Geelong are set for their final tune-up ahead of the 2026 AFL season, set to head up the highway for their AAMI Community Series practice match.
The Cats will take on Carlton at IKON Park next Wednesday, with the game set to commence at 7.10pm AEDT.
It will be the final chance for some of Geelong's emerging talents to put their best foot forward, while more experienced players will be looking to get some match practice under their belt with the Opening Round looming large.
With plenty of exciting storylines to keep an eye on as proceedings unfold, take a look at everything you need to know ahead of Geelong's clash with Carlton.
KEY DETAILS
2026 AAMI Community Series
Carlton vs Geelong Cats
IKON Park, Melbourne
Wednesday 25 February, 7.10pm AEDT
HOW TO GET TICKETS
Club members, AFL members and kids aged 14 and under will have FREE general admission access to the 2026 AAMI Community Series.
Competing Club and AFL members can scan their 2026 membership on match day at the venue (excluding Mars Stadium) for free general admission access, subject to capacity. Alternatively, competing club and AFL members can guarantee entry by registering for a general admission ticket or upgrading to a reserved seat via the relevant ticket agent using their 2026 membership barcode.
General admission for non-members is $20 for adults, while reserved seating will be $30 for adults and $10 for kids at venues with applicable seating options.
While general admission access for kids 14 and under is free, they must redeem a ticket in advance of the match. Any child without a pre-redeemed ticket will not be permitted access to the match.
Click the link here to view all options through Ticketmaster.
THE FORMAT
- Four quarters of 20 minutes, plus time on (as per AFL Premiership Season).
- Squad of 30 players; 18 on field, eight interchange and four emergencies. Minimum of four players on the interchange bench during the match at any time.
- No interchange cap.
- Full panel of umpires appointed by the AFL.
WHERE TO WATCH
All matches in the 2026 AAMI Community Series will be broadcast live through Foxtel, while also being streamed on Kayo Sports.
Secure a Digital Plus Membership to watch all the action, which provides a 12-month subscription to Kayo Sports and other member benefits.
Alternatively, Geelong will be providing a Live Blog on the club's official website, which will provide live play-by-play updates throughout the evening.
MATCH SIMULATION TAKEAWAYS
A number of young Cats impressed during their match simulation against Hawthorn last Monday, while some other experienced players were deployed in new roles.
The uncapped trio of Lenny Hofmann, Jay Polkinghorne and Mitch Edwards all performed strongly, while George Stevens also looked terrific through the middle.
Shannon Neale (four goals) and Ollie Henry (three goals) looked damaging in attack alongside Polkinghorne, while Ollie Dempsey spent plenty of time as an inside midfielder.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Lawson Humphries
With the abundance of talent running around at Optus Stadium during AFL Origin, it might have been unexpected that a player with just 36 AFL games under his belt would be a standout.
But Lawson Humphries showed plenty of signs that his meteoric rise will not slow down in 2026, providing a spark off half back for Western Australia and garnering plenty of attention from the football world.
The dashing half-back collected 23 disposals for the game, 19 coming in the second half and going at an exquisite 91.3% disposal efficiency, while also registering five intercept possessions and four inside 50 entries.
Geelong will name their team prior to Wednesday night's game, but Humphries will be a chance to return and play his first game in the Hoops for 2026.
