A tough stretch of games lies ahead for the Cats and it starts with Round 8, as a resurgent North Melbourne outfit travels down the highway for a big Saturday afternoon clash at GMHBA Stadium. 

Coming off a disappointing loss to Port Adelaide last weekend, Geelong will look to get back on the winners list in front of their home crowd, in what is set to be a brilliant day of football. 

The VFL Cats will also be in action in another exciting curtain-raiser clash, as they take on North Melbourne at the Cattery prior to the AFL match. 

Take a look ahead to Geelong's clash with the Kangaroos, proudly presented by Lee Kum Kee. 

KEY DETAILS 

2026 AFL Season | Round 8
Geelong Cats v North Melbourne
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Saturday May 2, 4.35pm AEST

TEAM SELECTION

LAST TIME WE MET

Jezza's day out dominated the headlines in Geelong's most recent clash with North Melbourne, as they cruised to a comprehensive 101-point victory in Round 20 last year. 

Cameron dominated from start to finish and ended with a career-high 11 goal haul, becoming the first Cat since Gary Ablett Senior to reach double digits in a single match. 

Bailey Smith collected a lazy 43 disposals and 13 clearances to have complete control through the midfield, while Max Holmes and Tom Atkins also impressed in the scintillating outing under the roof at Marvel Stadium. 

LEE KUM KEE - PIVOTAL MATCH-UP

Mitch Edwards v Tristan Xerri

Set to be perhaps the biggest test in his young career so far, Mitch Edwards will go toe-to-toe with superstar ruckman Tristan Xerri on Saturday. 

Edwards has been rock solid at the start of his AFL journey, featuring in the last six consecutive games and giving the Cats a new dynamic around stoppages. 

Xerri is widely considered to be one of the top three ruckmen in the competition and the stats back that up, with the Roos big man ranking first in the AFL for average contested possessions per game, third for clearances and second for tackles. 

Geelong were well beaten around stoppages by Port Adelaide last week, so this battle between Edwards and Xerri is set to be crucial to the outcome of Saturday's clash. 

KEY PLAYER TO WATCH

Max Holmes

Geelong struggled to produce any significant run and carry last week and if there is one player that can flip that script, it will be Max Holmes on Saturday afternoon. 

While he was not poor against the Power, Holmes was not able to have his usual impact despite collecting 25 disposals and three clearances. 

The star Cat is averaging 28.9 disposals, 5.1 inside 50s and 4.6 rebound 50s per game this year, building a strong and consistent start to the season. 

Look for Holmes to be part of a strong response this weekend, with a strong previous record against the Kangaroos and a brilliant streak of games at GMHBA Stadium heading into another big game. 

VFL CURTAIN-RAISER

Prior to the AFL match, Geelong's VFL team will be in action on Saturday afternoon in a curtain-raising clash, as they take on the Kangaroos from 12.30pm at GMHBA Stadium. 

The Cats enjoyed a bye last week but remain perched on top of the VFL ladder, winning three of their opening four games while being one of the highest scoring teams in the competition. 

All patrons with a ticket to the AFL can also attend the VFL match, with entry available through Gate 13 from 12.00pm. 

For more information, check out Geelong's Match Day Guide. 

HOW TO GET TICKETS

Tickets are on sale for Saturday's clash with the Kangaroos, follow the link below to secure your seat through Ticketmaster. 

Members, make sure to download your tickets from the Cats app prior to arriving at GMHBA Stadium. 

VFL Ticketing

Ticket holders for the AFL match have entry included for the VFL game. All patrons must hold a ticket to the AFL game to access the VFL match.

WHERE TO WATCH 

Geelong's Round 8 match will be broadcast on Fox Footy and streamed through Kayo from 4.30pm AEST, ahead of the opening bounce at 4.35pm. 

Cats fans can also listen to all the action on K rock from 3.00pm 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.

It was certainly not a simple Saturday afternoon stroll for Geelong but their class and experience eventually shone through, a brilliant fourth quarter was enough to shake off a plucky North Melbourne outfit as the Cats recorded a 49-point win at GMHBA Stadium. 

Racing out of the blocks with a brilliant start, Geelong had to withstand a serious challenge from the visitors and even trailed midway through the third term, but a run of 13 goals to three for the Cats through the third and fourth quarters was enough to secure the four points. 

When the game was crying out for a hero, Max Holmes answered the call and his second half in particular was exquisite, finishing the game with 28 disposals, two goals and a staggering 802 metres gained, also generating six score involvements in a phenomenal outing. 

Shaun Mannagh (18 disposals, four goals) was well and truly back to his best form with a fantastic performance, while Shannon Neale (three goals) also capitalised in some big moments to help the Cats wrestle back the ascendancy.  

There was plenty of talk about Geelong's ball movement after Round 7 and the response was immediate, with the Cats showing a clear intent to shift the ball with speed and it paid off with three goals in the opening five minutes of the game. 

It laid the foundation for a solid opening term, but North Melbourne wrestled back the momentum and booted three unanswered goals to finish the quarter, trimming Geelong's lead to seven points at the first break. 

After a blistering start indicated that it could be a high-scoring contest, in the blink of an eye the Cats simply could not find an avenue to goal and combined with some uncharacteristic mistakes exiting defensive 50, it opened the door for North Melbourne to work their way back into the contest. 

Patrick Dangerfield would kick Geelong's lone goal in the second term, with the lead cut to a single point heading into half time. 

The Cats were getting beaten around the contest trailing the clearances (-6) and contested possession count (-21), but Max Holmes did his best to stem the bleeding, collecting 13 disposals and three intercept possessions in the first half while also generating 318 metres gained. 

Ollie Dempsey registered an equal game-high five score involvements, while the Irish duo of Mark O'Connor and Oisin Mullin both led the Cats with four intercept possessions. 

The tension around GMHBA Stadium was palpable and it was not eased in the early stages of the third quarter, as North Melbourne kicked the opening goal of the second half to take the lead for the first time in the match. 

But with the pressure mounting and the scoreboard starting to flip in favour of the visitors, Geelong responded and it started with Holmes, who found an answer and continued his brilliant afternoon with two goals later in the quarter. 

Then it was time for Shannon Neale to stamp his authority, plucking a big contested mark and booting two goals in the shadows of three quarter time, kicking the Cats 17 points clear heading into the final term. 

With momentum on their side, Geelong flexed their muscle and utilised their experience in a barnstorming fourth term, pulling away with an eight goal to two quarter to close out a 49 point win over North Melbourne. 

Securing their fifth win of the season and moving back inside the top eight, Geelong will now quickly turn their attention to an MCG blockbuster, as they prepare to take on Collingwood next Saturday night. 

2026 AFL Season - Round 8

GEELONG CATS             4.3    5.6   12.7   21.9   (135)  
NORTH MELBOURNE    3.2    5.5    9.8    13.8    (86) 

GOALS
Geelong Cats: Mannagh 4, Neale, Cameron 3, Martin, Holmes 2, Worpel, Humphries, Guthrie, Dempsey, Dangerfield, Bowes, Henry 1
North Melbourne: Duursma, Darling 3, McKercher, Simpkin 2, Sheezel, Larkey, Curtis 1

BEST
Geelong: Holmes, Mannagh, Bruhn, O'Sullivan, Cameron
North Melbourne: Xerri, Comben, McKercher, Davies-Uniacke, Darling, Duursma

INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil

LATE CHANGES
Geelong: Jack Henry (foot soreness), replaced in the selected side by Jack Bowes
North Melbourne: Nil

CROWD: 32,485 @ GMHBA Stadium