GEELONG has been forced into make a late change ahead of its Round 23 encounter with Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday night.

Esava Ratugolea (injured) will come out of the emergencies and be replaced by Darcy Fort.

Fort will be a contender to be the medical substitute alongside fellow emergencies Quinton Narkle, Zach Guthrie and Shaun Higgins.

Geelong named its initial 22-man team on Thursday evening with key trio Gary Rohan, Gryan Miers and Tom Atkins returning to the senior side.

The Cats Round 23 clash will be a special occasion for Mark Blicavs who will play his 200th game.

The match will be televised on Fox Footy with the first bounce at 7.25pm.

Latest Videos

  • 05:45
    Press Conference
    Press Conference

    Ollie Henry Press Conference | Semi Final vs Fremantle

    Geelong Forward Ollie Henry spoke to the media ahead of the Cats trip to face Freo in Perth on Friday. Proudly Presented by Ford Australia.

    AFL
  • 06:56
    Press Conference
    Press Conference

    Gryan Miers Press Conference | Semi Final vs Fremantle

    Geelong Forward Gryan Miers spoke to the media ahead of the Cats trip to face Freo in Perth on Friday. Proudly Presented by Ford Australia.

    AFL
  • 16:06
    Press Conference
    Press Conference

    Chris Scott Press Conference | Semi-Final

    Chris Scott spoke to media ahead of Geelong's Semi-Final clash with Minor Premiers Fremantle on Friday Night. Proudly Presented by Morris.

    AFL
  • 33:52
    Podcast
    Podcast

    DANGER DOMINANCE! To The Final Bell Semi-Final Edition

    Lingy and Reg review a massive win over the Blues and an even bigger performance from skipper Patrick Dangerfield! The AFLW team are humming as are the VFL team who face off against Port Melbourne in a prelim final.

    AFL
    podcasts
  • 09:34
    Press Conference
    Press Conference

    Mark Blicavs Press Conference | Semi Final vs Fremantle

    Geelong Utility Mark Blicavs spoke to the media ahead of the Cats trip to face Freo in Perth on Friday. Proudly Presented by Ford Australia.

    AFL
  • 04:18
    Interview
    Interview

    Cats Best Bombers! AFLW Round 4 Roaming

    We speak to some players after Geelong's Round 4 win against the Bombers.

    AFLW
    aflw
  • 09:38
    Press Conference
    Press Conference

    Mick Stinear Post Match Press Conference | Round 4

    Watch Geelong’s press conference after round four’s match against Essendon

    AFLW
    aflw
  • 06:15
    Highlights
    Highlights

    AFLW Highlights: Geelong v Essendon

    The Cats and Bombers clash in round four of the 2026 NAB AFLW Season

    AFLW
    aflw
  • 00:12
    Highlights
    Highlights

    Team Song: Geelong

    Watch the Cats celebrate their round four win

    AFLW
    aflw
  • 01:18
    Highlights
    Highlights

    Moloney goes goal-crazy with FOUR in term to light up GMHBA Stadium

    Aishling Moloney turns the game on its head booting four goals in the second term to give her side the lead at the main break

    AFLW
    aflw
  • 01:27
    Feature
    Feature

    Cats Smalls Ramp Up The Pressure

    Oli Wiltshire, Gryan Miers and Brad Close combined brilliantly in Geelong's Elimination Final, creating some brilliant moments of pressure and class in the wet to give the Cats a winning edge.

    AFL
  • 11:34
    Interview
    Interview

    CATS BEAT BLUES! Elimination Final ROAMING Dangerfield, Rahilly, Edwards

    We speak to players and coaches after a massive win against the Blues in the Elimination Final. Proudly Presented by Ford Australia.

    AFL
  • 13:30
    Press Conference
    Press Conference

    Chris Scott Post Match Press Conference | Elimination Final

    Watch Geelong’s press conference after their elimination final match against Carlton

    AFL
  • 00:21
    Highlights
    Highlights

    Team Song: Geelong

    Watch the Cats celebrate their elimination final win

    AFL
  • 02:11
    Highlights
    Highlights

    Prime Danger unleashed: Watch champ erupt for FIVE in finals takeover

    Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield lights up the big stage once again with an inspiring five-goal haul to lead his side to a brilliant finals victory

    AFL
  • 08:18
    Highlights
    Highlights

    Highlights: Geelong v Carlton

    The Cats and Blues clash in the second qualifying final of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

    AFL
  • 00:41
    Highlights
    Highlights

    Enter the Danger zone: Cats champ does it again with almighty blow

    Patrick Dangerfield delivers the dagger to cap yet another special performance from the evergreen superstar

    AFL
  • 00:38
    Highlights
    Highlights

    Miers on fire: Cats magician cooks up gold from downtown

    Gryan Miers continues his superb outing with a quality strike on the burst from outside 50 to push the Cats further ahead

    AFL
  • 00:48
    Highlights
    Highlights

    All part of the plan? Cats turn horror miss into Mannagh magic

    Ollie Dempsey somehow fluffs a golden chance right in front of goal before Shaun Mannagh makes amends moments later with a cracker

    AFL
  • 00:47
    Highlights
    Highlights

    Holmes, sweet Holmes: Max marks return with telling strike

    Cats superstar Max Holmes comes up big before half-time, finding the goals in his first game since round 19 to help Geelong claw its way back

    AFL

UPDATED: Round 23 Team

In: Tom Atkins, Gary Rohan, Gryan Miers

Out: Shaun Higgins (managed), Esava Ratugolea (omitted), Zach Guthrie (omitted), Quinton Narkle (medical sub)

Backs Jack Henry Lachie Henderson Jake Kolodjashnij
Half Backs Mark O'Connor Mark Blicavs Jed Bews
Centreline Sam Menegola Cameron Guthrie Isaac Smith
Half Forwards Brandan Parfitt Jeremy Cameron Gary Rohan
Forwards Brad Close Tom Hawkins Gryan Miers
Followers Rhys Stanley Joel Selwood Patrick Dangerfield
Interchange Tom Atkins Sam Simpson Max Holmes
  Luke Dahlhaus    
Emergencies Quinton Narkle Shaun Higgins Darcy Fort
  Zach Guthrie   Â