The 2024 AFL fixture has finally dropped in full and to help you digest it, here’s everything you need to know, broken down.

What’s new?

• The Cats will play in Darwin on Thursday night in Round 10 to open Sir Doug Nicholls Round. It’ll be the first time in the club’s history that Geelong will compete for premiership points in the Northern Territory.
  
  
• Richmond will be heading down the highway for the first time since Round 21, 2017 for a GMHBA Stadium fixture. Before that, it was Round 4, 2012.
  
  
• Arch rival Hawthorn will be back in Geelong for the first time in a while as well. The Round 17 clash will be first time, outside of a COVID year, the Hawks will visit Kardinia Park since Round 3, 2006.
  
  
• Gather Round returns again, however, this time for the Cats will take on a match up Western Bulldogs as part of a Saturday double header at Adelaide Oval. Cats v Dogs is second on the bill and Geelong members have free entry to the double header event.

How many home games?

Geelong has nine games at GMHBA Stadium, starting with a blockbuster match against St. Kilda in Round 1 on a Saturday night when the Club will open the newly completed Stage Five redevelopment of GMHBA Stadium.

There are also two home fixtures at the MCG; one in Round 7 in ANZAC Round against Carlton and one against Essendon in Round 16.

Who do we play twice?

St.Kilda, Adelaide, Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne, Carlton. Of that group, only Carlton and St.Kilda were 2023 finalists.

How many times do we play interstate?

Seven. Adelaide Oval (2 games), The Gabba (1 game), TIO Stadium (1 game), SCG (1 game), Blundstone Arena (1 game), Optus Stadium (1 game)

What days of the week do we play?

Monday: 1 game (away)Thursday: 1 game (away)
Friday: 3 games (1 home, 2 away)
Saturday: 7 games (4 home, 3 away)
Sunday: 2 games (1 home, 1 away)

What time of the day do we play?

Day: 3 games
Night: 9 games
Twilight: 2 games

When are we on TV?

The Cats have nine prime time timeslots in the first 15 rounds; one Thursday night, three Friday nights, five Saturday nights plus the traditional Easter Monday blockbuster – all being matches broadcast on the Seven Network (as well as Foxtel and Kayo).

Plan Your Break

If you’re looking at integrating some football into your school holiday time, here’s where to start:

Rounds 3-5 against Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs in Adelaide for Gather Round and North Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium for the first batch, and Rounds 16-18 against Essendon at the MCG, the Hawks in Geelong and Collingwood at the MCG for the second.