at the venue across the remainder of the 2025 season. 

NGA Showcase Games

Geelong Cats Next Generation Academy teams will feature in showcase games from 6.00pm on Thursday night. 

The Cats NGA Under 15 boys' and Under 15 girls' teams will take on the Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium, prior to the AFL match at 7.30pm. 

Follow the link here to find out more information on Geelong's Next Generation Academy. 

VFL CATS

Footscray Bulldogs v Geelong Cats
Friday 23rd May
Bounce: 5.05pm
Mission Whitten Oval, Melbourne - Wurundjeri

TICKETS

Reserved seat tickets are available for Thursday night's game, follow the link here to secure your seat. 

With seven games still remaining at GMHBA Stadium this year, it is certainly not too late to secure a Geelong Cats membership for the 2025 season. 

Follow the link here fore more information on the wide range of membership options available. 

CATS SHOP 

You can shop the full merchandise range in the Cats Shop (accessible via Gate 13 and the Level 1 concourse) and select grab and go items from outlets in the Joel Selwood Stand, Reg Hickey Stand, Players Stand and from the merch van outside Gate 13.

The Cats Shop will be open from 9am - 3pm on Thursday, before re-opening at 5.30pm to get everything you need for the game.

WHERE TO WATCH 

Cats fans can catch all the action live and free on Channel 7 from 7.00pm AEST on Thursday night, ahead of the opening bounce at 7.30pm. 

The match will also be broadcast on Fox Footy and streamed through Kayo from 7.00pm. 

For those listening to the game on the radio, K rock will be covering all the action from 6.00pm on 95.5FM, krockfootball.live and via the AFL app. 

Cats Membership: 2025 Digital Plus 

Broadcast Details: 2025 AFL Broadcast Guide

It seems to be a common theme in 2025, Geelong just find a way to win. 

The Cats prevailed in another high-scoring, nail-biting clash on Thursday night as they defeated the Western Bulldogs by 14 points at GMHBA Stadium. 

Geelong had to withstand constant challenges throughout the night from the Bulldogs, but always came up with an answer as they registered their seventh win of the 2025 season. 

Jeremy Cameron and Shannon Neale lead from the front, booting 11 goals between them and registering 20 score involvements, with Neale kicking two crucial majors in a tense final quarter. 

Bailey Smith (33 disposals, six clearances) and Max Holmes (33 disposals, eight clearances) dominated through the middle, while Gryan Miers (23 disposals, seven score involvements) was heavily influential in Geelong's slick ball movement. 

The opening term was played at a frenetic pace and certainly lived up to the pre-game hype, both teams booting five goals as the Cats trailed by just three points at the first break. 

Geelong set the tone right from the word go, slingshotting the footy from one end of the ground to the other in a brilliant transition play, finding Jeremy Cameron who curled home the opening goal early in the first period. 

Max Holmes and Bailey Smith were finding the footy with ease early, accumulating 23 disposals between them in the first quarter, while Tyson Stengle had a profound impact inside forward 50 with four score involvements. 

Again it was Jeremy Cameron who opened proceedings with a major early in the second term, but this time it sparked an avalanche as Geelong piled on six unanswered goals to open up a healthy 25-point buffer at the main break. 

A dominant quarter of footy was inspired by Cameron, who followed up his seven goal performance against Port Adelaide with four majors in the first half on Thursday night. 

Max Holmes (21 disposals, five clearances) and Bailey Smith (16 disposals, seven score involvements) continued to have a big impact through the middle, while Shannon Neale stamped his authority with seven score involvements and two goals in the first half. 

Holmes set GMHBA Stadium alight with a daring run down the wing in the third term, dashing away from all pursuers with multiple bounces and finishing brilliantly to kick a sensational goal. 

The two teams traded blows in a fascinating quarter of football with 12 goals kicked, the Bulldogs ultimately able to pull closer as Geelong's margin narrowed to 10-points at the final break. 

The Bulldogs drew within a kick early in the final term and held all the momentum, but a brilliant snap from Ollie Dempsey gave the Cats a little bit of breathing room at a crucial stage of the match. 

Once again the Dogs responded and levelled the scores, before Geelong pieced together another brilliant transition play and released Shannon Neale goal-side, the big Cat rolling through his fourth major and snatching the lead back for his side. 

With time ticking down, Neale got another opportunity from a forward stoppage and made no mistake, landing a decisive blow with his fifth goal of the contest. 

Tyson Stengle put the cherry on top with his second of the night, as Geelong held on to record a stirring 14-point victory over the Bulldogs. 

2025 AFL Season - Round 11

GEELONG CATS                5.1       11.4      16.5      20.7      (127) 
WESTERN BULLDOGS      5.4      6.9      13.13     16.17     (113)
 
GOALS 
Geelong Cats: Cameron 6, Neale 5, Mannagh, Stengle 2, Holmes, O.Henry, Blicavs, Atkins, Dempsey 1
Western Bulldogs: Naughton, Kennedy 3, Vandermeer, Richards, Khamis 2, West, Freijah, English, Davidson 1

BEST
Geelong: Cameron, Holmes, Neale, Smith, Blicavs
Western Bulldogs: Richards, Kennedy, O’Donnell, Bontempelli, Lobb

DISPOSALS
Geelong Cats: Smith, Holmes 33, Miers 23, Stewart, Mannagh 21
Western Bulldogs: Liberatore 31, Richards 29, Kennedy 25, Bontempelli 23, Dale 22

INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil

SUBSTITUTES 
Geelong Cats: Ted Clohesy (replaced Ollie Henry in the fourth quarter)
Western Bulldogs: Lachlan Bramble (replaced Luke Cleary at three quarter time)

CROWD: 32,641 @ GMHBA Stadium