There are not many bigger occasions in the home and away season and the stage is set for a monumental Saturday night, as Geelong return to the MCG to take on Collingwood in a blockbuster Round 9 battle. 

The Cats will be looking to build on their strong finish to last week's game against North Melbourne, which moved them back into the top six with a 5-3 record through the opening eight games of the season. 

Geelong's main storyline heading into the night is the milestone match for star defender, Tom Stewart as the club prepares to celebrate his 200th AFL game. 

On the other side of the equation, Collingwood have also made a steady start to 2026 and always provide a strong challenge for the Cats, so expect nothing less this weekend. 

With the stakes high in this important early season clash, take a look ahead to Geelong's Round 9 match as they prepare to take on the Magpies, proudly presented by Lee Kum Kee. 

KEY DETAILS 

2026 AFL Season | Round 9
Geelong Cats v Collingwood
MCG, Melbourne
Saturday May 9, 7.35pm AEST

TEAM SELECTION

LAST TIME WE MET

A brilliant contest from the start to the end and a grandstand finish, Geelong's last clash with Collingwood simply had it all. 

The Cats were well held in the opening half but stormed home with an impressive burst in the fourth quarter, before Collingwood mounted one last challenge and Jack Crisp had a chance to win the game after the siren, but missed as Geelong held on for a famous three-point victory. 

Patrick Dangerfield was immense with 29 disposals and a goal, Bailey Smith was equally as impressive with 34 disposals and a goal of his own, while Shaun Mannagh added two goals and eight clearances in a dominant display. 

LEE KUM KEE - PIVOTAL MATCH-UP

Nick Daicos v Bailey Smith

While there will be plenty of headlines to watch as the game unfolds, a match-up between two of the competition's best players will be one that you can not afford to take your eye off on Saturday night. 

Nick Daicos and Bailey Smith seem to find the footy with ease every time they step onto the field, both able to have an impact around stoppages and heading into the forward half with their run and carry. 

For the Magpies, Daicos leads the AFL for total disposals and inside 50s this year, while also leading Collingwood for clearances and score involvements in a strong start to 2026. 

Smith ranks third in the AFL for disposals and second for inside 50s, while leading Geelong for score involvements, goal assists and clearances. 

It will be intriguing to see if Geelong send Oisin Mullin to Daicos in a negating role, but it will be absolutely box office either way to see Bailey Smith and Nick Daicos line up across from each other in the midfield on Saturday night. 

KEY PLAYER TO WATCH

Tom Atkins

It is generally expected to be a tough and contested match anytime Geelong takes on Collingwood, which plays right into the hands of hard-nosed midfielder Tom Atkins. 

Atkins has been rock solid to start 2026, averaging 19.5 disposals and 7.4 tackles per game, adding plenty of grunt and his trademark defensive efforts to complement Geelong's other star on-ballers. 

In nine career appearances against the Magpies, Atkins averages 19.9 disposals which is his second-highest average against any opponent, while also adding four clearances per game. 

MARCH TO THE 'G

A favourite tradition of the Geelong Football Club is set to return this weekend, as the Cats bring back the 'March to the 'G' on Saturday night!

Prior to Geelong's blockbuster battle with Collingwood, Cats fans will be encouraged to join in the festivities as we march through Melbourne, travelling along the Birrarung Marr Walk at the bottom of Federation Square. 

Fans are asked to arrive at the Birrarung Marr Walk at 5.00pm AEST for a 5.30pm departure, with the Cats Marching Band also set to be in attendance from 5.15pm. 

Geelong's march will then follow around the banks of the Yarra River, before a sea of blue and white will descend upon the MCG at 6.00pm in time for the game. 

HOW TO GET TICKETS

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

Head to Geelong Cats Membership page to see all available membership options for the remainder of the season. 

WHERE TO WATCH 

Geelong's Round 9 clash with Collingwood will be broadcast on Fox Footy and streamed through Kayo from 7.30pm AEST, ahead of the opening bounce at 7.35pm. 

Cats fans can also listen to all the action on K rock from 6.00pm 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.

They might have taken a little while to hit their straps, but Geelong proved just how dangerous they can be in a second half blitz, strolling to a dominant 54 point win over Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday night. 

Recent history suggested that these two teams often play out thrilling contests and the first half looked like no exception, Geelong barely keeping their noses in front before piling on seven unanswered goals after half time, closing out their sixth win of the year and solidifying their spot on the ladder. 

There were plenty of standout performances on the night but not for the first time this year, it was the superstar duo of Bailey Smith and Max Holmes that worked their magic, constantly breaking lines with their running power and speed to test Collingwood's defence all night. 

Lawson Humphries continues to make a name for himself as a big game player, Shannon Neale looked threatening every time the Cats probed inside 50, while credit will also deservedly go to Oisin Mullin for his incredible job on Nick Daicos. 

It proved to be the perfect celebration for Tom Stewart, who brought up his 200th game in style with a typical Stewart-esque performance, helping keep Geelong's defence composed under pressure and rarely wasting a possession with ball in hand. 

Geelong certainly looked sharp from the outset with two clean entries inside 50 to start the game, both landing on the chest of Shannon Neale who converted a brilliant long range set-shot to open proceedings. 

It would be a common trend in the opening term as the Cats looked damaging in attack, finding eight scoring shots and five goals from their first 10 inside 50s but Collingwood looked threatening in their own right, with Geelong taking an 11-point lead into quarter time. 

Neale was pivotal with six score involvements in the first quarter as he imposed his big frame in the contest, while Ollie Henry also made a bright start against his former side with two early goals. 

The game tightened up and scoring was harder to come by in the second quarter, both teams certainly showing that they were up for the challenge but it was Geelong who were able to keep their noses in front, maintaining a 10-point lead heading into half time. 

Most statistics remained relatively even in the opening half which was indicative of the tight contest unfolding at the MCG, but Bailey Smith and Max Holmes gathered 30 disposals between them and attempted to open up the ground with their work rate. 

Zach Guthrie and Jack Bowes both collected five intercept possessions across half back, while Tom Stewart (11 disposals) provided a calming presence deep in defence in his milestone match. 

Geelong came out of the main break with renewed confidence and established their intent early, led by some elite stoppage work from Oisin Mullin and forward running from Ollie Dempsey, kicking two quick goals to push the lead past 20 points for the first time in the match. 

Shaun Mannagh curled home another beauty, Ollie Henry nailed his third major of the night and in the blink of an eye, Geelong had full control of the match and broke away to a 32-point buffer at three quarter time. 

Jeremy Cameron and Dempsey both recorded nine disposals and a goal in the third quarter, while Holmes continued his influential performance with an equal game-high 12 disposals in the term to take his tally to 27 for the night. 

Looking to solidify their advantage early in the last term, Rhys Stanley produced a moment of magic through the middle of the ground and set up Shaun Mannagh, who made no mistake to extend Geelong's advantage even further. 

Dangerfield then made his presence felt with two goals, Neale got involved once again and Mannagh defied physics to slot an incredible goal from tight against the boundary, pushing Geelong's score beyond 100 points and the lead past 50. 

Henry capped off his brilliant night with a fourth goal and Bowes added another late, steering the Cats to a phenomenal 54 point victory over the Magpies on Saturday night. 

It will be a short turnaround for Geelong with just five days until their next match, as they prepare to head north for a blockbuster Grand Final rematch with Brisbane on Thursday night to kick off Sir Doug Nicholls Round.   

2026 AFL Season - Round 9

GEELONG CATS     5.3   7.6   11.10   18.14  (122)  
COLLINGWOOD     3.4   5.8    5.14    9.14   (68) 

GOALS
Geelong Cats: Henry 4, Mannagh 3, Neale, Martin, Dangerfield, Close 2, Dempsey, Cameron, Bowes 1
Collingwood: McStay 3, Buller 2, Schultz, Pendlebury, J.Daicos, Anderson 1

BEST
Geelong: Smith, Holmes, Mullin, Dempsey, Neale, O.Henry
Collingwood: De Goey, Crisp, Pendlebury, J.Daicos, N.Daicos, McStay

INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Collingwood: Moore (concussion)

CROWD: 83,166 @ MCG