After a few early drops, the Cats’ full 2023 fixture has finally landed.

The AFL has provided full details up to Round 15, including time, date, venue and opponent, and everything but the timeslot from Round 16 onwards, information that will land with a minimum six weeks’ notice during the season.

Here are a few of the key takeaways.

Melbourne, Our Home Away From Home

The Cats open the season as part of a genuine Friday night blockbuster against the Magpies, one of five games at the home of footy in the first nine rounds.

It’s part of a footy feast for Melbourne based Cats supporters, where Geelong will play eight games in the Victorian capital including six at the ‘G, two of which are home games against the Pies and Hawthorn on Easter Monday, and two at Marvel against Western Bulldogs and St.Kilda.

Early Start

In a break with recent tradition, Geelong’s Round 9 Friday night game against Richmond will kick off at the earlier time of 7.20pm to cater to traveling Cats fans heading up the highway.

On The Road Again 

Geelong will be on the road six times next season, the same as last year although only one of those is a trip to Perth, where the club will take on the Dockers in Round 10 at Optus Stadium.

The Cats will make two trips to Queensland, in Round 3 and Round 19 against Gold Coast and Brisbane respectively, and two trips to South Australia, one of which will be as part of Gather Round to take on the Eagles.

Home Sweet Home

With the Stage 5 redevelopment of GMHBA Stadium not due to be completed until mid-year, the Cats have had their GMHBA allocation largely back-ended with six games at Kardinia Park scheduled for post Round 15.

That said, the club will unfurl its 2022 premiership flag at its home opener against the Swans in Round 6.

The Double Up

Geelong play Collingwood, Sydney, Fremantle, Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide, and Essendon twice, four of whom finished in the top eight last season. It will also be just the third time since 1993 that Essendon has headed down the highway for four points since 1993.

The Run Home

From Round 17 onwards, Geelong will leave Victoria just once, to play Brisbane a the Gabba in Round 19, while five of the last eight games are at GMHBA Stadium.

Geelong's 2023 AFL Fixture