Geelong head west in Round 12 as they look to continue their strong run of form, taking on the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium on Sunday. 

The Cats are coming off back-to-back victories over the past fortnight, registering strong wins over Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs to ascend to fifth on the ladder. 

This week Geelong will face an Eagles team that has struggled so far in 2025, currently sitting on the bottom of the ladder with one win. 

Check out everything you need to know ahead of the Cats Sunday night clash. 

KEY DETAILS  

2025 AFL Season - Round 12
West Coast v Geelong Cats
Optus Stadium, Perth
Sunday 1st June, 7.20pm (AEST)

TEAM SELECTION

KEY PLAYER TO WATCH

Shannon Neale

What a time for Shannon Neale to return to his home state of Western Australia, the big Cat in sensational form coming off a career-high five goal display against the Western Bulldogs last week. 

It was a complete performance from the spearhead forward, who finished with 16 disposals and 11 score involvements, while also spending time in the ruck and winning three clearances. 

Neale has been impactful for the Cats in 2025, leading the team in contested marks (12th in AFL) while hitting the scoreboard in nine of 11 matches so far. 

RECENT HISTORY - Geelong v West Coast

Recent history between these two teams has heavily favoured Geelong, currently on a five game win streak over the Eagles while averaging 130 points per game in that span. 

The Cats have won those five matches by an average of 68 points, highlighted by their dominant display in the most recent meeting which came in the final round of the 2024 season, Geelong cruising to a 93 point victory. 

These two teams have only squared off at Optus Stadium three times, West Coast holding the advantage with two wins from those three contests. 

VENUE HISTORY - Optus Stadium 

Since the venue opened in 2018, Geelong has ventured to Optus Stadium 11 times and has had a relatively even record, winning five games and losing six. 

Optus Stadium was the host of numerous matches during the Covid-affected 2020 and 2021 seasons, meaning the Cats have faced five different opponents within those 11 games which also included two Finals appearances at the venue. 

More recently the Cats have found success at Optus Stadium, winning five of their last eight matches at the venue including their most recent clash with West Coast in 2022. 

VFL CATS

Williamstown v Geelong Cats
Sunday 1st June
Bounce: 2.05pm
DSV Stadium, Williamstown

TICKETS

For Cats fans looking to head west to Optus Stadium this weekend, tickets are available through Ticketmaster. Follow the link here to secure your seat. 

Alternatively you can secure a 2025 Interstate Membership, which provides access to Cats games outside of Victoria this year. 

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

WHERE TO WATCH 

Geelong's clash with West Coast will be broadcast live and free on Channel 7, with coverage starting at 7.00pm AEST ahead of the opening bounce at 7.20pm. 

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 the game from 6.00pm, tune into 95.5FM, krockfootball.live or the official AFL App. 

Cats Membership: 2025 Digital Plus 

Broadcast Details: 2025 AFL Broadcast Guide

Geelong has escaped with victory in an entertaining Sunday night clash, pulling away with a blistering final quarter to defeat West Coast by 43 points at Optus Stadium on Sunday night. 

In a see-sawing affair, the Cats were tested for much of the night before putting the foot down in the final term, booting seven of the last eight goals to secure their eighth win of the season. 

Bailey Smith was immense through the middle finishing with a game-high 38 disposals, adding eight score involvements and five clearances in a sensational display. 

Gryan Miers (26 disposals, 13 marks, two goals) was instrumental all night, as was Max Holmes (27 disposals, 853 metres gained) with his run and carry, while Tyson Stengle (two goals, seven score involvements) dominated in the forward half. 

Well held for a large portion of the game, Jeremy Cameron made his presence felt late as he booted the final four goals of the game to help Geelong secure the win. 

Geelong controlled proceedings extraordinarily well in the opening term as they dominated every facet of the game, building a healthy 17-point buffer at the first break despite some inaccurate finishing around goal. 

Bailey Smith brought his own footy collecting 15 disposals in the first term, Gryan Miers booted two goals while Tyson Stengle started strongly in the forward half, kicking a major and dishing off two goal assists. 

The game continued to flow the Cats way in the second term as they extended the margin out to 29 points early, but a dramatic shift in momentum saw the Eagles roar back into the contest, trimming Geelong's lead to just 11 points at the main break. 

Smith capped off a scintillating half of football finishing with a whopping 25 disposals, also adding five clearances, six score involvements and a goal. 

Max Holmes' run and carry was also influential, amassing 737 metres gained with his 18 disposals in the opening half, while Miers collected 10 disposals at 100% efficiency to go with his two majors. 

The back and forth contest continued after half time, Geelong booted the opening two goals of the third term before the Eagles pegged the margin back once again, the Cats lead remaining at 11 points heading into the last quarter. 

Shaun Mannagh got busy across half forward collecting seven disposals and a goal in the third stanza, Tom Atkins also upped the ante through the middle with seven possessions and three tackles. 

Geelong continued to be tested in a tense final term, but the Cats had all the answers when it mattered most. 

After the Eagles booted the first major of the quarter, Geelong then found three unanswered goals through Ollie Dempsey, Tyson Stengle and Rhys Stanley to build a handy buffer with time ticking down. 

Jeremy Cameron then stamped his authority and booted four consecutive goals to seal the deal, as the Cats pulled away to record an important 43 point win over the Eagles on Sunday night. 

Connor O'Sullivan was important in the final term picking off three intercept possessions, while Rhys Stanley had a number of crucial moments finishing with 12 hit-outs and two clearances when the game was on the line. 

Geelong return home next week as they prepare for another big clash, taking on the Gold Coast Suns at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

2025 AFL Season - Round 12

WEST COAST          2.0       7.2       9.4       11.7       (73) 
GEELONG CATS      4.5       8.7      10.9     17.14      (116)

GOALS 
West Coast: Allen 4, Williams 2, Ryan, Reid, Long, Kelly, Hewett 1
Geelong Cats: Cameron 5, Miers, O.Henry, Stengle 2, Smith, Neale, Mannagh, Close, Dempsey, Stanley 1

BEST
West Coast: Reid, Allen, Baker, Kelly, Hewett 
Geelong: Smith, Miers, Holmes, Stewart, Mannagh

DISPOSALS
West Coast: Baker 29, Cole 24, Duggan 23, Hewett 20, Reid, Graham, Kelly 19
Geelong Cats: Smith 38, Holmes 27, Miers 26, O'Sullivan 20, Duncan 19, Mannagh, Stewart, Stengle 18

SUBSTITUTES 
West Coast: Bo Allan (replaced Ryan Maric in the fourth quarter)
Geelong Cats: Ted Clohesy (replaced Rhys Stanley in the fourth quarter)

CROWD: TBC @ Optus Stadium