The day has arrived, Geelong are set to kick off their September campaign with a Friday night blockbuster, as they prepare to take on Carlton at the MCG. 

The stakes could not be higher, with the winner to progress and keep their season alive while the loser is eliminated from the 2026 season, all set to take place in front of a packed house at the 'G. 

Geelong are familiar with this time of year, set to embark on their 18th Finals campaign in the last 20 years, while also marking their 14th appearance during Chris Scott's tenure as head coach. 

It certainly will not be an easy outing for the Cats, as they take on a Carlton team carrying plenty of momentum, having only suffered defeat in two of their last 15 matches. 

But Geelong will also have an abundance of confidence after finishing the home-and-away season on a six-game winning streak, while also coming off the bye week to rest and rejuvenate before attacking Friday night. 

With so much to look forward to, take one last glance ahead to Friday night's monumental clash at the MCG, proudly presented by Lee Kum Kee. 

KEY DETAILS 

2026 AFL Season | Elimination Final
Geelong Cats v Carlton
MCG, Melbourne
Friday 4 September, 7.40pm AEST

TEAM SELECTION

RECENT FORM

They were the hottest teams in the competition heading into September, but only one can advance and momentum will certainly play a part as the two teams square off at the MCG. 

Geelong could not have asked for much more in the latter part of the regular season finishing on a six-game winning streak, which included victories over the likes of Melbourne and Collingwood. 

What really impressed was the Cats' ability to score, finishing with 100 points or more in five of their last six games and a lowest score of 97 points, averaging 115.2 points per game across that span. 

Carlton were also dominant in recent weeks, recording five wins and a draw from their last six games, averaging 107.5 points per game across that span. 

They have also been very sound defensively, only conceding one score of 100 points or more in their last 15 games, setting up an enthralling battle in an Elimination Final. 

LAST TIME WE MET

A highly entertaining contest in Round 12 at the MCG, the two sides went toe-to-toe in a match that came down to nearly the last kick of the match, with Carlton prevailing by four points. 

Geelong were coming off a brutal stretch in their schedule, which included matches against Collingwood, Brisbane at the Gabba and Sydney, but still pushed the Blues until the final siren with a Jack Henry goal putting the Cats in front at the 28-minute mark of the final term. 

Tom Stewart (22 disposals, six intercepts) and Connor O'Sullivan (five intercept marks) held down the fort defensively, consistently repelling dangerous Carlton attacks and helping to limit the damage at crucial stages in the game. 

Bailey Smith (35 disposals) found plenty of the footy, Jeremy Cameron (four goals, nine score involvements) created plenty of scoring opportunities, while Ollie Dempsey (two goals, 426 metres gained) generated plenty of run on the wide expanses of the MCG. 

LEE KUM KEE - PIVOTAL MATCH-UP

Jay Polkinghorne v Harry Dean

It is bizarre that going into a crunch Final, the attention is not all on the experienced players and those that have stood tall on the biggest stage before, but such has been the impact of these two young talents that it would be remiss not to discuss this mouthwatering match-up. 

Jay Polkinghorne entered Geelong's team six weeks ago and has not put a foot wrong, proving to be a reliable target inside 50 and kicking 13 goals across that span, helping to guide the Cats to six consecutive victories. 

What has been most impressive is the young forward's aerial ability, consistently crashing packs and pulling down 19 marks inside 50 across his six AFL games, while also registering 29 score involvements from 47 total disposals. 

His likely match-up will be against Harry Dean, Carlton's defensive sensation who has impressed in his debut season, finishing second in the AFL's Rising Star award and collecting a game-high 11 intercept possessions in last week's Wildcard win over Melbourne. 

Expect to see Polkinghorne flying for marks at every opportunity on Friday night, while also looking to keep Dean accountable in what will be a fascinating battle between two young stars. 

WHERE TO WATCH 

All matches in the 2026 Toyota AFL Finals Series will be broadcast live nationally on the Seven Network.

The match will also be broadcast on Fox Footy and streamed through Kayo from 6.30pm. 

You can also catch all the action on K rock from 6.00pm, tune in via 95.5FM, the K rock app or the AFL app. 

2026 AFL Broadcast Guide