Geelong’s reward for its lowest finish in 20 years is avoiding return match-ups with six of this year’s finalists in next year’s AFL fixture.
The Cats, who finished 12th with ten wins and a draw, will face only preliminary finalists Carlton and beaten elimination finalist St Kilda twice, including the Saints in Round 1, to open the Stage 5 redevelopment of GMHBA Stadium.
The return meeting with the Saints in Round 23 will be Geelong’s only appearance at Marvel Stadium in 2024.
Geelong will also face Adelaide, Hawthorn, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs twice.
The Cats have nine games at GMHBA Stadium, including hosting Richmond and Hawthorn.
It’s the first time the Tigers will have played at the venue since 2017, while the Hawks last played in front of a crowd in Geelong in 2006.
(Geelong and Hawthorn met at the venue during the Covid-impacted 2020 season.)
The Cats’ two ‘home’ games at the MCG are against Carlton and Essendon.
Geelong will make seven interstate trips, covering six states and territories.
Five of those games will take place in the opening ten rounds, including trips to Adelaide in Round 2 to play the Crows and Round 4 for the Gather Round meeting with the Western Bulldogs.
As previously reported, the Cats will play for premiership points in Darwin for the first time when they face the Gold Coast Suns to open Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
“We are really pleased with the club’s 2024 fixture and particularly excited about playing nine home games in Geelong in front of a 40,000 capacity stadium, kicking off with St Kilda on a Saturday night in Round 1,” Geelong Cats Chief Strategy and Growth Officer Marcus King said.
“Big teams will get more used to coming down the highway now that we have a 40,000-capacity stadium, and we look forward to welcoming Hawthorn and Richmond next year as part of a strong overall mix of opponents at GMHBA Stadium.
“In what is a great result for our Melbourne members, we will play seven games in Melbourne. Our interstate fans are also well served, as we play in each state as well as the Northern Territory. We can’t wait to see our fans in blue and white hoops cheering loudly and supporting the team on the road.”
2024 GEELONG FIXTURE
(All times AEDT/AEST)
ROUND 1
Saturday, March 16 – Geelong vs. St Kilda @ GMHBA Stadium – 7:30pm
ROUND 2
Friday, March 22 – Adelaide vs. Geelong @ Adelaide Oval – 7:40pm
ROUND 3
Monday, April 1 – Hawthorn vs. Geelong @ MCG – 3:20pm
ROUND 4
Saturday, April 6 – Geelong vs. Western Bulldogs @ Adelaide Oval – 7:40pm
ROUND 5
Sunday, April 14 – Geelong vs. North Melbourne @ GMHBA Stadium – 1:00pm
ROUND 6
Saturday, April 20 – Brisbane Lions vs. Geelong @ Gabba – 7:30pm
ROUND 7
Saturday, April 27 – Geelong vs. Carlton @ MCG – 4:35pm
ROUND 8
Saturday, May 4 – Melbourne vs. Geelong @ MCG – 7:30pm
ROUND 9
Friday, May 10 – Geelong vs. Port Adelaide @ GMHBA Stadium – 7:10pm
ROUND 10
Thursday, May 16 – Gold Coast Suns vs. Geelong @ TIO Stadium – Darwin – 7:30pm
ROUND 11
Saturday, May 25 – Geelong vs. GWS Giants @ GMHBA Stadium – 4:35pm
ROUND 12
Saturday, June 1 – Geelong vs. Richmond @ GMHBA Stadium – 7:30pm
ROUND 13
Sunday, June 9 – Sydney vs. Geelong @ SCG – 3:20pm
ROUND 14
Bye
ROUND 15
Friday, June 21 – Carlton vs. Geelong @ MCG – 7:40pm
ROUND 16
June 28-30 Geelong vs. Essendon @ MCG TBC
ROUND 17
July 5-7 – Geelong vs. Hawthorn @ GMHBA Stadium
ROUND 18
July 12-14 – Collingwood vs. Geelong @ MCG
ROUND 19
July 19-21 – Geelong vs. Western Bulldogs @ GMHBA Stadium
ROUND 20
July 26-28 – North Melbourne vs. Geelong @ Blundstone Arena
ROUND 21
August 2-4 – Geelong vs. Adelaide @ GMHBA Stadium
ROUND 22
August 9-11 – Fremantle vs. Geelong @ Optus Stadium
ROUND 23
August 16-18 – St Kilda vs. Geelong @ Marvel Stadium
ROUND 24
August 23-25 – Geelong vs. West Coast @ GMHBA Stadium
