Another epic battle at GMHBA Stadium awaits tonight and this time it will be a South Australian visitor, with Geelong set to host Adelaide on Thursday night to commence Round 3. 

The two sides played out one of the most entertaining games in the 2025 season and will be looking to establish dominance early this year, with both the Cats and Crows registering a win and a loss through their opening two games. 

For Geelong, it will be a chance to harness the momentum they captured against Fremantle in Round 1, enjoying a bye week in Round 2 to rest and recover before taking on Adelaide. 

The match will also kick off an exciting two days at GMHBA Stadium, with Geelong's VFL team back in action against the Box Hill Hawks on Friday night. 

With so much to look forward to, take a final look ahead to Thursday night's blockbuster clash before Geelong and Adelaide lock horns under lights at the Cattery. 

KEY DETAILS 

2026 AFL Season | Round 3
Geelong Cats vs Adelaide
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Thursday March 26, 7.30pm AEDT

TEAM SELECTION

LAST TIME WE MET

As has been discussed in the build up to this match, Geelong and Adelaide played out one of the top games of the 2025 season in the most recent meeting between the two sides. 

Kicking off the action in Gather Round, the Cats clawed their way back from a 30-point deficit and a barnstorming fourth quarter propelled them to an iconic victory. 

Jeremy Cameron and Patrick Dangerfield spearheaded the attack with four goals apiece, while Bailey Smith claimed the three Brownlow votes with a brilliant performance through the middle. 

LEE KUM KEE - PIVOTAL MATCH-UP

Shannon Neale v Jordan Butts

Two key pillars for their teams and two players that are set to have a big impact on Thursday night, Shannon Neale and Jordan Butts will more than likely go toe-to-toe at various stages during Geelong's clash with Adelaide. 

Neale is in scintillating form coming off a match-winning performance against Fremantle, booting five goals from seven kicks including a stretch of three consecutive goals in the third quarter, helping to spearhead Geelong's comeback victory in Round 1. 

Butts has been Adelaide's defensive anchor across the first two weeks of the season, sitting third in the AFL for intercept marks and leading the Crows for total intercept possessions, even pushing forward to kick his first career goal against the Bulldogs. 

One-on-one battles do not come much bigger than this, figuratively and literally, so keep an eye on which key position player comes out on top in this blockbuster contest. 

KEY PLAYER TO WATCH

Sam De Koning

Down the opposite end of the ground to the aforementioned Shannon Neale, Sam De Koning will be another key player and a strong performance from him could go a long way towards a positive result. 

With the ability to intercept aerial contests and able to impose his big frame in one-on-one situations, the key defender will have a tough challenge ahead against the likes of Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty. 

De Koning has had a reasonable start to the season, sitting second at the club for intercept possessions and tied at the top for intercept marks, often entrusted on the last line of defence for the Cats. 

HOW TO GET TICKETS

Tickets are available for Thursday night's blockbuster clash at GMHBA Stadium, follow the link here to secure your seat through Ticketmaster. 

With nine home games remaining at GMHBA Stadium this year, now is the perfect time to check out all Geelong Cats Membership options for the 2026 season. 

Download the new Geelong Cats app and save your Member ticket to your wallet before getting to the game. 

If you're a Reserved Seat, Social Club or 1859 Member register to use DiDi Members' Express Entry to avoid the game day queues

Geelong fans can also purchase a Digital Plus Membership for the year ahead, which provides a 12-month subscription to Kayo so you can watch all the action from home. 

WHERE TO WATCH 

Geelong's Round 3 clash with Adelaide will be broadcast live and free on Channel 7, with coverage set to kick off at 7.00pm AEDT ahead of the opening bounce at 7.30pm.

The game will also be broadcast on Fox Footy and streamed through Kayo, with coverage set to commence at 7.00pm AEDT.

K rock will also be covering all the action from 6.00pm at GMHBA Stadium, tune in via 95.5FM, krockfootball.live or the AFL app.

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

It was tough, it was wet and at times it was not overly pretty, but Geelong has held on to record a gritty and important eight point win over Adelaide at GMHBA Stadium on Thursday night. 

With consistent rain throughout the night creating greasy and difficult conditions, the Cats grabbed an early lead and stayed in front for over 90 minutes of the match but struggled to land a decisive blow, before a classy Jack Martin goal proved to be the sealer midway through the last quarter. 

Where many players struggled to handle the ball cleanly, Bailey Smith looked a class above as he finished with a game-high 39 disposals and six clearances, while also laying 10 tackles and registering five score involvements in a phenomenal display. 

Martin (three goals) played a pivotal role in attack on a night where scoring was hard to come by, Tom Stewart (24 disposals, nine intercepts) was ultra important in defence, while Mark Blicavs (24 disposals, four clearances) and Shaun Mannagh (24 disposals, eight score involvements) were also brilliant. 

After the opening two games of the season, the importance of a fast start had never been more clearly evident for Geelong and they were quick to stamp their authority on the contest, recording 16 of the first 18 inside 50s and building a handy 14 point lead by quarter time. 

Tom Stewart was the unlikely first goal kicker as he slotted the seventh major of his career, Oli Wiltshire looked lively and had some nice moments early, while Shaun Mannagh and Ollie Dempsey handled the ball cleanly in difficult conditions to have a substantial impact in the opening term.

Geelong extended their advantage early in the second quarter through Jack Martin, but had to withstand a resurgence from Adelaide as they kicked three unanswered goals, before Martin bookended the term with his second major to put the Cats eight points clear at the main break. 

Statistically, the Cats controlled major facets of the game in the opening half including the inside 50 count (+13), centre clearances (+5) and contested possessions (+14), but struggled to capitalise on the scoreboard despite their dominance around the ground. 

Bailey Smith (17 disposals, four clearances) and Tom Atkins (13 disposals, five tackles) were instrumental through the midfield, Tom Stewart (13 disposals, seven intercepts) was rock solid in defence, while Mannagh (10 disposals, five score involvements) provided a spark inside forward 50. 

The rain returned in the third quarter and the two teams engaged in an enthralling battle, but the Cats squandered opportunities in front of the big sticks and Adelaide closed the gap to just four points heading into the last term. 

Stewart and Connor O'Sullivan picked off an incredible 17 intercept possessions between them through the first three quarters, helping to stifle many of Adelaide's attacking forays and keeping the Cats in front at the final break. 

The Crows briefly put their noses in front and set up a tense finish in the last quarter, Geelong clawed their way back into the lead with a flurry of points before Jack Martin finished brilliantly on the run, his third goal giving the Cats a little bit of breathing room at a pivotal moment in the match. 

Ollie Dempsey added another major from a mad scramble in the goal square, as the Cats held on to record an important eight point victory. 

After a brutal contest on Thursday night, the Cats will now have an extended break to set themselves for a blockbuster Easter Monday clash against Hawthorn at the MCG. 

2026 AFL Season - Round 3

GEELONG     4.4     6.5    7.9   9.14   (68)  
ADELAIDE    2.2     5.3    7.5    9.6   (60) 

GOALS
Geelong: Martin 3, Dempsey 2, Stewart, Mannagh, Holmes, O.Henry 1
Adelaide: Taylor 3, Thilthorpe, Rankine, Rachele, Cumming, Neal-Bullen, Murray 1

BEST
Geelong: Holmes, Dempsey, Martin, Smith, De Koning, Blicavs
Adelaide: Rachele, Rankine, Butts, Worrell, Thilthorpe, Berry

INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Adelaide: Nil

CROWD: 20,403 @ GMHBA Stadium