GEELONG’s VFL team will make its first appearance on the MCG in more than a decade when it meets Essendon ahead of the Country Round AFL clash between the Cats and Bombers on May 5.
It is among three curtain raisers Geelong will feature in during 2019, with meetings against Sandringham on July 13 and North Melbourne on August 10 to be played at GMHBA Stadium before the AFL Cats take on St Kilda and North Melbourne respectively.
Geelong last played a VFL match at the home of football in 2008 when it suffered a 34-point loss to Coburg. (The Cats infamously lost to the AFL Academy the following year).
In all, there will be nine VFL matches played before AFL games this year, with four at Marvel Stadium and three at the MCG.
“For VFL-listed players, the potential exposure and experience of playing at elite AFL venues provides them with a preview of what could be, with many players hoping to emulate the achievements of the 14 VFL players drafted to AFL clubs in 2018,” AFL operations boss Steve Hocking said.
“We have reduced the time gap between the final siren of the VFL match and the start of the AFL game from one hour down to 45 minutes to ensure fans can enjoy a day at the football watching their VFL and AFL teams play back-to-back.”
Twitter: @tom_king79
2019 VFL CURTAIN RAISERS
GMHBA Stadium
VFL Round 15 Geelong Cats v Sandringham on Saturday, July 13, 3.45pm
(curtain-raiser to Geelong Cats v St Kilda)
VFL Round 19 Geelong Cats v North Melbourne on Saturday, August 10, 3.45pm
(curtain-raiser to Geelong v North Melbourne)
Marvel Stadium:
VFL Round 2 Sandringham v Box Hill on Sunday, April 14, 11.50am
(curtain-raiser to St Kilda v Hawthorn)
VFL Round 8 Sandringham v Northern Blues on Sunday, May 26, 11.50am
(curtain-raiser to St Kilda v Carlton)
VFL Round 15 Footscray v Casey Demons on Sunday, July 14, 11.50am
(curtain-raiser to Western Bulldogs v Melbourne)
VFL Round 18 Northern Blues v Collingwood on Sunday, August 4, 11.50am
(curtain-raiser to Carlton v West Coast Eagles)
MCG:
VFL Round 5 Essendon v Geelong Cats on Sunday, May 5, 11.50am
(curtain-raiser to Essendon v Geelong Cats)
VFL Round 6 Box Hill v Footscray on Sunday, May 12, 11.50am
(curtain-raiser to Hawthorn v GWS Giants)
VFL Round 19 Richmond v Northern Blues on Sunday, August 11, 11.50am
(curtain-raiser to Richmond v Carlton)
Twitter: @tom_king79
