Geelong are this afternoon playing hosts to a hot season opener at GMHBA Stadium, with a temperature of 32 degrees forecast for their clash with Fremantle.
Only days ago, the Bureau of Meteorology was predicting a 36-degree scorcher down at the Cattery on Saturday, before moderations to the maximum temperature thankfully coming in due course.
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It continues the Cats’ bizarre start to the 2025 season, after their Opening Round match against Brisbane was postponed until Round 3 due to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Follow our coverage of the Round 1 clash between Geelong and Fremantle below! Can’t see the blog? Click here
Only Fremantle have unveiled a debutant for the clash, with their first-round pick from the 2024 National Draft in Murphy Reid playing his first AFL game. The Victorian is just the second Docker to ever play in Round 1 the year after being drafted, following in the footsteps of new teammate Andrew Brayshaw.
The Cats have brought in second-year defender Connor O’Sullivan for his second game at the top level, while traditional key defender Sam De Koning will act as Chris Scott’s sole ruck for the encounter — up against opposition duo of Liam Reidy and Luke Jackson in Sean Darcy’s absence.
MATCH CENTRE: Geelong vs. Fremantle live scores
Both sides have enjoyed several epic clashes in recent times, with each side winning four of their last eight matches against each other. Additionally, three of their last four encounters have been decided by less than two goals. Fremantle have won their last two matches down at Kardinia Park, having not lost at the venue since 2018.
The first bounce hit the Geelong turf at 1:20pm local time in Victoria, with Jhye Clark (Cats) and Heath Chapman (Dockers) the respective starting substitutes.
TEAM LINE UPS
GEELONG
B: C.O’Sullivan, J.Henry, M.Blicavs
HB: Z.Guthrie, T.Stewart, L.Humphries
C: B.Smith, M.Holmes, O.Dempsey
HF: B.Close, G.Miers, T.Stengle
F: S.Neale, J.Cameron, P.Dangerfield
FOLL: S.De Koning, T.Atkins, J.Bowes
I/C: O.Mullin, M.O’Connor, O.Henry, M.Knevitt, J.Clark (sub)
EMG: T.Clohesy, M.Duncan, R.Stanley
FREMANTLE
B: B.Cox, A.Pearce, J.Draper
HB: L.Ryan, B.Walker, J.Clark
C: N.O’Driscoll, J.O’Meara, J.Sharp
HF: M.Reid, M.Frederick, S.Switkowski
F: L.Jackson, J.Treacy, J.Amiss
FOLL: L.Reidy, C.Serong, A.Brayshaw
I/C: B.Banfield, M.Johnson, K.Worner, C.Wagner, H.Chapman (sub)
EMG: P.Voss, N.Erasmus, C.Simpson
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