AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL
2026
Round 9 - Collingwood Magpies (68) @ (122) Geelong Cats - Geelong spoiled Scott Pendlebury's record-equalling 432nd game with Collingwood, upsetting the Pies in front of 83,000 at the MCG. The 1st half was a Defensive showdown with both teams denying the other team any Offense. The Cats went in at the break with a slim 48-38 lead. The game turned in the 3rd quarter, though, as the Cats found some Offense and out-scored the Pies 4.4 to 0.6 to take a lead in the game that they defended to the end. Geelong featured Ollie Henry (4 goals), Shaun Mannagh (3 goals, 4 Tackles), Bailey Smith (40 Disposals, 2 tackles) and Oisin Mullin (21 Disposals). Collingwood featured Scott Pendlebury (27 Disposals, 3 tackles), Daniel McStay (3 goals), Nick Daicos (29 Disposals) and Jordan De Goey (30 Disposals). The game was also the 200th game for Geelong's Tom Stewart (9, 1 hour 11 minutes hi-lites, 1 Disc, FOX - Hudson/Dunstall/Lyon/Loughinan, PAL)
Round 10 - Geelong Cats (117) @ (76) Brisbane Lines - In a re-match of the 2025 Grand Final, Geelong exacted a measure of revenge with a big win at the Gabba that moved them into the Top 4 in the table. A tight first half ended with the Cats holding a 12 point lead, 57-45, but Geelong blew the game open with 6 goals in the 3rd quarter to pull away and build a game-winning lead. The Cats then used a good Defensive performance to stifle any Brisbane comeback and coasted home to the win. Geelong featured Shaun Mannagh (5 goals, 30 Disposals), Jeremy Cameron (3 goals), Tom Stewart (28 Disposals) and Bailey Smith (34 Disposals, 11 Tackles). Brisbane featured Charlie Cameron (3 goals, 14 Disposals), Darcy Wilmot (30 Disposals, 3 Tackles) and Lachie Neale (28 Disposals) (9, 1 hour 11 minutes hi-lites, 1 Disc, CH7 - Unknown, PAL)
Round 11 - Sydney Swans (80) @ (107) Geelong Cats - In a battle between 2 teams in the Top 4, it was Geelong that took the win in front of 35,869 fans at GMHBA Stadium, ending Sydney's 7-game win streak. After a back-and-forth 1st quarter, the Cats took control of the game with a 5-goal 2nd quarter that gave them a lead they defended to the end. The Swans did attempt a comeback late in the 3rd quarter, but 2 quick goals by the Cats early in the 4th quarter re-established their big lead and they coasted home to the win. Geelong featured Jeremy Cameron (3 goals), Ollie Henry (2 goals), Max Holmes (35 Disposals) and Lawson Humphries (33 Disposals). Sydney featured Joel Amartey (4 goals), Charlie Curnow (2 goals), Riley Bice (34 Disposals) and Isaac Heeney (23 Disposals, 8 tackles) (9, 2 Discs, FOX - Russell/Lewis/Johnson/Jones, PAL)
Round 20 - Geelong Cats (117) @ (97) Melbourne Demons - Geelong over-turned a dominant 1st quarter from Melbourne at the MCG to win the game and stay in the hunt for a top-6 finish. The Dees were on fire in the 1st quarter, using a fast-running game-plan to take control of the game, and scored 4.4. But in the 2nd quarter the Cats turned the game around with 7 goals scored, and pushed out to a 64-44 lead at the major break. Melbourne attempted a 4th quarter comeback, but late goals sealed the deal for Geelong and they took the win. Geelong featured Shannon Neale (5 goals, 6 Marks), Ollie Henry (4 goals), Tom Atkins (23 Disposals, 6 Tackles) and Bailey Smith (28 Disposals, 3 Tackles). Melbourne featured Harrison Petty (4 goals), Bayley Fritsch (14 Disposals, 3 goals), Jack Steele (30 Disposals, 5 Tackles) and Kysaiah Pickett (14 Disposals, 5 Tackles) (9, 2 Discs, CH7 - Brayshaw/Heverin/Richardson/Thomas/Holmes, PAL)
Round 21 - Geelong Cats (97) @ (72) Collingwood Magpies - Geelong continued their momentum, winning their 3rd game in a row, with a big win at the MCG over Collingwood. The win also ended Collingwood's 6-game win streak. Geelong won the game in the 1st quarter, starting fast and scoring 5 goals to 1 for the Pies, then held off Collingwood the rest of the way. The stars for Geelong were winger Ollie Dempsey (29 disposals, 10 marks, 2 goals) and, at the other end, Tom Stewart (25 Disposals, 6 Marks). Geelong also featured Ollie Henry (3 goals), Jay Polkinghorne (3 goals, 4 Marks) and Bailey Smith (28 Disposals). Collingwood featured Daniel McStay (5 goals, 9 Tackles), McCrae (2 goals), Darcy Cameron (22 Disposals), Nick Daicos (35 Disposals, 4 Tackles and Nick Daicos (33 Disposals, 5 Tackles) (9, 2 Discs, CH7 - Taylor/McLachlan/Cornes/Riewoldt, PAL)
Round 22 - Essendon Bombers (50) @ (117) Geelong Cats - On a drizzly day at GMHBA Stadium, Geelong moved back into the top-6 with a huge win over Essendon. The Cats dominated from the start, out-scoring the Bombers 10 goals to 2 in the 1st half and went in at the break with a big lead, 69-16. The Cats added 7 more goals in the 2nd half and coasted home to the win. Geelong featured Ollie Dempsey (4 goals, 19 Disposals), Ollie Henry (4 goals) Shannon Neale (3 goals, 5 Tackles) and Bailey Smith (38 Disposals, 6 Tackles). Essendon featured Jacob Farrow (2 goals), Archie Perkins (2 goals) and Zach Merrett (29 Disposals, 5 Tackles) (9, 2 Discs, FOX - Hudson/Johnson/Hawkins/Schleicher, PAL)
Round 22 - Fremantle Dockers (109) @ (113) Melbourne Demons - In one of the games of the season, Melbourne upset league-leaders Fremantle at the MCG. The loss was only the 3rd of the season for the Dockers. The 1st half was a shootout, with both sides combining for 21 goals kicked, and Fremantle went into the major break with a 68-65 lead. The Dees were still down 88-80 at the final break, but reeled in the Dockers and finally hit the front for good with 7 minutes to play. A frantic end saw the Dockers push hard for the goals they needed but Melbourne played great Defense to keep them out, then ran out the clock to take the win. Melbourne featured Bailey Laurie (3 goals), Harrison Petty (3 goals), Harry Sharp (3 goals), Tom Sparrow (24 Disposals, 2 Goals) and Max Gawn (16 Disposals, 4 Tackles). Fremantle featured Jye Amiss (5 goals), Pat Voss (4 goals), Matthew Johnson (24 Disposals) and Caleb Serong (21 Disposals, 10 tackles) (9, 1 hour 11 minutes hi-lites, 1 Disc, FOX - Montagno/King/Voss/Dal Santon/Jones, PAL)
Round 23 - Geelong Cats (125) @ (110) North Melbourne Kangaroos - Geelong overcame an inspired performance from a young North Melbourne team to post the win at Marvel Stadium and move into contention for a top-4 finish. The Roos started fast and ran the Cats ragged in the 1st quarter, scoring 7 goals and surging into a 38-point lead at the first break. But the Cats steadied the ship and exploded for 9 goals of their own in the 2nd quarter and took a 7-point lead in at the half, 64-57. Both teams traded scores in the 2nd half but the Cats used their experience to close out the game and take the win. Geelong featured Jay Polkinghorne (3 goals), Shaun Mannagh (3 goals, 20 Disposals), Mark Blicavs (3 goals, 18 Disposals) and Bailey Smith (34 Disposals, 5 Tackles). North Melbourne featured Nick Larkey (5 goals), Jack Darling (4 goals), Jy Simpkin (26 Disposals) and Finn O'Sullivan (25 Disposals, 8 Tackles) (9, 2 Discs, FOX - Russell/Lyon/Simpson/Betts, PAL)
Round 24 - Richmond Tigers (76) @ (133) Geelong Cats - Geelong finished the regular season on a high, comfortably beating a young Richmond team at GMHBA Stadium, to finish in the top-6 and earn a week off before the playoffs begin. The Cats did all their work in the 1st half, out-scoring the Tigers 12 goals to 4 to take a 78-29 lead at the major break, and coasted home in the 2nd half. The Tigers represented themselves well in the 2nd half, but the lead was too much to overcome. Geelong featured Shannon Neale (4 goals), Patrick Dangerfield (3 goals, 22 Disposals), Bailey Smith (40 Disposals, 827 metres gained, 3 Goals) and Shaun Mannagh (33 Disposals, 3 goals). Richmond featured Tom Lynch (3 goals), Steely Green (2 goals, 11 Disposals), Tim Taranto (36 Disposals, 7 Tackles) and Jack Ross (32 Disposals, 5 Tackles) (9, 1 Disc, FOX - Howard/Russell/Voss/Rienous/Mooney, PAL)
Elimination Final - Geelong Cats (107) v (74) Carlton Blues - At a rainy MCG, in front of 96,680 fans, Geelong ended Carlton's run in the Finals with a strong 2nd half display that earned them a win and a place in the Semi-Final. The Blues dominated the 1st quarter, running the Cats ragged, and posted a 27-11 lead at the first break. But again the Cats re-grouped, and forced their way back into the game, trailing at the break by just 3 points, 37-34. The 2nd half was all Geelong, as the extra week off they had plus their big-game experience took a toll on the Blues and the Cats kicked 10 goals to 6 for the Blues to take control of the game and run out easy winners. The star for Geelong was Patrick Dangerfield (5 goals, 21 Disposals, 6 marks) who put the Cats on his shoulders in the 2nd half and led the team to the win. Geelong also featured Shannon Neale (2 goals), Gryan Miers (2 goals, 24 Disposals), Shaun Mannagh (25 Disposals, 1 goal) and Bailey Smith (27 Disposals, 6 Tackles). Carlton featured Cooper Lord (2 goals), Brodie Kemp (2 goals), Sam Walsh (29 Disposals), Patrick Cripps (24 Disposals, 1 goal) and Jagga Smith (21 Disposals) (9, 2 Discs, CH7 - Brayshaw/Nicholson/Richardson/Thomas/Holmes, PAL)
Semi-Final - Geelong Cats (106) @ (120) Fremantle Dockers - In front of a club-record 59,725 fans at a raucous Optus Stadium, Fremantle booked their place in the Preliminary Final with a tough win against Geelong. The Dockers had the best start they could imagine, running out to a 38-13 lead at the first break, but Geelong fought their way back into the game and took the lead for the 1st time midway through the 3rd quarter. With the game seemingly slipping away from them, the Dockers surged again and scored 3 goals to end the 3rd quarter 96-80 in front, then held off a final Cats challenge to win the game and send the fans home happy. Fremantle featured Pat Voss (4 goals), Jye Amiss (2 goals), Shai Bolton (2 goals, 26 Disposals) and Luke Jackson (25 Disposals, 2 goals, 4 Tackles). Geelong featured Ollie Henry (5 goals), Shannon Neale (3 goals), Bailey Smith (29 Disposals, 7 Tackles) and Lawson Humphries (22 Disposals) (9, 2 Discs, CH7 - Brayshaw/Nicholson/Richardson/Thomas/Holmes, PAL)
Grand Final - Fremantle Dockers (89) v (96) Brisbane Lions - In one of the greatest AFL Grand Finals ever, Brisbane won their 3rd straight AFL Cup with a dramatic 4th quarter comeback. Both teams were evenly matched in the 1st half and went in at the major break tied at 43-43. The Dockers were in charge in the 3rd quarter but poor kicking meant they only led 72-62 at the final change. The 4th quarter was all action. The Lions pulled to within 2 points before Fremantle went on a run to lead by 17 points with 4:18 left to play. And that was when Fremantle's off-field team chose to activate their crowd support routine "Wharfie Time", a tune meant to galvanise the Dockers to a big effort. But "Wharfie Time" back-fired spectacularly as the Lions were themselves galvanised and kicked 24 unanswered points (4 goals) in the final 4:18 to take the lead and sensationally win the game. The Norm Smith Medal was won by Fremantle midfielder Shai Bolton (26 disposals, 686 metres gained, 9 score involvements). Brisbane featured Charlie Cameron (3 goals), Logan Morris (3 goals), Josh Dunkley (21 Disposals, 12 Tackles), Will Ashcroft (31 Disposals) and Dayne Zorko (28 Disposals, 7 Tackles). Fremantle also featured Pat Voss (3 goals), Hayden Young (2 goals, 22 Disposals), Caleb Serong (24 Disposals) and Murphy Reid (21 Disposals). Coverage includes Kylie Minogue's pre-game show (9, 2 Discs, CH7 - Taylor/Brayshaw/Hodge/Cornes/Richardson/Thomas/Cleary, PAL)