One of the most exciting parts of the year for any football fan is nearly here, with the 2025 pre-season drawing to a close and the regular season almost upon us. 

For Geelong the final segment of the pre-season includes a pair of warm up games, starting with a match simulation against Hawthorn on the 17th of February. 

The second match will be the Cats official practice game as part of the 2025 AAMI Community, taking on Essendon at GMHBA Stadium on the 25th of February. 

Today marks four weeks until the clash with the Bombers meaning that after a long off-season, Geelong football is just around the corner. 

MATCH DETAILS 

2025 AAMI Community Series
Geelong Cats v Essendon
GMHBA Stadium
Tuesday Feb 25, 7.10pm AEDT

01:17

Jeremy Cameron Mic'd Up | Junior Member Clinic

We put a mic on Jeremy Cameron as he participated in the Junior Member Clinic. Presented by Deakin.

THE FORMAT

AAMI Community Series Matches will take on the following format:

  • Four quarters of 20 mins plus time on (as per AFL Premiership Season)​
  • Squad of 30 players, eight interchange and four Emergencies.  Minimum of four players on the Interchange Bench during the match at any time.
  • No interchange Cap.​
  • Full panel of umpires appointed by the AFL​.

All matches will be broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo and fully ticketed for fans to attend.

Information will be provided soon, with tickets for the AAMI Community Series set to go on sale in February.

LAST TIME WE MET 

Geelong's last clash with Essendon came in round 16 of the 2024 season, with the Cats storming to a 45 point win in front of over 54,000 spectators at the MCG. 

The game was well and truly in the balance at half time, before a barnstorming finish saw Geelong kick nine of the last 10 goals to cruise to an important win. 

An inspired move to start Tom Stewart in the midfield immediately paid dividends, with the Cats star securing the three Brownlow votes after collecting 23 disposals and four clearances. 

Ollie Dempsey (25 disposals, two goals) starred on the wing, Tyson Stengle (three goals) handled the slippery conditions well and Jack Bowes (26 disposals, one goal) was among the best on ground. 

07:59

Team Highlights | Round 16

The Cats brought the effort and synergy to capture a 45 win over the Bombers on Saturday night!

THE NEW FACES

Geelong's senior list went through a bit of a transformation at the conclusion of the 2024 season, making a number of changes through the trade period and draft. 

The Cats recruited exciting players such as Bailey Smith and Jack Martin during the trade and free agency periods, adding another eight players through the draft. 

A benefit of the practice games is to see these new players in action for the first time, with the Cats also able to experiment with players in new positions during this period. 

See a list of all the ins and outs for Geelong heading into 2025. 

IN

Cillian Burke (Category B rookie), Lennox Hofmann (No.66 draft pick), Xavier Ivisic (Rookie Draft), Keighton Matofai-Forbes (No.69 draft pick), Jack Martin (delisted free agent), Jacob Molier (No.52 draft pick), Joe Pike (Rookie Draft), Jay Polkinghorne (No.44 draft pick), Patrick Retschko (Rookie Draft), Bailey Smith (trade, Western Bulldogs)

OUT

Phoenix Foster (delisted), Joe Furphy (delisted), Mitch Hardie (delisted), Tom Hawkins (retired), Emerson Jeka (delisted), Oscar Murdoch (delisted), Brandan Parfitt (delisted), Gary Rohan (delisted), Zach Tuohy (retired), James Willis (delisted)