Perfectly placed to attack the back half of the season, Geelong will look to solidify their position in the top four when they take on Essendon at the MCG on Saturday. 

The Cats are carrying plenty of momentum after recording four consecutive wins, claiming another scalp when they defeated Gold Coast last week to enter the top four for the first time since Round 1. 

It has been a favourable match-up for Geelong in recent years, but the Bombers have been solid this year winning six of their 12 games to sit on the cusp of the top eight. 

There are plenty of storylines this weekend with Bailey Smith set to return, Geelong's important clash and the VFL Cats in action, check out everything you need to know ahead of a big weekend. 

KEY DETAILS  

2025 AFL Season - Round 14
Essendon v Geelong Cats
MCG, Melbourne
Saturday 14th June, 4.15pm (AEST)

TEAM SELECTION

KEY PLAYER TO WATCH

Shaun Mannagh

Quite possibly putting together one of the most underrated campaigns of any player in the competition, Shaun Manangh has been a crucial part of Geelong's strong start to the season in 2025. 

Across 10 games this year, Mannagh is averaging 19 disposals and five tackles per game while also having his usual impact inside 50, booting 12 goals and dishing off seven goal assists. 

But perhaps the most important part of his game has been the ability to push up and have an influence around stoppages, often playing as an extra on-baller and averaging close to five clearances per game. 

In three games at the MCG this season, Mannagh averages over 20 disposals per game and has booted five goals, set to play another significant role on Saturday afternoon against the Bombers. 

RECENT HISTORY - Geelong v Essendon

Geelong will be looking to extend their strong record against Essendon this weekend, coming into the Round 14 clash with seven consecutive wins over the Bombers dating back to the 2019 season. 

Over the past two decades it has been a fairly one-sided matchup, with the Cats winning 22 of the last 26 clashes against Essendon stretching back to 2004. 

Geelong's scoring prowess has been impressive in recent wins, averaging 112.7 points per game in the most recent seven victories over Essendon with an average winning margin of 51 points. 

VENUE HISTORY - MCG 

Geelong have won two of their three games at the MCG so far this season, with two more match-ups remaining at the venue in the 2025 home and away season. 

The Cats have won four of their last six matches at the venue, while also beating Essendon in their last four consecutive clashes at the 'G. 

VFL CATS

Werribee Tigers v Geelong Cats
Saturday 14th June
Bounce: 11.35am
Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee

LIVE BLOG

Tune into the Geelong website on Saturday to catch all the action through the Cats live blog. 

Covering the pre-game build up and match updates, you won't miss a minute of Geelong's clash with Essendon. 

The blog will be available on the front of the website and app prior to the opening bounce on Saturday. 

TICKETS

Tickets to Saturday's clash with the Bombers are available for supporters making the trip to the MCG, follow the link here to secure your seat through Ticketek. 

Announced last week, tickets are also on sale for Rounds 17 to 23 of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Make sure you do not miss out as Geelong look to secure their place in September. 

WHERE TO WATCH 

Geelong's Round 14 clash will be part of Super Saturday on Fox Footy, broadcast live through Fox and streamed via Kayo from 4.00pm AEST ahead of the opening bounce at 4.15pm. 

Secure a 2025 Digital Plus Membership to watch all the action live with a Kayo Premium subscription. 

K rock will be covering all the action from 3.00pm AEST, tune in via 95.5FM, krockfootball.live and the AFL app. 

Cats Membership: 2025 Digital Plus 

Broadcast Details: 2025 AFL Broadcast Guide

Geelong has cruised to a dominant win at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, defeating Essendon by 94 points to move into second place on the ladder. 

A six-goal first quarter opened up an early buffer for the Cats and they never looked back, increasing the margin at every break before icing the game with a late flurry to record their fifth consecutive victory. 

The Cats tall timber did most of the damage up forward, Jeremy Cameron and Shannon Neale combining to boot 10 goals but Geelong were also able to find 11 individual goal-kickers throughout the afternoon. 

Bailey Smith (41 disposals, six clearances) brought his own footy in another sensational display, Max Holmes (36 disposals, eight clearances) was equally impressive and Tom Stewart (23 disposals, 16 marks) dominated in defence. 

Geelong gained the ascendancy early on Saturday with a six goal opening term, quickly opening up a 23 point break at quarter time with Jeremy Cameron, Shannon Neale and Shaun Mannagh all hitting the scoreboard twice. 

Mark O'Connor continued his strong form with 10 disposals in the first quarter, while Max Holmes and Bailey Smith broke the game open with their run and carry. 

After a high-scoring opening term, things tightened up in the second stanza with only four goals kicked, but Geelong were able to extend their lead out to 35 points at the main break. 

Bailey Smith was everywhere in the first half accumulating 24 disposals, four marks and seven inside 50's, generating 466 metres gained to continually push Geelong into attack. 

Tom Stewart was dominant down back collecting 14 disposals, nine marks and four score involvements, while Holmes (17 disposals) and O'Connor (15 disposals, eight marks) continued to be heavily influential. 

The game opened up after half time in another high scoring quarter, the two sides kicking 12 goals between them but Geelong continued to have all the answers, pushing the margin out to 49 points at the final break. 

Any chance of a comeback was quickly snuffed out in the final term as the Cats went on a rampage, booting seven unanswered goals to streak away to a dominant 94 point victory. 

Jeremy Cameron slotted his sixth major, Neale kicked his fourth and Mannagh curled home his third, while Ollie Dempsey also bobbed up and booted two majors in the last quarter. 

Once again Geelong's forward half pressure was a feature, laying 13 tackles inside 50 to the Bombers six, continuing to lead the AFL in that statistic to this point in 2025.

The win sends Geelong into the top two on the ladder for the first time this year, passing Adelaide and Brisbane to sit behind only Collingwood after 14 weeks of the season. 

The Cats return home next week for a blockbuster Friday night clash as they prepare to take on Brisbane at GMHBA Stadium. 

2025 AFL Season - Round 14

ESSENDON     2.4      3.7      8.7         8.8       (56) 
GEELONG        6.3      9.6     16.8      22.13      (151)

GOALS 
Essendon: Wright, Guelfi 2, Roberts, Kako, Gresham, Duursma 1
Geelong: Cameron 6, Neale 4, Mannagh 3, Dangerfield, Dempsey 2, Stengle, Stanley, Miers, Humphries, Holmes, Close

BEST
Essendon: Setterfield, Merrett, Goldstein, Prior, Guelfi
Geelong: Cameron, Smith, Holmes, Neale, Dempsey 

DISPOSALS
Essendon: Setterfield 31, Merrett, Johnson 29, Prior, Caldwell 28, Roberts 27
Geelong: Smith 41, Holmes 36, Miers 25, Stewart 23, O'Connor 22, Guthrie 20

INJURIES
Essendon: Nil
Geelong: Sam De Koning (shoulder)

SUBSTITUTES 
Essendon: Archie Perkins (replaced Archer Day-Wicks in the third quarter)
Geelong: Mitch Duncan (replaced Sam De Koning in the third quarter)

CROWD: 61,643 @ MCG