A second consecutive week brings another trip to the MCG for Geelong, but the stakes remain high as they prepare to face Collingwood on Thursday night. 

It looms as a season-defining clash for both sides as the race for the top six heats up, with the Cats and Magpies currently occupying eighth and ninth positions on the ladder entering the final month of the home and away season. 

The winner will stay within striking distance of the top six while the loser will remain in the ladder logjam, with only one game separating fifth down to ninth currently. 

For Geelong, a win this week would be a significant boost as they look to build on their back-to-back victories over the past fortnight, with clashes against Essendon, North Melbourne and Richmond to follow to close out the regular season. 

With so much on the line, take a last look ahead to the Cats' clash with Collingwood on Thursday night at the MCG, proudly presented by Lee Kum Kee. 

KEY DETAILS 

2026 AFL Season | Round 21
Collingwood v Geelong Cats
MCG, Melbourne
Thursday 30 July, 7.30pm AEST

TEAM SELECTION

LAST TIME WE MET

Geelong and Collingwood met in Round 9 this year and after an evenly matched opening half, the Cats kicked away to clinch a comfortable 54-point victory in front of 83,166 at the MCG. 

Only 10 points separated the teams at the main break, but the Cats took full control of the contest with a run of seven unanswered goals after half time, keeping the Magpies goalless for nearly two full quarters until midway through the fourth term. 

There were some big winners on the night but perhaps none more than Bailey Smith, who stuffed the stat sheet with 40 disposals, six clearances, six inside 50s and a game-high 14 score involvements. 

Ahead of the ball, Ollie Henry slotted four majors against his old side, Shaun Mannagh chipped in with three goals from his 13 disposals, while Shannon Neale registered 13 score involvements from 17 disposals. 

Lawson Humphries was phenomenal across half back picking off eight intercept possessions, while Oisin Mullin finished with nine score involvements and performed strongly in a big match-up with Nick Daicos. 

LEE KUM KEE - PIVOTAL MATCH-UP

Oisin Mullin v Nick Daicos

The marquee battle inside the main event on Thursday night, pitting the game's best specialist tagger against one of the best players in the competition. 

Oisin Mullin has been given some of the biggest tasks in football this year and continues to knock them out of the park, following another terrific job in nullifying Demons star Kysaiah Pickett last Friday. 

His scalps across the season include the likes of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Marcus Bontempelli and Lachie Neale, while also playing out a fascinating battle with Daicos earlier in the season. 

In the Round 9 contest with the Magpies, Mullin collected a career-high 21 disposals and nine score involvements, while Daicos collected 29 disposals but his impact was quelled, going at 55% disposal efficiency and only registering four score involvements. 

Collingwood's superstar has been phenomenal in 2026 and is the Brownlow Medal favourite for a reason, setting up a mouthwatering battle under the bright lights at the MCG on Thursday night. 

VFL

With the minor premiership locked away, Geelong will now be looking to continue their momentum into the Finals campaign, as they return home for their final home game in the home and away season. 

The VFL Cats will take on Collingwood at GMHBA Stadium on Friday to kick off the Round 19 action, with the match set to commence at 4.10pm AEST. 

Following a 53-point win over Casey last week, Geelong cemented their spot atop the VFL ladder and now can not be superseded, with Werribee 14 points behind in second position with only three games remaining in their regular season. 

The Cats will be looking to extend their 12-game winning streak on Friday, with a number of emerging stars combining nicely with some established names to produce a brilliant brand of football in 2026. 

Friday's game will be free to attend for Geelong membership holders, tickets are available at the Gate, and Gate 13 will be open from 3.25pm for Cats fans heading to GMHBA Stadium to watch the clash. 

HOW TO GET TICKETS

Another big game awaits at the MCG this week and Cats fans are encouraged to head up the highway and show their support, to help spur Geelong over the line against Collingwood.

Follow the link below to secure your seat for the blockbuster clash. 

WHERE TO WATCH 

Geelong's Round 21 clash with Collingwood will be broadcast on Channel 7 from 7.00pm AEST, before the game commences at 7.30pm. 

The match will also be broadcast on Fox Footy and streamed through Kayo, with the coverage starting from 7.00pm.

Cats fans can also tune in via K rock from 6.00pm, listen via FM 95.5 across Geelong & the Surf Coast, delay-free via the K rock app, or the AFL app.

It was simply a must-win game in the context of their season and Geelong did enough to get the job done, a strong first half helping to overcome a late challenge from Collingwood as they recorded a 25-point victory at the MCG on Thursday night. 

A barnstorming start to the contest saw the Cats lead by as much as 49 points midway through the second quarter, before the Magpies slowly chipped away at the lead and closed within three goals at the last break, but Geelong had the answers when it mattered in a tense final term. 

Continuing his remarkable record at the venue, Ollie Dempsey was absolutely sensational and fought hard all night, finding plenty of space on the wide expanses of the MCG with his phenomenal running capacity and testing the Magpies in attack. 

Against his former side, Ollie Henry was terrific in attack and was instrumental in Geelong's big start, while Gryan Miers and Shaun Mannagh had a number of important touches and helped to create numerous opportunities in front of goal. 

The stakes were high and the stars got involved early for the Cats with Bailey Smith, Oisin Mullin and Tom Atkins all getting involved in a chain out of the opening stoppage, which led to a big clunk and goal from Shannon Neale. 

Geelong dominated the territory battle in the first term, consistently probing inside forward 50 and eventually it paid dividends, Ollie Dempsey producing a sensational pair of highlights to help give the Cats five of the opening six goals, building a 24-point lead at quarter time. 

Tom Atkins was instrumental early with eight disposals and three clearances in the opening term, Ollie Henry registered a game-high four score involvements, while the ever-reliable Tom Stewart helped to limit Collingwood's efficiency in their attacking half with some big defensive plays. 

The hot start became an onslaught shortly after the first break, as the Cats put the foot down and started to capitalise on their dominance around the ground. 

A run of four majors in nine minutes of play to start the second term put Geelong in full control of the contest, the lead nudging 50 points before the Magpies had registered their second goal of the night. 

Despite the immaculate start, there would be a subtle momentum shift prior to half time as Collingwood booted the last three goals of the quarter to trim the margin, but Geelong still took a healthy 29-point lead into the main break. 

The stat sheet told the tale of the tape in the first half, the Cats leading the inside 50 count (+13) and the clearance battle (+7), plenty of the play set up by Dempsey who collected 16 disposals to go with his two goals to the main break. 

Ollie Henry continued to be influential with two goals and two goal assists from his 10 disposals, James Worpel had an impact around stoppages with seven clearances, while Atkins laid six tackles but also drove the Cats inside 50 on six occasions in the opening half. 

Collingwood extended their run of unanswered goals to five after half time, Geelong's massive lead all of a sudden cut under three goals midway through the third term, and the feeling around the MCG was remarkably different to what it was 45 minutes prior. 

When the Cats were desperate for a steadier, it came in the form of Jack Martin who slotted his first of the night off the back of some great work from Oli Wiltshire, but it was only a brief moment of respite as Geelong's lead sat at 17 points heading into the final term. 

With both teams grappling for the ascendancy in a tense final term, Geelong's key pillars of Shannon Neale and Jay Polkinghorne capitalised on a pair of opportunities in front of goal, helping the Cats to keep their opponent at bay until midway through the quarter. 

At a crucial juncture in the match, Ollie Henry wobbled home his third major of the night to extend Geelong's lead back beyond four goals, the Cats doing enough to escape with a crucial victory. 

2026 AFL Season - Round 21

COLLINGWOOD    1.2   4.4    7.6   10.12   (72)  
GEELONG CATS    5.2   9.3   10.5    15.7   (97) 

GOALS
Collingwood: McStay 5, McCreery 2, West, Harrison, Anderson 1
Geelong Cats: O.Henry, Polkinghorne 3, Neale, Dempsey 2, Miers, Martin, Mannagh, Blicavs, Wiltshire 1

BEST
Collingwood: Cameron, McStay, J.Daicos, Quaynor, N.Daicos, Lipinski
Geelong: Dempsey, O.Henry, Stewart, Smith, Atkins, Mullin

INJURIES
Collingwood: Perryman (hamstring), Howe (arm)
Geelong: Nil

Crowd: 60,023 at the MCG