There have been plenty of iconic moments throughout the first half of the year, Geelong firmly entrenching themselves in the Finals race with eight games remaining in the home and away season. 

From significant milestones to breakout young talents, Cats fans have had plenty to get excited about in 2025 and there is still so much ahead. 

Take a look at the top 10 moments from the 2025 AFL season so far. 

1. Connor O'Sullivan's Rising Star Nomination in Round 2

There was plenty of chatter around the club about O'Sullivan's strong pre-season, but the young defender quickly announced himself to the wider AFL community in 2025 earning a Rising Star Nomination in Round 2 against St Kilda, just his third AFL game. 

Geelong faced a significant deficit in the second half against the Saints but were able to mount a big comeback late, lead by a sensational display from O'Sullivan who collected seven disposals and five intercept possessions in the last quarter alone. 

Finishing with 15 disposals at over 70% efficiency, nine intercept possessions and five score involvements, O'Sullivan gave a very exciting example of what Cats fans can expect to see for years to come, despite Geelong's comeback effort falling narrowly short in Round 2. 

2. Shaun Mannagh Seals the Deal on Easter Monday

There are not many bigger stages in a home and away season than Easter Monday, but the occasion certainly did not deter Shaun Mannagh during his first appearance in the traditional clash between Geelong and Hawthorn. 

Both teams struggled to land a decisive blow in a tense final quarter, but with one point separating the teams and less than three minutes on the clock, Mannagh calmly curled home what would ultimately be the match winning goal from 30 metres out. 

It capped off a sensational Easter Monday performance from Mannagh who collected 17 disposals and kicked three goals, earning himself a perfect 10 coaches votes as the Cats held on to record a seven-point win in a thriller at the MCG.

3. Bailey Smith Dominates in Club Debut

All eyes were on the Cats new recruit as he pulled on the Hoops for the first time in Round 1, Bailey Smith certainly did not disappoint as he helped lead Geelong to a big win over Fremantle at GMHBA Stadium. 

The star on-baller amassed a game-high 32 disposals and 12 score involvements, while also adding seven clearances, four intercept possessions and 693 metres gained in a simply dominant display. 

Smith also pushed forward to boot a goal late as the Cats piled on 10 goals in the final term, receiving a huge ovation from the Cats faithful as Geelong started the season in positive fashion.

4. Mitch Duncan's 300th Game

The Cats had the chance to celebrate an icon of the club in Round 11, when Mitch Duncan became just the sixth player in Geelong history to reach 300 games in the Hoops. 

In a sensational career spanning across 16 seasons at the top level, Duncan has been a staple of Geelong's team featuring in two premierships and is widely regarded as one of the best ball-users to ever play the game. 

Making the milestone even more special for Duncan, Geelong secured a 14 point win over the Western Bulldogs in a thrilling, high-scoring affair at GMHBA Stadium. 

5. Lawson Humphries Goal and Celebration in Indigenous Round

Geelong debuted their 2025 First Nations Guernsey in Round 10 against Port Adelaide, which was designed by Worrora, Oomiday and Nyul Nyul artist Meeza Humphries, with contributions from her siblings Lawson, Joshua and Stephanie, and input from parents Jodi and Ross.

In a special moment for the Humphries,' Lawson curled home a brilliant goal early in the third term against the Power and celebrated accordingly, tugging on the guernsey in a display of pride and passion from the young Cat. 

The goal was important for Humphries but was also a big turning point in the match, Geelong kicking 12 of the last 14 goals to runaway with an emphatic 76 point win on the road. 

6. Cats Survive Thriller Against Collingwood at the MCG

While this is not a single moment, the entire clash with Collingwood was iconic as the the Cats triumphed in one of the greatest games of the season so far. 

Geelong trailed by as much as 20 points midway through the third quarter before turning the game on its head, kicking seven of the next eight goals to turn the deficit into a 17 point lead with less than five minutes on the clock in the last term. 

But this tale had yet another twist in store, Collingwood finding two quick goals to close within a kick and giving Jack Crisp an opportunity to win the game after the siren in his milestone match.

Fortunately for Geelong, Crisp tugged his kick well to the right and the Cats held on to record a famous win in front of over 80,000 fans at the MCG. 

7. Jezza and Danger Bury Adelaide to Open Gather Round 

One of the biggest challenges Geelong have faced this year came in Gather Round, when the Cats opened the festivities with a blockbuster clash against Adelaide on their home deck. 

The game lived up to the hype in a high-scoring affair, the Cats hanging tough despite trailing by as much as 30 points late in the first half, but still facing an eight point deficit at three quarter time. 

Enter Geelong's superstars, Jeremy Cameron and Patrick Dangerfield combining to kick five goals in the final term as the Cats pulled away to secure a 19 point win, widely regarded as one of the greatest victories in recent memory. 

8. Tyson Stengle Steers Geelong to Victory over Gold Coast

In tough and slippery conditions at GMHBA Stadium, no player handled the footy better than Tyson Stengle during Geelong's important Round 13 clash with the Gold Coast Suns. 

With scoring hard to come by, Stengle booted three consecutive Geelong goals between the second and third quarters before adding a fourth major midway through the final term, in a game where no other player managed to kick more than one goal. 

The stellar performance from the crafty Cat helped Geelong to secure a 24 point win, which put them in the top four on the ladder for the first time since Round 1. 

9. Cameron Denies Eagles with Final Quarter Blitz

West Coast shocked a lot of onlookers when they stuck with the Cats for most of the Round 12 match, just six points separating the two teams early in the final quarter at Optus Stadium. 

Just as surprising was their ability to stifle Coleman Medal leader, Jeremy Cameron with the superstar forward booting just one goal to the midway point of the last term. 

But as has been the case for much of his career, Cameron only needed a 10 minute burst to break the game open as he kicked the last four goals of the match to help Geelong close out a 43-point win over the Eagles. 

10. Dangerfield's 350th and Stengle's 100th  

While it was ultimately not the result Geelong wanted, it was still a special occasion as Patrick Dangerfield and Tyson Stengle both celebrated significant milestones on Friday night against Brisbane. 

Dangerfield became just the 25th player in V/AFL history to reach 350 games, another incredible achievement in a career that includes a premiership, a Brownlow Medal, eight All-Australian blazers and much more. 

Stengle's 100 game milestone was extraordinary in its own right, finding a permanent home at Geelong and developing into a superstar small forward after short stints at two other AFL clubs.