With September drawing ever so close, every match is significant and the pressure is mounting as teams look to cement their spot in the top eight. 

For Geelong it is no different as they search for a top four berth, a chance to build some momentum on Saturday night as they take on North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium. 

Recent history between the two sides has heavily favoured the Cats, currently holding a 13 game win streak over the Kangaroos with the last loss coming in 2016. 

But it is not a challenge they can take lightly with five games remaining in the home and away season, take a look at everything you need to know ahead of Saturday night's match. 

KEY DETAILS  

2025 AFL Season - Round 20

North Melbourne v Geelong Cats

Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

Saturday July 26th, 7.35pm (AEST)

TEAM SELECTION

KEY PLAYER TO WATCH

Gryan Miers

Playing under the roof at Marvel Stadium creates perfect conditions for football, which generally lends itself to a faster and more skilful contest.  

This brand of footy suits classy players, those who can hit targets repeatedly and nobody does it better than Gryan Miers. 

2025 has been a terrific campaign for the crafty Cat, averaging career high numbers in disposals (22.25) and marks (6.19), while impacting the scoreboard with eight goals and 13 goal assists. 

Miers has been able to push further up the ground this year and help generate Geelong's ball movement with his lethal kicking skills, something that will be incredibly important on Saturday night. 

RECENT HISTORY - Geelong v North Melbourne

It is a level of dominance rarely seen in professional sports, but Geelong have not lost to North Melbourne in nearly a decade, holding a 13 game winning streak heading into Saturday night's clash. 

The Cats scoring prowess has been a telling factor, with an average score of 127 points per game and an average winning margin of 70 points over the last five matches. 

Remarkably over the stretch of 13 consecutive wins, only one game has been decided by under 20 points which is something the Cats will be looking to continue this weekend. 

VENUE HISTORY - Marvel Stadium 

While the Cats record against the Kangaroos has been strong, their history at Marvel Stadium has been spotty. 

Geelong have only played at the venue four times in the last three seasons, but they have been defeated in the last three consecutive games and have only won four of their last 10 matches at Marvel. 

Despite the inconsistent form in recent seasons, the Cats still hold the best winning percentage (65.24%) of any team in the competition at the venue since it started hosting AFL games in 2000. 

VFL CATS | Round 18

North Melbourne v Geelong
Sunday 27th July
Bounce: 12.05pm
Arden Street Oval, Melbourne

AFLW | Match Simulation

St Kilda v Geelong Cats
Saturday 26th July
Bounce: 1.00pm AEST
RSEA Park, Melbourne

TICKETS

Tickets are available for Cats fans heading up the highway on Saturday night, follow the link here to secure your seat through Ticketmaster. 

With an exciting conclusion to the home and away season ahead, 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 all the action on Saturday, tune into the Geelong website and stay up to date with the Cats Live Blog!

Available from 12.30pm AEST on Saturday afternoon, the blog will cover all the action from Geelong's clash with North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium, while also providing updates throughout the Cats AFLW match simulation against St Kilda. 

WHERE TO WATCH 

Saturday night's clash will be broadcast on Fox Footy and streamed through Kayo from 7.30pm AEST, ahead of the opening bounce at 7.35pm. 

K rock will also be covering the game for those tuning into the radio, their coverage will start at 6.00pm and you can catch all the action on 95.5FM, krockfootball.live or through the AFL app. 

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 torn apart North Melbourne in a 101-point victory, with Jeremy Cameron kicking a career high 11-goals to extend the longest active winning streak over an opposition team to 13 consecutive wins. 

The Cats seized their spot back in the top four, securing their first win at Marvel Stadium in two years, with a final score of 7.7 (49) to 22.18 (150). 

Bailey Smith was back in Brownlow contention after a quiet two weeks, notching up an equal career-best of his own with 43 disposals, 13 clearances and a goal.

Max Holmes also impressed and was left relatively unattended by the Roos midfield throughout the game, snagging 29 disposals, seven clearances and 664 metres gained.

Without Nick Larkey for the third consecutive week, defender Charlie Comben moved forward as a tall option, flanked by Cameron Zurhaar and Paul Curtis. Whilst the latter duo each kicked multiple goals, it wasn’t enough with six cumulative North Melbourne goals not even close to bridging the gap. 

The Cats’ forward line was on fire, and no matter what Alastair Clarkson threw at the defence, it wasn’t enough to stop the bleeding on the scoreboard. Forward Zane Duursma also found himself moved around, replicating his half-back spot in the VFL last week. 

But for all of Clarkson’s magnet moving, the most baffling was not assigning anyone to be Jeremy Cameron’s shadow until the third quarter, when Toby Pink was sent to be glued to his side. 

However, it was too little too late, as the damage had been done by the Coleman Medal leader who slotted five goals in the first half, and finished with a career high 11 by the game’s end. 

And if it wasn’t Cameron inside-50 it was Shannon Neale, who kicked four goals and took eight marks.  

Despite the carnage to the scoreboard, both teams left relatively unscathed on the injury front with both subs used tactically. Patrick Dangerfield was subbed out of his 200th game in the blue hoops, for Lawson Humphries in the third term, whilst Roo Robert Hansen Jr came on for Jacob Konstanty in the fourth.

In what was an ultimately dismal showing from North Melbourne, veteran Luke Parker was the shining light, displaying his seniority with 31 disposals and five clearances, whilst Colby McKercher had 32 touches and 6 marks. 

But for what it was worth, Geelong was still too strong.

With a dominant exhibition of football, Chris Scott’s Cats took their spot back in the top four in a bloodbath that saw the first triple-digit margin of 2025. 

2025 AFL Season - Round 20

NORTH MELBOURNE     2.2      3.4       3.5       7.7     (49)  
GEELONG CATS             4.6    11.10    19.15   22.18   (150)  

GOALS
North Melbourne: Zurhaar 3, Curtis 2, Maley, Darling 1
Geelong Cats: Cameron 11, Neale 4, Stengle 2, Stanley, Smith, Miers, Humphries, Bowes 1

BEST
North Melbourne: Parker, McKercher, Sheezel, Powell, Simpkin
Geelong: Smith, Cameron, Holmes, Atkins, Miers

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Geelong: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Robert Hansen Jnr (replaced Jacob Konstanty in the fourth quarter)
Geelong Cats: Lawson Humphries (replaced Patrick Dangerfield in the third quarter)

Crowd: TBC at Marvel Stadium