For the third time in the 2026 season, Geelong head west as they prepare for a blockbuster battle against the Crows at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night. 

It looms as an important match for the Cats as they look to bounce back from last week's loss, with a big three-game stretch leading into their midseason bye. 

Adelaide are certainly no pushover, the 2025 minor premiers are building into the year nicely and are currently in the top eight on the ladder. 

The Cats will be searching for a victory and looking to improve on their 8-4 record, currently sitting in the top four with a chance to solidify their position on Thursday.

Take one last look ahead to Geelong's clash with Adelaide, proudly presented by Lee Kum Kee. 

KEY DETAILS 

2026 AFL Season | Round 13
Adelaide v Geelong Cats
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Thursday 4 June, 7.30pm AEST

TEAM SELECTION

LAST TIME WE MET

The two sides have already met in the 2026 season, with Geelong prevailing by eight points in a hard-fought battle at GMHBA Stadium in Round 3. 

Despite controlling most areas of the game, the Cats could not get reward on the scoreboard in wet and windy conditions at Kardinia Park, doing enough late on the back of a three-goal haul from Jack Martin. 

Bailey Smith (40 disposals, 10 tackles) was a key driver for Geelong, Shaun Mannagh (24 disposals, one goal) was brilliant and Tom Stewart (24 disposals, nine intercepts) spearheaded an impressive defensive performance. 

LEE KUM KEE - PIVOTAL MATCH-UP

Zach Guthrie v Josh Rachele

When it comes to Adelaide's forward structure, normally most of the attention will focus on their tall targets and their ability to tear games apart. 

But in terms of production and creating opportunities out of nothing, there is no Crows player more damaging than Josh Rachele with his incredible craft inside 50. 

To this point of 2026, Rachele leads Adelaide for score involvements (6.8 per game) but he has also kicked more goals than any other Crow, booting 18 goals from 11 matches and only being held goalless on one occasion this year. 

He is also averaging a career-high 19.5 disposals per game and can push into the midfield as required, which means that he will certainly be one player that Geelong will need to nullify on Thursday night and while he is forward, the job might fall upon Zach Guthrie. 

The reliable defender has collected 20 disposals or more in four of his last five matches, while also having an impact with the ability to take intercept marks and rebound out of defensive 50. 

Guthrie will be pivotal for the Cats on Thursday night and particularly if he spends time on Rachele, so keep an eye on this battle as the match unfolds. 

VFL

The VFL Cats continued their scintillating form last week with another thumping win over Carlton, now sitting two games clear atop the VFL ladder with a healthy percentage through nine games. 

Geelong have only lost one game so far this year and now have six wins with a margin of over 40 points, comfortably the highest scoring team in the competition but also conceding the least points to opposition sides. 

This week's task is a trip up the highway, with the Cats set to take on Sandringham on Saturday afternoon. The Zebras sit in 19th position on the ladder with a 3-6 record, but they were victorious in their most recent outing which means Geelong will need to nullify their momentum early in the contest. 

Geelong's VFL clash will also be preceded by a curtain-raiser clash, with the VFLW Cats set to do battle with Sandringham prior to the VFL match. 

HOW TO GET TICKETS

For Geelong fans heading to Adelaide for Thursday's blockbuster clash, tickets can be purchased through Ticketek. 

There are also a number of membership options available, like Geelong's Interstate Membership. 

WHERE TO WATCH 

Geelong's Thursday night clash with Adelaide will be broadcast live and free on Channel 7 from 7.00pm, with the game set to commence at 7.30pm. 

The match will also be broadcast through Fox Footy and streamed through Kayo from 7.00pm. 

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.

Geelong has been defeated in heartbreaking fashion for the second straight week, falling to Adelaide by one point in a Thursday night thriller. 

Controlling general play for large portions of the first half, the Cats were unable to capitalise on the scoreboard and it ultimately came back to haunt the visitors, with Adelaide lifting around the contest and nailing the door shut in the final quarter. 

Thrust back into a more permanent midfield role, Patrick Dangerfield did everything he could to inspire his side with a blistering 13 disposals and five clearances in the first quarter alone, before going on to finish with 30 possessions, seven clearances and seven score involvements in a sensational display. 

Continuing his phenomenal 2026 campaign, Connor O'Sullivan (24 disposals) was terrific defensively picking off a career-high 13 intercept possessions, holding down the last line of defence and repelling numerous Adelaide attacks. 

Bailey Smith (34 disposals) and Max Holmes (30 disposals) found plenty of the football, while Sam De Koning (25 disposals) gave Geelong a different look in the ruck and finished with a game-high 10 clearances. 

Recognising the importance of a fast start in enemy territory, Patrick Dangerfield was immediately thrust into the midfield and set up the opening goal, launching a long ball to Jack Martin who took a nice grab and after missing a sighter moments earlier, made no mistake with his second attempt. 

The skipper continued his hot start by punching home Geelong's second major, but scoring proved difficult to come by in treacherous conditions at Adelaide Oval and a flurry of minor scores restricted the Cats' scoreboard impact, heading into quarter time trailing by two points. 

Dangerfield's first quarter was simply inspirational, finishing the term with 13 disposals and five clearances, to go with his goal and a direct goal assist. 

There were some intriguing moves from the coaches box to begin the match, which included Sam De Koning into the ruck at centre stoppages and Jeremy Cameron onto a wing. 

The engrossing battle continued into the second term as the sides traded blows and the lead changed hands four times, but the Cats were unable to keep their noses in front and headed into the main break six points adrift. 

Geelong led the disposal count (+11), the inside 50s (+5), the centre clearances (+6) and the contested possessions (+14), but they could not fully capitalise where it mattered most and were only able to kick four goals from 13 scoring shots. 

As they do every week, Max Holmes and Bailey Smith found plenty of the footy with 36 disposals between them in the opening half, Jack Henry led all players with five score involvements, while Connor O'Sullivan continued his strong year with a game-high seven intercept possessions. 

The Cats were under siege early in the second half with the ball firmly pinned in Adelaide's attacking half, the deficit extending out as far as 20 points after back-to-back goals from the home side, momentum squarely against Geelong and the energy starting to lift in the grandstands. 

But just as it looked like the game was slipping out of their grasp, the Cats responded through Shannon Neale and then a brilliant solo effort from Ollie Dempsey, trimming the margin and bringing the visitors back within striking distance.

Milestone man Jack Bowes produced another moment of magic, Geelong finishing the term with a flurry to pull back within just two points at three quarter time. 

Just as it looked like Geelong were mounting a charge, Adelaide lifted their intensity and kicked the first three goals of the final term, re-establishing a 19-point buffer at a critical stage of the game. 

But again, with the Cats seemingly down and out, they lifted and goals to Ollie Henry and Shaun Mannagh pulled Geelong back within a kick once more. 

Then it was over to Jack Bowes and in game 150, he slotted a pearler on the run and with five minutes on the clock, scores were level. 

Unfortunately the comeback would fall just short as Geelong could not find another score, a solitary point to Darcy Fogarty proving to be the difference. 

The Cats will have a slightly longer turnaround before returning to GMHBA Stadium for the White Out game, set to take on the Gold Coast Suns in another Friday night blockbuster. 

2026 AFL Season - Round 13

ADELAIDE   3.2   6.3    8.6    11.9   (75)  
GEELONG    2.6   4.9   7.10  10.14   (74) 

GOALS
Adelaide: Dawson 3, Walker, Keays 2, Taylor, Neal-Bullen, Berry, Ah Chee 1
Geelong: Martin, Bowes 2, Neale, O.Henry, J.Henry, Dempsey, Dangerfield, Mannagh 1

BEST
Adelaide: Dawson, Curtin, McAndrew, Peatling, Milera, Berry
Geelong: Dangerfield, O'Sullivan, Holmes, Smith, De Koning, Bruhn

CROWD: 42,340 @ the Adelaide Oval