Geelong CEO Steve Hocking has welcomed the 2023 AFL fixture, saying Cats supporters are the big winners.
Off the back of the 2022 premiership, the Cats have been granted a strong mix of days, venues, and timeslots, including earlier start times for MCG blockbusters against Collingwood in Round 1 and Richmond in Round 9 to cater for traveling supporters on a Friday night.
“We’ve been thinking about our members in the Geelong region and certainly right down through the western districts,” Hocking told geelongcats.com.au on Monday.
“Right down to Warrnambool and areas like that, as far as getting up to the MCG and being able to get home at a reasonable time and also back through all the regional areas, we’ve got a lot of supporters in those regions as well.
“[Overall], if you have a look at the first 15 rounds, there’s something there for everybody, from Thursday nights right through to Friday nights, right through to Saturday nights and Saturday afternoons. We’ve catered for families… just a range of different football followers that support Geelong Cats.”
The Cats will unfurl their 2022 premiership flag in Round 6 against the Swans at GMHBA Stadium.
When the stadium redevelopment is closer to completion Geelong will play a six home games after it bye in round 13.
Geelong plays five of the first nine games at the MCG, including three of the first four against Collingwood, Carlton, and Hawthorn respectively.
ROUND 1
Friday March 17, 7.40pm
Geelong vs Collingwood, MCG
ROUND 2
Thursday March 23, 7.20pm
Carlton vs Geelong, MCG
ROUND 3
Sunday April 2, 2.10pm
Gold Coast vs Geelong, Metricon Stadium
ROUND 4
Monday April 10, 3.20pm
Geelong vs Hawthorn, MCG
ROUND 5
Sunday April 16, 12.40pm
Geelong vs West Coast, Adelaide Oval
ROUND 6
Saturday April 22, 7.25pm
Geelong vs Sydney, GMHBA Stadium
ROUND 7
Sunday April 30, 1.10pm
Essendon vs Geelong, MCG
ROUND 8
Sunday May 6, 2.10pm
Geelong vs Adelaide, GMHBA Stadium
ROUND 9
Friday May 12, 7.20pm
Richmond vs Geelong, MCG
ROUND 10
Saturday May 20, 2.35pm
Fremantle vs Geelong, Optus Stadium
ROUND 11
Saturday May 27, 4.35pm
Geelong vs GWS, GMHBA Stadium
ROUND 12
Saturday June 3, 7.25pm
Western Bulldogs vs Geelong, Marvel Stadium
ROUND 13
Bye
ROUND 14
Thursday June 15, 7.10pm
Port Adelaide vs Geelong, Adelaide Oval
ROUND 15
Thursday June 22, 7.20pm
Geelong vs Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium
ROUND 16
Thursday June 29 to Sunday July 2
Sydney vs Geelong, SCG
ROUND 17
Thursday July 6 to Sunday July 9
Geelong vs North Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium
ROUND 18
Thursday July 13 to Sunday July 16
Geelong vs Essendon, GMHBA Satdium
ROUND 19
Friday July 21 to Sunday July 23
Brisbane vs Geelong, Gabba
ROUND 20
Friday July 28 to Sunday July 30
Geelong vs Fremantle, GMHBA Stadium
ROUND 21
Friday August 4 to Sunday August 6
Geelong vs Port Adelaide, GMHBA Stadium
ROUND 22
Friday August 11 to Sunday August 13
Collingwood vs Geelong, MCG
ROUND 23
Friday August 18 to Sunday August 20
St Kilda vs Geelong, Marvel Stadium
ROUND 24
Friday August 25 to Sunday August 27
Geelong vs Western Bulldogs, GMHBA Stadium
