Geelong return home on Saturday afternoon and it is set to be an important early season test, set to do battle with Fremantle at GMHBA Stadium. 

The Cats will roll out their first debutant in 2026 with exciting young ruckman, Mitch Edwards selected to play his first AFL game on Saturday. 

Patrick Dangerfield and Jeremy Cameron also return to the starting line-up, but they will take on a star-studded Fremantle side featuring the likes of Luke Jackson and Caleb Serong. 

With so many exciting things to keep an eye on this weekend, take a look ahead to Geelong's clash with Fremantle, proudly presented by Lee Kum Kee. 

KEY DETAILS 

2026 AFL Season | Round 1
Geelong Cats vs Fremantle
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Saturday March 14, 4.15pm AEDT

TEAM SELECTION

LAST TIME WE MET

The Cats and Dockers kicked off their 2025 campaign against each other in nearly identical circumstances to this weekend, on a Saturday afternoon at GMHBA Stadium in Round 1. 

It was a fascinating battle; Geelong kicked away to a big lead by half time but had to withstand a third quarter surge from the Dockers, before pulling away with a brilliant 10-goal final term to win by 78 points. 

Bailey Smith (32 disposals) dominated in his club debut, Jeremy Cameron led the way down forward, while Jack Henry and Tom Stewart were outstanding in defence. 

LEE KUM KEE - PIVOTAL MATCH-UP

Jack Henry v Josh Treacy 

Geelong's defensive anchor and Fremantle's bullocking full forward, it is set to be an enticing match-up on Saturday to see how Jack Henry performs against Josh Treacy inside the Cats' defensive 50. 

Treacy has developed into the Dockers spearhead forward, kicking a team-high 44 goals last year while also finishing fourth in the AFL for contested marks. 

He was reasonably well held in the last meeting between the two teams, with Geelong restricting him to just nine disposals and one goal. 

Henry is coming off another brilliant season where he led the Cats for intercept marks and intercept possessions, an incredible feat considering he missed five games early in the season. 

This will be a pivotal battle and could go a long way to deciding the result on Saturday afternoon. 

KEY PLAYER TO WATCH

Mitch Edwards

There are plenty of Cats to keep an eye on this Saturday, but there might be none more exciting than debutant Mitch Edwards. 

A Western Australian product standing at 206cm tall, Edwards is an exciting young ruckman with plenty of agility and athleticism who has the ability to have an impact right across the ground. 

The debutant impressed at VFL level late last year, before stringing together a strong pre-season to put himself in the selection window heading into 2026. 

HOW TO GET TICKETS

Tickets are selling fast for Saturday's game, but there are still options available to make sure you see all the action at Geelong's 2026 home opener. 

Follow the link here to head to Ticketmaster and secure your seat for Saturday afternoon.

Alternatively, you can also follow the link here to view all hospitality options for a different way to experience the Round 1 clash. 

With 10 home games ahead at GMHBA Stadium in the 2026 season, there has never been a better time to sign up as a Geelong Cats member with plenty of options available to suit all fans. 

WHERE TO WATCH 

Geelong's Round 1 match against Fremantle will be broadcast on Fox Footy and streamed through Kayo. 

The coverage on both platforms will commence at 4.00pm AEDT, ahead of the opening bounce at 4.15pm from GMHBA Stadium. 

You can also catch all the action on K rock from 3.00pm AEDT, listen via 95.5FM, the K rock app or the AFL app.