GMHBA Stadium is calling on what shapes as another monumental day for the Geelong Football Club, with the Cats set to conclude their 2026 home-and-away season against Richmond on Saturday. 

Entering Round 24, Geelong sit in the top six on the ladder and are in the box seat to secure at least a home Elimination Final, which would importantly see them avoid the Wildcard Weekend and earn a bye week. 

The Cats have found a rich vein of form at the right time of year, winning their last five consecutive games and looking for a sixth when they tackle Richmond, following a stirring comeback victory over North Melbourne last Saturday. 

Saturday will also see another exciting double-header take place for Geelong, with the AFLW Cats in action from 5.00pm AEST before the AFL clash at 7.45pm. 

Take a look at all the key details and information ahead of a big day at the Cattery, proudly presented by Lee Kum Kee. 

KEY DETAILS 

2026 AFL Season | Round 24
Geelong Cats v Richmond
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Saturday 22 August, 7.45pm AEST

TEAM SELECTION

LAST TIME WE MET

The two sides have not met since the final round of the 2025 regular season, with the Cats clinching a top-two spot on the ladder when they defeated Richmond by 39 points at the MCG. 

It was a tale of two halves as Geelong did the damage early, opening up an unassailable 63-point buffer by the main break, before cruising home late as the Tigers marginally closed the gap. 

Bailey Smith was extraordinary, clinching the three Brownlow votes after finishing the match with 34 disposals, seven clearances and 10 inside 50s. 

Jeremy Cameron finished with 14 score involvements, Tom Stewart led all players with nine intercept possessions, while Tom Atkins (27 disposals) and Max Holmes (26 disposals) were both strong throughout the contest. 

LEE KUM KEE - PIVOTAL MATCH-UP

Bailey Smith v Tim Taranto

Two of the competition's best midfielders will go toe-to-toe on Saturday night, as Bailey Smith squares off with Tim Taranto in what is set to be a fascinating battle. 

Geelong's superstar on-baller has been sensational this year, averaging over 32 disposals, five clearances and seven inside 50s per game, while also having a strong impact at both ends of the ground. 

Taranto has been brilliant for Richmond also, leading his club for disposals, inside 50s, tackles and score involvements, while ranking in the AFL's top 12 players for clearances and contested possessions. 

The winner of this battle will have a big impact on Saturday night's result, but it will be intriguing to see whether they spend time lined up on one another as the game unfolds. 

AFLW

As part of Saturday's double-header, Geelong's AFLW team will kick off all the action at GMHBA Stadium, as they prepare to take on St Kilda. 

The Cats commenced their 2026 season last week and took on the toughest challenge in North Melbourne, ultimately falling short against the back-to-back reigning premiers. 

Under the leadership of Mick Stinear and new co-captains Becky Webster and Nina Morrison, Geelong will be looking to open their account against a dangerous Saints outfit on Saturday. 

The match will kick off from 5.00pm AEST, before the AFL clash at 7.45pm. 

HOW TO GET TICKETS

Another blockbuster double-header awaits for the Geelong Football Club on Saturday, with the AFL team set to conclude their home-and-away season, while the AFLW team will play their home opener for 2026. 

Tickets are available for a big day of football, with a ticket providing access to both games at GMHBA Stadium. Follow the link below to secure your seat. 

WHERE TO WATCH 

Geelong's Round 24 clash with Richmond will be broadcast on Fox Footy and streamed through Kayo, with coverage starting from 7.30pm AEST ahead of the opening bounce at 7.45pm. 

Cats fans can also tune in via K rock from 5.00pm and catch the action from both the AFL and AFLW games. Listen via FM 95.5 across Geelong & the Surf Coast, delay-free via the K rock app, or the AFL app.

Finals-bound and set for another September tilt, Geelong took care of business on Saturday night to secure at least a spot in the top six at the end of the home-and-away season, defeating Richmond by 57 points at GMHBA Stadium. 

It marks a sixth consecutive victory for Geelong and officially means they will avoid the Wildcard Weekend, with the Cats to either finish in fourth or fifth position on the ladder depending on the result from tomorrow's clash between West Coast and Hawthorn. 

Geelong were challenged early in the first quarter but swiftly set about putting the result out of reach, piling on 10 unanswered goals through to the dying moments of the opening half to build an unassailable lead, before comfortably putting the game away after the main break.

A big revelation for the Cats in recent weeks has been the deployment of Shaun Mannagh as a more permanent midfielder, and it paid dividends with another pleasing result on Saturday as the superstar produced a remarkable outing, kicking three goals and collecting over 30 disposals. 

Bailey Smith found plenty of the footy to cap off a brilliant regular season, Lawson Humphries was outstanding off half back, while Geelong will also be buoyed by the performance of Patrick Dangerfield, who broke tackles at will and looked dangerous around goal. 

Geelong were kept honest early with Richmond looking dangerous in attack and snagging three goals in the opening 10 minutes, but the Cats were able to settle into the contest and get the game on their terms. 

Shaun Mannagh opened the account with a brilliant snap, Ollie Dempsey curled home his 30th major of the year, before the key pillars of Jay Polkinghorne and Shannon Neale hit the scoreboard to give the Cats a far better start than the week prior. 

A second major to go with 13 disposals capped off a sensational first term for Mannagh, helping Geelong to build a strong 20-point advantage by quarter time. 

Mannagh continued on his merry way in the second quarter, curling home his third goal of the contest inside the opening two minutes, the crafty Cat looking in prime form heading into September. 

It would spark a remarkable run for Geelong who started to look unstoppable, slamming home 10 unanswered goals to completely shake off the early challenge from the Tigers, taking a 49-point lead into the main break. 

The Cats controlled nearly every facet of the game in the opening half and plenty of that was led by Mannagh, who amassed an incredible stat line that included 22 disposals, three goals and five clearances, comfortably among the top handful of players on the ground. 

Bailey Smith collected 19 disposals to continue his sensational form, Patrick Dangerfield looked back near his best with a pair of goals to go with 13 possessions, while Lawson Humphries and Tom Stewart had the half back line under control and ignited plenty of Geelong's ball movement. 

With the game all but locked away, Geelong eased into the second half and did what they needed to do, Smith and Polkinghorne both kicking their second goals of the night before Humphries snuck forward to hit the scoreboard, the lead creeping out to 53 points at three quarter time. 

The sting had been taken out of the contest and the Cats all but put the cue in the rack in the final term, Mitch Edwards producing a dazzling highlight with his third career goal, as Geelong did enough to secure a 57-point victory. 

2026 AFL Season - Round 24

GEELONG CATS    6.4   12.6  15.11   20.13   (133)  
RICHMOND             3.2    4.5    7.6    11.10     (76) 

GOALS
Geelong Cats: Neale 4, Mannagh, Dangerfield, Smith 3, Polkinghorne, O.Henry 2, Humphries, Edwards, Dempsey 1
Richmond: Lynch 3, Ryan, Green 2, Taranto, Ralphsmith, Lefau, Campbell 1

BEST
Geelong: Smith, Mannagh, Neale, O.Henry, Dangerfield
Richmond: Taranto, Ross, Nankervis, Campbell, Lynch

INJURIES
Geelong: Jack Henry (ankle)
Richmond: Sam Banks (elevated heart rate)

Crowd: 29,194 at GMHBA Stadium