Geelong will face another stern test this weekend as they prepare to host the Fremantle Dockers, a team with plenty of upside and emerging talent. 

It will be a chance to bounce back from a disappointing season opener for the Cats, returning home to play their first game at GMHBA Stadium for the year. 

Fremantle however are widely regarded as a team to watch this year, featuring the likes of Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong through the midfield. 

Take a look through some of the key things to watch in Geelong's Round 1 clash with the Dockers, proudly presented by Deakin University. 

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AFL Highlights | Round 1

The Cats and Dockers clash in round one of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

2025 Ladder 

Geelong: 2nd (17-6)

Fremantle: 6th (16-7)

2025 Points For 

Geelong: 2727 (104.9 points per game)

Fremantle: 2057 (85.7 points per game)

Points Against 

Geelong: 1995 (76.7 points per game)

Fremantle: 1895 (79.0 points per game)

Deakin Performance Stat of the Week 

The Luke Jackson Effect

In a team stacked with talent and star players on every line, it is a credit to Luke Jackson that he has developed into perhaps the most damaging and dangerous player on Fremantle's list. 

Playing primarily in the ruck, Jackson finished third at Fremantle for clearances last year, first for hit-outs, third for contested possessions and second for contested marks, able to utilise his size to impact across the ground. 

But his influence extended inside forward 50, with the big Docker finishing first at the club for score launches and kicking 20 goals of his own for the year. 

Jackson was able to combine with the likes of Serong and Brayshaw through the midfield, with Fremantle finishing third in the AFL for total hit-outs to advantage in 2025. 

His strong season ultimately led to Jackson polling a career-high 17 Brownlow votes, finishing narrowly behind the Dockers superstar on-ball duo and highlighting just how good his season was. 

Fremantle have also floated the idea of utilising Jackson as a pure midfielder this year, something Geelong will need to be wary of heading into Saturday's match. 

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Luke Jackson of the Dockers and Shannon Neale of the Cats contest the ruck during the round one AFL match between Geelong Cats and Fremantle Dockers at GMHBA Stadium, on March 15, 2025, in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

Halting Fremantle's Transition

Fremantle were a team that did not necessarily excel in any key statistic last year, but they were rock solid and stayed above the AFL average in nearly all major statistical categories en route to a Finals appearance. 

One statistic that did stand out however was their ability to transition the ball from defensive 50 and turn it into scores. 

The Dockers ranked sixth in the AFL across the 2025 season for scoring points from their defensive half, while also sitting sixth for the proportion of chains starting from their defensive 50 and ending in a score. 

This will be an interesting factor to watch on Saturday, with Geelong allowing Gold Coast to rank first of all Opening Round teams for transitions from defensive 50 to forward 50. 

The Clearance Battle

As previously mentioned, Fremantle's midfield is their main weapon and it starts with Luke Jackson, but it has proven very hard to stop Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw. 

Serong ranked second in the AFL for total clearances last year with an average of 8.2 per game, also sitting 15th for disposals, eighth for inside 50s and second for contested possessions. 

Brayshaw finished 17th in the AFL for disposals last year, while also leading Fremantle for score involvements and tackles to form a damaging one-two punch through the middle of the ground. 

In the last meeting between the two sides, both Serong (27 disposals, 11 clearances) and Brayshaw (26 disposals, one goal) were solid but Geelong managed to quell their influence, something they will be looking to again this weekend.