Another week, another crucial clash for Geelong as they look to solidify their spot in the top four, taking on GWS who will be hoping to cement their own position in the top eight. 

The ramifications could be significant on Saturday afternoon, with only one game separating third down to ninth on the ladder inside the final two months of the home and away season. 

Round 18 will be Geelong's penultimate interstate trip in the regular season, also their final match against teams currently in the top eight. 

Take a look at everything you need to know for Saturday's important clash with the Giants.

KEY DETAILS  

2025 AFL Season - Round 18 

GWS Giants v Geelong Cats

ENGIE Stadium, Sydney

Saturday July 12th, 4.15pm (AEST)

TEAM SELECTION

KEY PLAYER TO WATCH

Brad Close

GWS like to set up plays off half back which means that Geelong will need to find ways to apply pressure in their forward half, and no player in the competition does it better than Brad Close. 

The Cats forward is coming off a stellar performance last week against Richmond, where he kicked two goals and dished off four goal assists to help Geelong secure a comfortable victory. 

Close leads the Cats for total goal assists this season while hitting the scoreboard in 11 different games himself, but the pressure he can apply against the likes of Lachie Whitfield and Lachie Ash on Saturday will be critical for Geelong. 

RECENT HISTORY - Geelong v GWS Giants

Geelong will be out to snap a three game losing streak against the Giants on Saturday, but it will also be their first trip to ENGIE Stadium since the opening round of the 2020 season. 

The Cats last win against GWS came back in the early stages of the 2022 season, more than three years ago but Geelong still hold a slight advantage overall, with nine wins and one draw from 17 matches against the Giants. 

One key feature of this match-up has been the close finishes, with six clashes decided by seven points or less. 

VENUE HISTORY - ENGIE Stadium 

As mentioned previously, Geelong has not played at ENGIE Stadium since the opening round of the 2020 season, but this will also be just their fifth match at the venue since the Giants entered the league in 2012. 

The Cats won their first two games at ENGIE Stadium and drew the third, but suffered defeat in the most recent outing over five years ago. 

VFL CATS

GWS Giants v Geelong
Saturday 12th July
Bounce: 12.15pm
ENGIE Stadium, Sydney

TICKETS

Tickets are available for Geelong fans heading to Sydney to see the Cats clash with the Giants, secure your seat through Ticketmaster today.

With an exciting conclusion to the home and away season awaiting after the bye, check out the full range of 2025 Geelong Cats Membership options so you don't miss a minute of the action. 

If you have any questions about AFL ticketing or membership please contact Geelong Cats Membership Services here.

LIVE BLOG

For a different way to follow Saturday's match, tune into the Geelong website and catch all the action with the Cats official live blog. 

This week the live blog will be covering the entire day of action in Sydney, with live updates from both Geelong's AFL and VFL games on Saturday afternoon. 

Follow the link here from 12.00pm tomorrow to follow all the action as it happens. 

WHERE TO WATCH 

Geelong's Round 18 clash with the GWS Giants will be broadcast on Fox Footy and streamed through Kayo from 4.00pm, ahead of the opening bounce at 4.15pm AEST. 

K rock will also be covering the match and all the pre-game build up from 3.00pm, tune into 95.5FM, krockfootball.live or the AFL app to follow along. 

Make sure to follow @GeelongCats social media channels for updates pre, during and post game.

Cats Membership: 2025 Digital Plus 

Broadcast Details: 2025 AFL Broadcast Guide

Geelong has slumped to a 26 point loss on a disappointing afternoon at ENGIE Stadium, as the GWS Giants extended their strong record over the Cats with a fourth consecutive victory. 

The visitors started sprightly with a strong opening term but struggled to gain the ascendancy from there, GWS kicking five goals in each of the final three quarters with Geelong unable to stop their momentum through the middle of the ground. 

A positive takeaway from the game was the performance of key forward, Shannon Neale who equalled his career-high with a five goal haul while plucking numerous contested marks, helping to keep Geelong in the contest for much of the afternoon. 

Gryan Miers (22 disposals, one goal) fought valiantly and did everything he could to ignite Geelong's ball movement, while Tom Stewart (29 disposals, 13 intercept possessions) was brilliant in defence. 

The Cats started the afternoon in brilliant fashion, as they kicked the opening three goals of the game in just six minutes of play, carving out a 13-point lead at quarter time. 

Miers was everywhere early collecting nine disposals and three score involvements in the first term, Ollie Dempsey and Shaun Mannagh were heavily influential with their run and carry while also pushing forward to impact the scoreboard. 

But momentum shifted in the blink of an eye to start the second term, GWS piled on five unanswered goals in a 15 minute burst to put the Cats on the back foot, late goals to Neale and Jack Bowes pulling Geelong back within a kick at the main break. 

Tom Stewart and Jack Henry helped to limit the damage in defence picking off 12 intercept possessions between them, while Mark Blicavs started to have an influence around stoppages with four clearances. 

The Cats were able to stay in the contest for the majority of the third quarter, Shannon Neale slotting his third major to pull his side back within seven points at the 22 minute mark, but a late three goal burst from Aaron Cadman sent the Giants 25 points clear heading into the final break. 

Geelong managed to kick five goals of their own in the last quarter but failed to make any inroads into the deficit, GWS matching it with five goals of their own as the Cats slipped to a 26 point loss at ENGIE Stadium. 

Get down to GMHBA Stadium on Tuesday morning for a Cats open training session, before Geelong take on St Kilda at home next Sunday afternoon. 

2025 AFL Season - Round 18

GWS GIANTS          2.1     7.5     12.8     17.9    (111)  
GEELONG CATS     4.2     6.5      8.7     13.7     (85)  

GOALS
GWS Giants: Cadman 6, Stringer 4, Greene 2, Riccardi, Jones, Hogan, Brown, Bedford 1
Geelong Cats: Neale 5, Miers, Mannagh, Dempsey, Cameron, Bowes, Holmes, O.Henry, Close 1

BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Cadman, Callaghan, Whitfield, Green, Briggs, Ash, Stringer
Geelong: Neale, Miers, Stewart, Smith, Dempsey

DISPOSALS
GWS Giants: Whitfield 32, Callaghan 29, Ash 27, Green 24, Rowston 20
Geelong Cats: Stewart 29, Smith 26, Miers, Blicavs 22

INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
Geelong: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
GWS Giants: Harvey Thomas (replaced Jesse Hogan in the fourth quarter)
Geelong Cats: Ollie Henry (replaced George Stevens in the third quarter)

Crowd: TBC at ENGIE Stadium