A cat fight is set for Saturday afternoon, with Geelong preparing to take on Richmond at GMHBA Stadium in Round 17. 

Geelong returns from their bye week in a strong position, sitting in the top four with eight games remaining in the home and away season. 

The challenge this week will be an emerging Tigers team stacked full of young talent, results have not fallen their way in 2025 but they still can not be taken lightly. 

Check out a rundown of everything you need to know ahead of Saturday's game at Kardinia Park. 

KEY DETAILS  

2025 AFL Season - Round 17
Geelong Cats v Richmond
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Saturday 5th July, 4.15pm (AEST)

TEAM SELECTION

KEY PLAYER TO WATCH

Mark Blicavs

Quietly going about his business and proving to be as effective as ever in his 13th season at the top level, there have not been many players more important to the Cats than Mark Blicavs in 2025. 

At times he has rolled through the midfield and the wing, but the veteran Cat has also pushed back throughout the year to help out in defence when the team requires it.  

The stats speak for themselves averaging over four marks, 10 hit-outs and three clearances per game, while also recording over four score involvements and three intercept possessions per game this year. 

Whatever role he is needed for on Saturday, Blicavs will be one of the most important players on the ground once again when the Cats take on Richmond. 

RECENT HISTORY - Geelong v Richmond

This matchup has turned in favour of the Cats over recent years, with Geelong winning four of the past clashes against Richmond dating back to 2021. 

The Tigers had won six of seven matches prior to that, which snapped a run of 13 consecutive wins for Geelong over Richmond between 2007 and 2017. 

Richmond have only visited Kardinia Park twice in the past 13 years, their last win at the venue coming back in 2006. 

VENUE HISTORY - GMHBA Stadium 

Geelong have won six of their last eight games at home dating back to Round 21 last year, but they fell in the most recent clash against Brisbane a fortnight ago. 

The Cats have had an impeccable record against the Tigers at GMHBA Stadium, claiming victory in 22 of the last 25 clashes at the venue with Richmond's last win here coming 19 years ago. 

VFL CATS

Geelong Cats v Richmond
Sunday 6th July
Bounce: 12.05pm
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong

TICKETS

Tickets are available for Geelong's clash with Richmond at GMHBA Stadium, secure your seat through Ticketmaster today.

With an exciting conclusion to the home and away season awaiting, 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.

WHERE TO WATCH 

Geelong's Round 17 clash with Richmond will be broadcast on Fox Footy and streamed through Kayo, 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 put together a dominant performance against a young Richmond side, thrashing the Tigers by 72 points on Saturday afternoon at GMHBA Stadium.

The Cats had 10 individual goalkickers, with the floodgates opening up after quarter-time when Geelong kicked 15 goals to the Tigers' six to win 18.16 (124) to 7.10 (52) in front of a crowd of 31,060.

They did it without star midfielder Bailey Smith, who was a late out due to illness and was replaced by Jack Bowes.

Richmond was left without No.1 pick Sam Lalor after he came from the ground, grabbing at his left hamstring after applying a tackle to Tom Atkins on the wing.

Shortly after Lalor came to the bench, Jasper Alger, Tom Brown and veteran Kamdyn McIntosh joined their teammate on the sidelines. All three later returned to the game.

The temporarily undermanned Tigers kept up with Geelong initially and had 17 inside 50s to 12 in the first quarter. But it was Geelong which was more damaging with its forward entries, with Patrick Dangerfield, Jeremy Cameron and Bowes all hitting the scoreboard, while for the Tigers their only major came through a well-executed snap from Rhyan Mansell on the boundary. 

Chris Scott, who coached his 350th game, may have asked his players to lift at the quarter-time break, as the Cats came out firing in the second term. Crafty small forward Gryan Myers' influence increased, as did mature-aged recruit Shaun Mannagh's, as the Cats piled on 10 unanswered goals. To the delight of Cats fans, one of those goals came through debutant George Stevens, who slotted his first career goal from a set shot.

The crowd was on Jezza watch with Cameron looking to kick his 700th AFL goal. But in true Cameron fashion, he kept the crowd guessing, missing a number of opportunities before finally reaching the milestone midway through the third term.

Tiger Hugo Ralphsmith became the second Richmond player to injure their hamstring, icing his leg on the bench in the last quarter when the sting was well and truly out of the game. Both Geelong and the Tigers added three goals apiece in the last quarter, making it Richmond's best quarter of the match with Maurice Rioli jnr, Toby Nankervis and Tom Brown hitting the scoreboard.

Cameron reaches 700 career goals

It could have come earlier in the match, but Jeremy Cameron reached the milestone of 700 career goals midway through the third quarter. Cameron also kicked five behinds, but reached the milestone as he finished the game with four goals next to his name. Cameron kicked 427 goals at Greater Western Sydney where he started his career, and 273 at the Cats. Cameron now sits equal 26th for goals all-time, and leads this year's Coleman Medal race.

2025 AFL Season - Round 17

GEELONG         3.3     11.9     15.13     18.16   (124)  
RICHMOND      1.2      2.4       4.6        7.10    (52)  

GOALS
Geelong: Cameron 4, Neale 3, Dangerfield 2, Close 2, Bowes 2, Stevens, Martin, Mannagh, Holmes, Henry
Richmond: Mansell 3, Rioli, Nankervis, Faull, Brow 

BEST
Geelong: Miers, Holmes, Cameron, Dangerfield, Guthrie
Richmond: Mansell, Hopper, Taranto, Rioli, Campbell, Faull

INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Richmond: Lalor (hamstring), Ralphsmith (hamstring) 

LATE CHANGES
Geelong: Bailey Smith (illness) replaced by Jack Bowes
Richmond: Nil 

SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Mitch Duncan (unused)
Richmond: Maurice Rioli jnr (replaced Sam Lalor in the first quarter)

Crowd: 31,060 at GMHBA Stadium