It has been a truly special season for Geelong's VFL outfit, and there is plenty to celebrate after clinching the minor premiership on Saturday afternoon.
With a 53-point victory over Casey in Round 18, the Cats recorded their 12th consecutive win and took their record to a remarkable 15-1, which means that no other team can catch them with three rounds remaining in the home and away season.
At both ends of the ground, Geelong have been impossible to stop, scoring an average of 109 points per game which is comfortably the best in the competition, while only conceding an average of 60 points per game, also the best in the VFL.
Their 15 wins for the year have included 12 by 44 points or more, their only loss coming all the way back in Round 4 against Footscray, a match where they held the lead until deep into the third quarter.
But while clinching the Minor Premiership with three full rounds to go in the regular season is an incredible feat, there is still so much left that Geelong will want to achieve in their 2026 campaign.
With top spot locked in, it means that the Cats will enjoy a week off during the VFL's Wildcard Round, before returning to host a Qualifying Final and will also have a double chance in the post-season.
Geelong have only featured in the VFL Finals once since the COVID pandemic in 2020, which came in the 2024 season where they secured a top four finish, but were ultimately eliminated in straight sets.
In fact, the VFL Cats' last Finals victory came in the 2013 Preliminary Final, a game that current head coach Mark Corrigan actually played in.
But there is plenty of cause for optimism and excitement in 2026, as the Cats look to continue their momentum into the Finals campaign.
Geelong have been led by George Stevens and Mitch Knevitt throughout the year who, despite only featuring in 14 and 13 games respectively, both sit in the top 10 in the VFL Coaches MVP award.
Stevens is averaging over 30 disposals and a team-high eight clearances per game, while Knevitt has been equally impressive with an average of 26 disposals and five clearances per game.
The list depth at Geelong has held them in good stead throughout the year, with the likes of Jack Bowes, Gryan Miers, Brad Close, Rhys Stanley and Jed Bews all featuring in multiple games for the VFL Cats.
But perhaps the strongest contribution has come from some young Cats just commencing their journeys at the club.
Jesse Mellor is leading Geelong's goal-kicking with 33 goals from 15 games, showcasing his impressive aerial ability and consistently having a big impact in matches.
Nick Driscoll, Hunter Holmes, Lenny Hofmann and Joe Pike have all been among those to piece together brilliant campaigns so far, while Jay Polkinghorne also had a strong influence before earning his spot at the elite level.
The impact for the VFL Cats goes far beyond the AFL-listed players, with some standout talents featuring such as Jack Costello, Nathan Kreuger, Tom Peirce and the skipper, Dan Capiron.
With top spot on the ladder and the Minor Premiership now secured, Geelong can enjoy their final two games of the regular season, before the excitement starts to build for a big Finals campaign ahead.
