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Geelong Cats Season Preview: Finals Focus Sharpens for 2026 AFL Run
The Cats enter the second half of the season with a tightened roster and clear eyes on September action after strong results through June.
How we reported this
The Geelong Cats open their July training block at GMHBA Stadium with a finals mandate after securing a 12-point win over Fremantle on July 5 that lifted them to fourth on the ladder.
This stretch matters now because the AFL fixture compresses the next eight weeks into a direct path to September elimination finals, leaving little room for mid-table drift before the first cut on August 28.
Local programs anchor the push
Community sessions at Kardinia Park run three mornings a week for junior squads from the Belmont and Newtown districts, feeding directly into the Cats’ VFL affiliate side that plays its home matches at the same venue. The club’s academy on Moorabool Street has added 18 new under-16 recruits this winter, each tracked through the same GPS data used by the senior list.
Membership stands at 68,450 as of the June 30 cutoff, a 9 percent rise from the same date in 2025, while single-match tickets for the August 9 clash against Collingwood start at $42 for adults and $18 for juniors purchased through the club’s online portal.
Fixture and selection notes
The next five opponents include two teams currently inside the top six, with the Cats listed to play at Marvel Stadium on July 19 before returning to GMHBA for a July 26 twilight match. Coach Chris Scott has confirmed no major injury updates beyond the managed load for two veterans, keeping the core group intact for the run to finals.
Supporters can book open training access at the GMHBA Stadium forecourt on July 14 between 9:30 and 11 a.m., with entry via the Ryrie Street gates and free parking at the adjacent multi-deck on Moorabool Street.