Geelong will carry the momentum of a seven-game winning streak across the country, as they head to Optus Stadium on Friday night for a Semi-Final against Fremantle. 

After taking care of business against Carlton in last week's Elimination Final, the Cats now head to Perth for another do-or-die clash, their second road trip against the Dockers this year. 

As was the case last week, the loser of Friday's match will be eliminated from the 2026 campaign, while the winner will progress to the penultimate week of the season to face Sydney in a Preliminary Final. 

Fremantle finished atop the ladder and claimed the minor premiership, but fell to Hawthorn in their Qualifying Final and will be looking to respond this week. 

With so much at stake once again, take a last look ahead to Geelong's blockbuster battle with Fremantle, proudly presented by Lee Kum Kee. 

KEY DETAILS 

2026 AFL Season | Semi-Final
Fremantle v Geelong Cats
Optus Stadium, Perth
Friday 11 September, 8.10pm AEST

TEAM SELECTION

RECENT FORM

Geelong completely turned their year around in the home stretch of the home-and-away season, continuing that form in last week's Elimination Final to extend their winning streak to seven. 

During that span, the Cats took down three Wildcard teams including Carlton, Melbourne and Collingwood, giving them plenty of match practice against strong sides which will hold them in good stead. 

What has been most impressive is Geelong's ability to score, recording 100 points or more in six of their last seven matches, with a score of 97 points in the other game during that stretch. 

Fremantle's form has been slightly more shaky, losing two of their last three games in the regular season before falling to Hawthorn in their Qualifying Final, a big difference for a team that won 12 consecutive games during the middle of the season. 

It will be a case of Geelong's momentum going against Fremantle's quest to respond, which should mean that the intensity and pressure will be through the roof on Friday night. 

LAST TIME WE MET

Two games between the teams this year have produced two fascinating results, both sides recording one win but the most recent clash went the way of the Dockers. 

Heading to Optus Stadium without Bailey Smith, Tom Stewart and Gryan Miers, a relatively young Cats outfit took up the challenge against the ladder leaders, piling on seven goals to take a big lead in the shadows of half time. 

Fremantle hit back and took control of the contest after the main break, Geelong continued to fight but fell narrowly short in a nine-point defeat. 

Max Holmes and Tanner Bruhn shone through the middle of the ground, while Lawson Humphries and Connor O'Sullivan were both solid in defence. 

LEE KUM KEE - PIVOTAL MATCH-UP

Shannon Neale v Alex Pearce

The key battle inside Geelong's forward 50 will see spearhead Shannon Neale go toe-to-toe with Fremantle's skipper, Alex Pearce. 

Neale has enjoyed a strong year, leading the Cats' goal-kicking with 49 majors to this point of the season, kicking at least one goal in each of his last seven matches. 

He was engaged in a fascinating battle against Jacob Weitering last week, only recording four possessions for the match but managing to kick two goals at crucial stages. 

Pearce has been one of the competition's best key defenders this year, one of the few Fremantle players who performed strongly last week with 11 intercept possessions against the Hawks. 

Neale kicked five goals against the Dockers in Round 1, before Pearce struck back with 11 intercept possessions and seven intercept marks in Round 15, with this set to be a crucial battle once again on Friday night. 

WHERE TO WATCH 

All matches in the 2026 Toyota AFL Finals Series will be broadcast live nationally on the Seven Network.

2026 AFL Broadcast Guide

Geelong threw their best punch at the minor premiers in a Friday night thriller but it ultimately was not enough, with the Cats falling to Fremantle by 14 points at Optus Stadium, bringing their 2026 season to a close. 

After conceding six of the opening seven goals, the Cats continued to fight with everything they had and for a brief moment hit the front in the third quarter, but the Dockers had the answers and a five-minute burst before the final break proved to be the pivotal juncture. 

A number of Geelong players can hold their heads high, including star defender Zach Guthrie who continually put himself in good positions and took a number of intercept marks, helping to stem Fremantle's momentum at times and then sending the Cats into attack the other way. 

Ollie Henry was absolutely phenomenal all night and kicked a career-high five goals, taking his season tally to 48 goals to cap off a brilliant year for the young forward. 

With all the emotions and anticipation in the build-up to a big Final, Geelong was left shellshocked in the opening stages of the game as Fremantle charged out of the blocks, kicking three goals in the blink of an eye before the Cats had even entered their forward 50. 

In an eerily similar fashion to last week at the MCG, it was the skipper who helped to steady the ship as Patrick Dangerfield unleashed a sensational long-range finish, opening the Cats' account to alleviate some of the early pressure. 

It proved to be a relatively disastrous opening term for Geelong otherwise, Oli Wiltshire providing some much needed scoreboard relief late in the first term, but Fremantle dictated the game on their terms and left the Cats staring at a 25-point deficit heading into quarter time. 

The game opened up dramatically at both ends in the second term and despite some clear issues around centre stoppages, Geelong certainly showed that they were up for the fight as they kicked four goals in 14 minutes to at least stay within striking distance. 

But for every moment of brilliance the Cats could conjure in front of goal, Fremantle had an answer as they kept the visitors at bay, Geelong still 21 points adrift at half time but by no means out of the contest. 

It almost felt like a reasonable result at the main break for the visitors, as they trailed the disposal count (-36), the inside 50s (-16) and the clearance battle (-12), but they started to capitalise on limited opportunities and stemmed the momentum. 

Dangerfield was Geelong's most impactful player in the opening half once again, kicking a goal and recording two goal assists from his six disposals, while Lawson Humphries was strong in defence with 11 disposals and five intercept possessions. 

If there was ever any question about Geelong's intent and desire to triumph in Perth, the answer came early in the second half as the Cats recorded the opening seven scoring shots of the third quarter, but unfortunately only one split the big sticks. 

But the Cats were relentless, continuing to heap the pressure on the Dockers and eventually it paid dividends, with Ollie Henry kicking his third goal of the night and all of a sudden, Geelong were back within just four points midway through the term. 

Henry hit the scoreboard again, Dangerfield followed suit shortly after and in the shadows of three quarter time, Geelong hit the front for the first time in the contest. 

Just when it looked like the Cats had started to take control, Luke Jackson produced an inspired burst for the home side and helped them pile on four unanswered goals in a short period of time, again leaving Geelong with a mountain to climb and a 16-point deficit at the final break. 

A see-sawing final term ensued and the never-say-die attitude of the Cats continued to be on full display, but they could not draw close enough to trouble Fremantle, despite a heroic effort from Ollie Henry who kicked a career-high fifth goal. 

But it was not enough as the Dockers sealed the deal, Geelong's season coming to an end in a 14-point defeat at Optus Stadium. 

2026 AFL Season - Semi-Final

FREMANTLE           6.2   10.5   15.6   18.12  (120)  
GEELONG CATS     2.1    7.2    12.8   16.10  (106) 

GOALS
Fremantle: Voss 4, Jackson, Frederick, Dudley, Bolton, Amiss 2, Young, Treacy, Serong, Cox 1
Geelong: O.Henry 5, Neale 3, Mannagh, Dangerfield, Cameron 2, Wiltshire, Stewart 1

BEST
Fremantle: Jackson, Bolton, Young, Treacy, Reid, Brayshaw, Serong
Geelong: O.Henry, Smith, Humphries, Neale, Dangerfield, Mannagh

Crowd: 59,725 at the Optus Stadium