The first of three trips to the City of Churches in the next nine weeks awaits Geelong, as they head to Adelaide this weekend for the AFL's Gather Round and an enticing Sunday afternoon clash with the West Coast Eagles. 

For the Cats, it will be a chance to bounce back from a last-minute defeat to Hawthorn on Easter Monday, while also set to be their first game against a non-Finals team from 2025. 

West Coast have shown signs of growth this year despite a heavy loss last week to Sydney, but they will certainly be no pushover and Geelong will need to bring their A-game to walk away with the four points. 

It will also be the first time that the Geelong Football Club has ever competed for premiership points at Norwood Oval, a suburban ground used for SANFL footy and described by the AFL as the "narrowest ground in use in the SANFL." 

Prior to Sunday's match, take a look ahead at everything you need to know as Geelong takes on West Coast in Gather Round, proudly presented by Lee Kum Kee. 

KEY DETAILS 

2026 AFL Season | Round 5
Geelong Cats v West Coast
Norwood Oval, Adelaide
Sunday April 12, 12.30pm AEST

TEAM SELECTION

LAST TIME WE MET

It took Geelong till late in the fourth term to shake a plucky West Coast outfit, but a late burst from Jeremy Cameron guided them to a 43-point victory in Round 12 last year. 

Only one goal separated the sides early in the last quarter before the Cats piled on seven of the last eight goals, the final four majors all coming off Cameron's boot in a 12-minute flurry. 

Bailey Smith (38 disposals) was electric through the midfield, Gryan Miers (26 disposals, two goals) was instrumental and Max Holmes (27 disposals, seven clearances) was brilliant as Geelong staved off a strong challenge at Optus Stadium. 

LEE KUM KEE - PIVOTAL MATCH-UP

Max Holmes v Tim Kelly

The narrow dimensions at Norwood Oval mean that the game will more than likely be played through the middle of the ground, and the importance of being able to run and carry the football becomes imperative on Sunday afternoon. 

Nobody is more influential in that space for Geelong than Max Holmes, who finished second in the AFL for total metres gained last year and is able to break the lines with his speed and penetrating kick. 

GMHBA Stadium is another narrow ground similar to Norwood Oval, and it also happens to be a venue that Holmes excels at with an average of 32 disposals and eight inside 50s across his last six appearances at home. 

On the other side is the familiar figure of Tim Kelly, who is averaging 22.3 disposals and five clearances per game this year and is a key driver out of the midfield for the Eagles. The former Cat also leads his side for total clearances, inside 50s and goal assists this year despite missing their opening game. 

Two players with diverse skill sets that are pivotal to their team's structure, it sets up an enticing match-up this weekend in the middle of the ground at Norwood. 

KEY PLAYER TO WATCH

Jake Kolodjashnij

Any team would jump at the chance to add a premiership player with nearly 200 games of experience into their line-up, but after over 18 months that is exactly what Geelong will do in Gather Round as Jake Kolodjashnij makes his AFL return. 

The key defender has not featured at the elite level since the Cats' 2024 Preliminary Final against Brisbane, suffering an injury-interrupted 2025 season and biding his time in the VFL as he built match fitness and form to start the new campaign. 

After a pair of strong performances to start 2026, Kolodjashnij put himself firmly in the selection frame and earned a recall for Geelong's clash with West Coast, set to be the 199th appearance in his AFL career. 

HOW TO GET TICKETS

Click here to view all ticketing information ahead of the 2026 AFL Gather Round in South Australia. 

Public Gates will be open from 10.30am ACST at Norwood Oval. 

WHERE TO WATCH 

Geelong's Gather Round clash will be broadcast on Fox Footy and streamed through Kayo, which will be covering all the action from 12.30pm AEST at Norwood Oval. 

Cats fans can also listen to all the action on K rock from 11.00am AEST, tune in via FM 95.5 across Geelong & the Surf Coast, the K rock app or the AFL app.

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

Geelong has done enough to stave off a strong challenge from a plucky West Coast team on Sunday afternoon, flexing their muscle after an even start and pulling away late to record a 46-point win at Norwood Oval. 

It marks a fourth win in four editions of Gather Round for the Cats, while also extending their winning streak in South Australia to six, having not lost a game in the state since midway through the 2023 season. 

The victory moves Geelong into the top half of the ladder with their third win in the last four games, setting the stage for a mouthwatering clash against the Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium next week. 

There were plenty of big performances on Sunday afternoon but nobody was more influential than Bailey Smith, the superstar on-baller putting together a consistent four-quarter performance and finishing with 34 disposals, seven clearances and 13 score involvements, while equalling the all-time V/AFL single-game record with 16 inside 50s.

Tom Atkins (30 disposals, 11 tackles) and Tanner Bruhn (28 disposals, 11 score involvements) were very impactful through the middle of the ground, Max Holmes (34 disposals, two goal assists) was brilliant across half back and Mark O'Connor (three goals) stamped his authority on the contest both through the midfield and inside forward 50. 

The Cats would also be pleased to see Jake Kolodjashnij (12 disposals) back in action after an extended absence, while James Worpel (20 disposals, 11 clearances) celebrated his 150th AFL game in style. 

The Cats were certainly challenged in the opening quarter as they afforded West Coast too much space in transition, the young Eagles outfit snatching an early lead but Geelong responded strongly with three goals to end the first term, heading into quarter time seven points ahead. 

It was proving to be a midfield-dominated battle on the narrow confines of Norwood Oval, with Geelong's first three goals all coming from stoppages and it was led by a sensational start from Bailey Smith, who collected 10 disposals and a goal in the first term alone. 

Another slow start to the second quarter saw the lead change hands several times, Geelong took some time to gain the ascendancy but in similar fashion to the first term, the Cats finished with a flurry as they kicked five unanswered goals to extend the lead to 30 points at half time. 

With some midfielders returning to the line-up, Max Holmes was pushed to half back and it proved to be a masterstroke in the opening half, the star Cat amassing 19 disposals and 464 metres gained to generate plenty of run and carry out of defence. 

Mark O'Connor had never kicked more than one goal in a game across his 150 matches with the Cats, but he quickly set about changing that with an incredible three-goal haul in the first half, adding 12 disposals and three intercept possessions for good measure. 

While he was reasonably well held after a dominant start, Smith still headed into half time with 16 disposals and seven inside 50s to his name, while Tanner Bruhn (16 disposals, two goal assists) and Tom Atkins (16 disposals, five tackles) were also crucial through the middle of the ground. 

Geelong's tall timber kickstarted the second half with Shannon Neale and Jeremy Cameron both hitting the scoreboard early in the third term, setting the tone for a free-flowing and high scoring quarter of football. 

Both teams would add four goals in the term as the Cats closed in on the 100-point mark with a quarter to play, their lead narrowly growing to 35 points heading into the final break. 

Needing one final burst to put the game out of reach, the Cats started the final term perfectly with Brad Close and Jeremy Cameron hitting the scoreboard in quick succession to build an unassailable lead. 

From there they were able to successfully ice the game, holding West Coast goalless until the final minute of the quarter as they closed out a strong 46-point victory, Geelong's third win in their last four games. 

2026 AFL Season - Round 5

GEELONG CATS    4.5   10.8   14.13  17.19   (121)  
WEST COAST        3.4    5.8      9.8   11.10    (76) 

GOALS
Geelong Cats: O'Connor, Cameron 3, Neale, Close, Henry 2, Worpel, Wiltshire, Smith, De Koning, Bowes 1
West Coast: Shanahan 4, Waterman, Schoenberg, Owies, Graham, Duursma, Baker, Reid 1

BEST
Geelong: Smith, Bruhn, Holmes, O'Connor, Worpel, Atkins
West Coast: Duursma, Ginbey, Shanahan, Williams, Kelly

CROWD: TBC @ Norwood Oval