GEELONG has named a strong team ahead of its Round 1 VFL clash with Essendon at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Jonathon Ceglar, Gryan Miers and Mark O'Connor headline the AFL inclusions and will be eager to put in a strong performance and push their claims for an AFL recall in the coming weeks.

Geelong supporters will also get their first opportunity to watch recent draftees Cooper Whyte, Mitch Knevitt and Ollie Dempsey pull on the hoops in the VFL for the first time.

The match will see recently appointed co-captains Jackson McLachlan and Matt Ling lead the team out for the first time.

VFL Round 1 Match Details

Geelong vs Essendon at GMHBA Stadium at 2.05pm

Gates Open: 1.50pm (15 minutes prior to first bounce)
Access: Gate 13 (Brownlow Stand). Walk up seating in Bays A28-A31 of Brownlow Stand.
Cost: Adult $10, Concession $5, Junior under 15 years Free

Members get in FREE by showing their Mobile Membership App.

Non member tickets available for purchase at the ticket office

How to Watch

All VFL matches in 2022 will be live streamed free and available on demand via the AFL website (afl.com.au) and AFL Live Official App.

VFL Round 1 Team

The Bendigo Bank Cats have claimed their first win of the 2022 VFL season, recording a 28-point victory against Essendon at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday.

Geelong dominated from half-way through the first quarter up until three-quarter time to finish the game 12.14 (86) to 8.10 (58).

The first 10 minutes were played completely on Essendon’s terms, which soon came to a halt when VFL debutant Tom Feely kicked the Cats’ first goal of the season.

This goal was shortly followed by another from new co-captain Jackson McLachlan, and it only got better from there.

The first half finished 7.6 to 2.5 with young guns Cooper Stephens, Ollie Dempsey, Mitch Knevitt and co-captain Matt Ling influencing the game heavily.

Tired legs saw Essendon lower the margin in the fourth term, but Geelong had worked themselves too far in front to concede defeat.

AFL-listed players Gryan Miers (2 goals, 17 disposals), Jonathon Ceglar (10 hit-outs, 2 clearances) and Mark O’Connor (17 disposals, 8 marks) were fit and firing, covering the ground well while Quinton Narkle (25 disposals, 6 clearances) racked up plenty of the footy.

The young brigade of Stephens (20 disposals, 9 clearances), Dempsey (3 goals, 15 disposals) and Mitch Knevitt (21 disposals, 7 marks, 7 tackles) also impressed.

Geelong will face Collingwood next week at the AIA Centre on Saturday at 2:05pm. 

From The Coach

Round 1 

GEE    3.2  7.6  10.12  12.14 (86)
ESS    1.4  2.5  3.5     8.10   (58)

GOALS: Dempsey 3, Miers 2, Abbott 2, McLachlan 2, Feely 1, Neale 1, Evans 1

BEST: Ling, Narkle, C. Stephens, Whyte, Dempsey, Feely

Reports: Nil

Injuries: Nil

@ GMHBA Stadium