Geelong have continued their perfect start to the 2026 VFL season with another impressive outing on Saturday afternoon, defeating Werribee by 44 points at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval. 

The damage was done early as the Cats shot out of the blocks with a blistering opening term, piling on six unanswered goals while keeping Werribee scoreless to build a 43-point buffer by quarter time, keeping their opponents at a comfortable distance for the remainder of the afternoon. 

Perhaps the most impressive factor on Saturday was Geelong's ability to slingshot the football through the middle of the ground, and no player was more impactful in setting up plays than vice-captain Marcus Herbert who finished with an extraordinary 32 disposals, seven inside 50s and two goals. 

A number of VFL-listed players stood tall under pressure, with Jamieson Ballantyne kicking a game-high four goals in blustery conditions, while Jay Rantall (19 disposals) and Jack Costello (22 disposals) were also heavily impactful throughout the afternoon. 

For Geelong's AFL-listed players, James Worpel (24 disposals, seven clearances) toiled away through stoppages, Jhye Clark (18 disposals, five tackles) responded strongly in his return to the VFL, while Cillian Burke (18 disposals) also showed plenty of exciting signs of his development and provided plenty of dash off half back. 

Cats captain, Dan Capiron (one goal) also celebrated his 100th VFL game for Geelong in style, an outstanding achievement for a brilliant servant of the club. 

Comfortably the highest scoring team across the opening two weeks, Geelong's high-octane offence was operating at full capacity once again in the first quarter as they registered the opening 13 scoring shots and kicked six unanswered goals, building a 43-point lead heading into quarter time. 

The Cats kept Werribee scoreless in the first quarter to punctuate their incredible start, but it was the work around the contest that established their dominance leading the inside 50 count (+16), clearances (+3), marks (+17) and uncontested possessions (+33). 

While a number of experienced players were influential early, nobody found more of the footy in the first term than Jack Costello in his Geelong debut, collecting eight disposals and three marks in a brilliant start to his career in the Hoops. 

Remarkably, the Cats did not concede a score until the four minute mark of the second quarter and Werribee started to flip the momentum, controlling general play after the first break and levelling a number of major statistics around the ground. 

But despite the territory battle going against them, Geelong's defence was able to hold firm and combined with a pair of goals from Marcus Herbert and another late major from a forward 50 intercept, the Cats were able to maintain a 38-point buffer at half time. 

Herbert was sensational in the opening half, collecting a game-high 20 disposals to go with his two goals, while also recording four inside 50s and two clearances to have a major influence in Geelong's hot start.

Playing a key role on the last line of defence, Jed Bews (12 disposals) was also pivotal in the first half, while new draftees Jesse Mellor and Hunter Holmes were lively up forward with three score involvements apiece. 

After two free-flowing quarters of football, the scoring dried up significantly in the third term but Geelong did enough to maintain their advantage, taking a 36-point lead into three quarter time. 

The Cats were able to lock the football in their forward half for large portions of the third term, but inaccuracy kept the door ajar for their opponent as they managed just one goal from seven scoring shots. 

Any concerns of a late Werribee comeback were quickly snuffed out as Jesse Mellor landed a telling blow, kicking his second goal of the contest in the early stages of the final term to extend Geelong's lead back beyond 40 points. 

Jamieson Ballantyne booted his fourth major later in the quarter and the Cats never let their opponents get any closer than 33 points after the blistering start, as they closed out a dominant 44-point victory. 

2026 VFL Season - Round 3

WERRIBEE    0.0    3.6    5.8      6.10    (46)  
GEELONG      6.7    9.8   10.14   12.18   (90) 

GOALS
Werribee: Dahlhaus 2, Whyte, Tullio, Elliott, Charleson 1
Geelong: Ballantyne 4, Mellor, Herbert 2, Williams, White, Pike, Capiron 1

DISPOSALS
Werribee: Lazzaro 28, Pavlidis 27, Clark 26, Smith, Riding 25
Geelong: Herbert 32, Worpel 24, Stevens, Costello 22, Hofmann 20