Two games remain in the home and away season and for Geelong there is everything to play for, as they head to the SCG for a crucial clash with the Sydney Swans on Sunday afternoon. 

Win this weekend and the Cats would officially secure their spot in Finals, while also taking a significant step closer to locking in a top four position heading into the last round of the regular season. 

Geelong enters the match on a four game win streak but will face a resurgent Sydney team, who has won seven of their last nine games after a slow start to the season. 

With plenty riding on this weekend's clash, here is everything you need to know before the Cats head north to take on the Swans. 

KEY DETAILS  

2025 AFL Season - Round 23

Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats

SCG, Sydney

Sunday August 17th, 3.15pm (AEST)

TEAM SELECTION

KEY PLAYER TO WATCH

Brad Close

The smaller ground dimensions at the SCG demand precise and efficient ball movement in the forward half, and no Cat has been more important in that area than Brad Close in 2025. 

Close leads the team and sits third in the AFL this year for goal assists (24), while also contributing 17 goals of his own. He is coming off a strong performance against the Bombers last week, where he accumulated 10 score involvements. 

Across four career appearances at the SCG, Close has performed strongly averaging 15 disposals, two goals and a goal assist per game, set to be an important figure once again for the Cats on Sunday afternoon. 

RECENT HISTORY - Geelong v Sydney

This has been a relatively even battle in recent times, with Geelong winning six of their last 10 clashes against Sydney dating back to 2018. 

The last two clashes have resulted in a 30 point loss and a draw however, a trend the Cats will be looking to reverse this weekend. 

VENUE HISTORY - SCG

Geelong's all-time record at the SCG is strong, in fact they hold the third best winning percentage of any visiting team in V/AFL history at the venue (55.1%), but recent history has not been so kind to the Cats. 

Across their last four games at the SCG, Geelong have suffered a pair of 30-point defeats, a two-point loss and a draw, with their last win against Sydney at the venue coming back in 2019. 

VFL | Round 21

Sydney v Geelong
Sunday 17th August
Bounce: 11:35am AEST
Tramway Oval, Sydney

TICKETS

Tickets are available for Cats fans heading north this weekend, secure your seat through Ticketek today. 

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

WHERE TO WATCH 

Geelong's Round 23 clash with Sydney will be broadcast live and free on Channel 7 from 3.00pm AEST, ahead of the opening bounce at 3.15pm. 

The match will also be broadcast on Fox Footy and streamed through Kayo from 3.00pm. 

K rock will be covering the match and all the pre-game build up from 2.00pm, 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.

Broadcast Details: 2025 AFL Broadcast Guide

Geelong have staved off an early challenge from Sydney on Sunday afternoon to officially secure a place in September, defeating the Swans by 43 points at the SCG. 

Momentum shifted back and forth numerous times throughout a tight first half, but the Cats flexed their muscle after the main break kicking eight goals to three, strengthening their grip on a top four position with one game left in the home and away season. 

There were big winners right across the ground for the Cats; Shannon Neale was significant with a four-goal haul in the opening half, Bailey Smith (30 disposals, nine score involvements) accumulated plenty of the footy, while Ollie Dempsey (21 disposals, nine score involvements) and Tom Atkins (21 disposals, seven clearances) both produced a number of big moments to steer Geelong to victory. 

One pleasing aspect from Sunday's game was the performance of Geelong's defensive unit with Jack Henry, Tom Stewart and Sam De Koning picking off 27 intercept possessions between them. 

The game certainly did not begin the way that Chris Scott and his side would have wanted but after an early onslaught from the Swans, Geelong settled into their work and booted four unanswered goals to leave scores level at quarter time. 

Shannon Neale played a telling role early, launching home a long range set shot to open the Cats account, before plucking a big contested grab and kicking his second shortly after.

The second quarter started in an eerily similar fashion to the first, Sydney kicked away early before Neale stood tall once again, booting two more goals to pull the Cats back into the contest. 

Tyson Stengle hit the scoreboard later in the term after a brilliant solo effort, shrugging off multiple tackles to put Geelong nine points clear at the main break. 

Neale was the standout in the opening half with four goals, Jack Martin chipped in with two of his own, while Bailey Smith found plenty of the footy collecting 20 disposals and five score involvements. 

Perhaps the most pleasing aspect for Geelong in the first half was their defence with Jack Henry, Sam De Koning and Tom Stewart combining to pick off 14 intercept possessions. 

Stengle produced another slice of magic to kickstart the second half, nailing a long range set shot from tight against the boundary to give his side the perfect start.

Geelong's defence continued to answer the challenge throughout the third term, conceding one goal from 14 inside 50 entries as the Cats extended the margin to 26 points at the final break. 

Looking to pull away to an unassailable lead in the last term, Stengle once again gave the Cats a perfect start as he got on the end of a brilliant chain to kick his third goal, less than a minute into the quarter. 

Geelong continued to pull away from there, closing out a 43 point victory to lock in their spot in the top eight with one game left in the home and away season. 

2025 AFL Season - Round 23

SYDNEY        4.3     7.4     8.6      10.8    (68)  
GEELONG      4.3     8.7    12.8    16.15   (111)  

GOALS
Sydney: Papley, McLean, Ladhams 2, McCartin, Heeney, Campbell, Buller 1
Geelong: Neale 4, Stengle, Mannagh 3, Miers, Martin 2, Dempsey, Dangerfield 1

BEST
Sydney: Ladhams, Gulden, Papley, Warner, Mills
Geelong: Smith, Neale, Mannagh, Atkins, Holmes, Dempsey, Stengle, Stewart

INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
Geelong: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Caiden Cleary (replaced Jesse Dattoli in the third quarter)
Geelong: Jack Bowes (replaced Jack Henry in the fourth quarter)