The anticipation is building and the excitement can be felt right around the competition... Football is nearly back.
Just 25 days remain until Geelong make their Opening Round debut, with a blockbuster clash on the Gold Coast awaiting to commence the season.
There will be an abundance of storylines to follow as the Cats' campaign gets underway, ranging from milestone matches to debuts and key games on the schedule that can not be missed.
As the clock ticks down to the 2026 AFL season, check out 25 things to watch with 25 days remaining until the Geelong Football Club returns to action.
1. Mark Blicavs' 300th Game
There is no debating that his career is already one of the most incredible stories that football has ever seen.
Mark Blicavs' journey has been well publicised, going from a track athlete with aspirations of representing his country at the Olympics, to one of the most versatile players in AFL history.
When Blicavs joined Geelong in the 2012 rookie draft, his athletic prowess was second to none, but his raw footballing skills needed some development.
Fast forward 14 years, he is now a premiership player, an All-Australian and a two-time Carji Greeves Medallist, sitting on the cusp of reaching 300 AFL games.
Blicavs finished 2025 with 295 games, meaning he will need just five more appearances at the top level to reach the magic milestone, which would make him just the eighth player in Geelong's history to reach the triple century.
2. Geelong's Opening Round Debut
It has taken until the third edition, but the Cats are finally set to make their inaugural AFL Opening Round debut in 2026.
The match is set to be a blockbuster too, with Geelong heading north to take on the Gold Coast Suns at People First Stadium to kick off their campaign.
Of course, this was not supposed to be the Cats' first appearance in the Opening Round, with their scheduled clash against Brisbane postponed last year due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
But it means that there will be even more anticipation around this clash, as Geelong looks to record their first win on the Gold Coast since 2022.
3. A New-Look AFLW Coaching Panel
2026 will be a season of change for Geelong, entering the year with a new-look coaching staff that are set to steer the club in a new direction.
Taking over at the helm will be experienced coach Mick Stinear, who led Melbourne's AFLW team for 10 seasons and secured a historic premiership in Season 7, 2022.
He will be joined by new assistant coaches Ryan Pendlebury and former Cat, Sam Simpson while Elise Coventry will also continue in her role for another year.
4. Jezza's Journey to 800 Goals
This will be one to keep a close eye on as the season unfolds, but Jeremy Cameron is within striking distance of 800 career goals heading into 2026.
Finishing last year with 736 goals, 'Jezza' needs 64 more to hit the next milestone, doable considering he kicked 88 majors in 2025 and has gone past 64 goals in three of the last four years.
If he can accomplish it, the two-time Coleman Medallist would become just the 13th player in V/AFL history to reach 800 goals.
A nice little side quest, Cameron's great mate and former forward partner, Tom Hawkins currently occupies 13th spot on the all-time goal-kicking leaderboard with 796 goals.
Cameron also needs just 20 appearances at the top level in 2026 to reach his 300th career game.
5. Defensive Duo Chase the Double Century
There are more milestones on the horizon heading into 2026, with a pair of Geelong stalwarts on the brink of reaching 200 games at the elite level.
The first is reliable premiership defender Jake Kolodjashnij, who sits on 198 career games heading into the new year, needing just a couple of appearances to hit the mark.
Unfortunately, Kolodjashnij missed nearly the entire 2025 campaign through injury, but he will be a welcome sight for Cats fans when he returns this year.
The other on the cusp of the double century is Tom Stewart, the Cats superstar currently has 191 games to his name.
It would be another accomplishment to add to an incredible career, which includes a premiership, five All-Australian blazers and two Carji Greeves Medals.
6. The Lone MCG Home Game
Geelong will venture up the highway a number of times throughout the AFL season, but only one of those trips will be a home game and it is set to be an absolute blockbuster.
In Round 9, the Cats will host their lone Melbourne home game at the MCG, taking on Collingwood in a fascinating Saturday night battle.
The two sides produced one of the top games of the year in 2025, Geelong staved off Collingwood by three points following a kick after the siren which missed wide to the right.
Each of the last five clashes between the two sides have drawn a crowd of 73,000 or greater, with another packed house expected when the Cats and Magpies fight it out in Round 9.
7. A Year of Growth for the VFLW Cats
On paper it looked like a difficult campaign for the VFLW Cats in 2025, but the second half of the year showed plenty of promising signs heading into the new season.
Geelong managed to record three wins in their final six games of the year, while also pushing highly fancied teams like Casey and Sandringham right until the final siren.
With a year of development under their belts in a new system and carrying some momentum, the Cats will be looking to make a hot start when the 2026 VFLW season commences.
8. The Potential Debutants
As is the case every year, there are a number of players who could potentially pull on the Hoops for the very first time at both AFL and AFLW level this year.
For the men's program, the new draft crop included the likes of Harley Barker and Hunter Holmes, while recruits from previous seasons like Jay Polkinghorne and Mitch Edwards will be pushing their case.
After an off-season full of movement, the Cats' AFLW team have seven new faces joining their list for the 2026 season.
Three players joined through trade and free agency, another three were selected in the draft, while Emma Murray is the Cats' newest Irish recruit.
9. More Milestones Awaiting
Along with the looming 300 and 200 game milestones for some of Geelong's great champions, there will also be a number of other significant achievements to track throughout the season.
Mark O'Connor, Jack Bowes, Zach Guthrie and Brad Close have all had vastly different journeys, but the Cats quartet all have the chance to reach 150 career games at some point in 2026.
A couple of rising stars can also notch a significant accomplishment early in their careers, with Ollie Henry and Sam De Koning both a chance to play their 100th game.
10. An Easter Monday Blockbuster
Always one of the first games circled on the calendar each year, the Cats and Hawks will go toe-to-toe once again in the traditional Easter Monday clash this year.
In 15 editions of the annual Easter Monday match, Geelong have had the upper hand with 12 victories which included last year's nail-biter, where the Cats prevailed by seven points in front of nearly 90,000 people at the MCG.
The standout from these games, however, has been the number of close finishes, with seven of the 15 matches decided by two goals or less, six of those separated by a single-figure margin.
The two old rivals added another epic chapter to the story last year in the Preliminary Final, with the Cats prevailing by 30 points.
11. A Grand Final Rematch
It will be a match that just means a little more, when Geelong travel north to take on Brisbane at the Gabba in Round 10.
Cats fans will not need reminding of how the season finished in 2025, but the Lions have had the better of Geelong in four of the last five matches between the two teams dating back to the 2024 Preliminary Final.
Chris Scott and his side were able to find a winning formula in the Qualifying Final last year, storming to a dominant 38-point victory before Brisbane hit back on the last Saturday in September.
While this meeting will be intriguing, Geelong will also get a second crack against Brisbane in Round 17, when the Lions visit GMHBA Stadium following the Cats' mid-season bye.
12. White Out Night 2.0
What a sight it was in 2025, as Geelong transformed GMHBA Stadium into a sea of white with the 'Kit Out the Cattery' campaign.
The concept was awarded the AFL's Activation of the Year Award, with over 35,000 packing into Kardinia Park to take part in the event and watch Geelong's blockbuster clash with Brisbane.
In exciting news, the Cats will be bringing back the 'White Out' night once again in 2026, looking to create an unforgettable experience for Geelong's loyal fans while making proceedings tough for the visiting team.
13. Some Significant AFLW Milestones
Getting to 75 games is no mean feat in the AFLW, and a number of Geelong players will have the chance to join the elusive club when the 2026 season rolls around.
The first to have the opportunity will be Geelong's AFLW games record holder, Becky Webster who currently has 73 games to her name and will need just two more appearances to hit 75.
Julia Crockett-Grills, Mikayla Bowen and Kate Surman all finished the 2025 campaign with 70 games or more, with the trio set to follow shortly after Webster.
Four more Cats are also well within striking distance, with Amy McDonald, Jackie Parry, Georgie Rankin and the returning Chantel Emonson all sitting on 66 games or more.
14. Worpel Pulling On The Hoops
While it was a relatively quiet player movement period for the Cats at the end of 2025, they were still able to secure the services of free agent, James Worpel for the next four years.
Worpel brings across a terrific resume that includes 148 games over eight years at Hawthorn, winning a club best and fairest and earning a selection in the AFLPA's 22Under22 team across that span.
A tough on-baller who excels around stoppages, Worpel has averaged over 20 disposals and five clearances per game in each of his last three seasons and will add valuable depth to Geelong's midfield in 2026 and beyond.
15. Gather Round at Norwood
Geelong have featured in some big games across the first three editions of the AFL's Gather Round, but 2026 will look slightly different.
Through the first three years of the concept, the Cats have played all three at Adelaide Oval which included blockbusters against Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs.
But the 2026 version against West Coast will see Geelong venture away from South Australia's biggest stadium, with the Cats set to play at Norwood Oval for the very first time.
One of the most historic grounds in the country, Norwood Oval was built in 1901 and has hosted plenty of football over the journey, but it is set to be the first time that Geelong has competed for premiership points at the venue.
16. A Round 1 VFL Blockbuster
The VFL season will commence on the 20th of March and Geelong will be in the thick of the action, taking on Essendon under lights in their season opener.
The Cats are set to kick off their campaign at GMHBA Stadium with a Friday night showdown against the Bombers, starting at 7.05pm in what will be the second game on the opening day of play in the VFL season.
The most recent clash against Essendon came in Round 20 last year at GMHBA Stadium, with the Cats winning by 14 points in a tight battle.
17. AFL Origin Returns
For the first time since 1999, state-based football will officially return with Victoria set to take on Western Australia on the 14th of February at Optus Stadium.
Featuring some of the competition's best players, the two states will square off prior to the 2026 AFL season, with the Victorian team set to be led by Cats coach, Chris Scott.
Geelong will also be well represented on the field, with four players set to pull on the 'Big V' while Lawson Humphries will line up for Western Australia.
18. 10 Games at GMHBA Stadium
For the second straight year, Geelong is set to host 10 home games at GMHBA Stadium, along with the aforementioned MCG home game in Round 9.
The Cats will kick off their home stand in Round 1 against Fremantle, set to welcome strong teams like Adelaide, Sydney and Gold Coast to Kardinia Park in the first half of the season.
Following the mid-season bye, Geelong will host Brisbane in a rematch of the 2025 Grand Final, before finishing the year with two of their last three games in the home and away season at GMHBA Stadium.
19. Danger Chases Brownlow Glory
He already holds a number of different records in the AFL's ultimate award, but Patrick Dangerfield has one more in his sights heading into 2026.
The champion Cat has polled an incredible 259 Brownlow votes across his career, currently sitting in second on the all-time leaderboard.
Entering the new campaign, he sits just three votes behind the all-time leader, Gary Ablett Junior meaning he will need just four more votes this year to eclipse the Little Master and take top spot.
Dangerfield has polled three votes or more in 15 consecutive seasons, meaning the record is well within reach heading into 2026.
20. A Fresh AFLW Leader
Not only will Geelong be heading into the 2026 season with a new coaching panel, but they will also be searching for a new captain when players return for the pre-season.
The Cats' longest-serving AFLW captain, Meg McDonald announced her retirement at the end of 2025 after a stellar career, which included six seasons as captain.
With McDonald's departure, Geelong will be seeking a brand new skipper to lead the AFLW team into an exciting 2026 campaign.
21. Cameron Seeking Coleman Medal History
Geelong's spearhead forward added another accolade to his collection with the 2025 Coleman Medal, putting him well within reach of some incredible history this year.
With now two Coleman Medals to his name, if Cameron can secure a third in 2026 he would become just the 14th player in V/AFL history to win the award on three separate occasions.
He can also become just the second Geelong player in the club's history to win Coleman Medals in back-to-back seasons, with Gary Ablett Senior achieving the feat in 1993, 1994 and 1995.
22. Scott Closing in on a Coaching Landmark
Geelong's longest-serving coach has maintained an incredible record during his tenure, with Chris Scott leading the Cats to a 68.5% winning percentage across his 15 seasons at the helm.
Scott finished 2025 with 245 wins to his name as coach, which currently sits 12th on the all-time V/AFL leaderboard for the most wins by any coach.
But he will have a chance to crack into the top 10 this year, needing nine more wins in 2026 to surpass Norm Smith and Perce Bentley who currently share 10th place.
Scott has also done it at an incredible rate, coaching the fewest games of anyone in the top 15 all-time.
23. Cats Pursuing Home Crowd Record
Geelong's highest home crowd for a home and away game was a record that stood untouched for over 30 years, until the Cats faithful changed that in a hurry.
The original record that was set in 1989 was eclipsed in 2024, during Geelong's Round 8 clash with Carlton when 87,775 spectators packed into the MCG and wrote a significant new chapter in the club's history.
That new record did not even last 12 months, with a new highest total of 88,746 filling the MCG for Geelong's Easter Monday clash against Hawthorn in 2025.
Once again, Geelong will most likely have an opportunity to break that record for a third consecutive year, with the Cats' MCG home game coming in Round 9 against Collingwood this season.
24. 500 Wins at Kardinia Park
It has certainly been a happy hunting ground for the Cats, able to control their home turf each year and record multiple victories at GMHBA Stadium.
At the conclusion of the 2025 season, Geelong had a record of 492 wins from 728 matches at the venue across the club's history, meaning they need just eight more wins to reach 500 victories at their home ground.
With 10 games at the venue in the upcoming season, the Cats will have the chance to reach the milestone number at some stage this year.
25. Looking to Extend Dominance in Adelaide
Geelong's recent form in the City of Churches has been nothing short of phenomenal, currently holding a five-game win streak at Adelaide Oval dating back to Round 2 in 2024.
Widely considered one of the hardest road trips in football, the Cats have been able to handle the occasion and will have more chances in 2026, with clashes against Port Adelaide (Round 7) and Adelaide (Round 13) both on the schedule at Adelaide Oval.
Further to that, Geelong will also visit a new venue this year in Gather Round, taking on West Coast at Norwood Oval meaning the trek to Adelaide will certainly be familiar by the end of this season.
