View source for Geelong Football Club

{{Short description|Australian rules football club}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox Australian football club
|color1 = #0C2340
|color2 = white
|color3 = solid white
| clubname  =  Geelong Football Club
| image     = [[File:Geelong Cats logo.svg|150px]]
| fullname  = Geelong Football Club Limited<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abr.business.gov.au/ABN/View?abn=67005150818 |title=Current details for ABN 67 005 150 818 |website=ABN Lookup |date=November 2014 |publisher=Australian Business Register |access-date=4 August 2020}}</ref>
| nicknames = Cats
| formernicknames = Pivotonians, Seagulls
| season      = [[2025 Geelong Football Club season|<span style="color:white">2025</span>]]
| afterfinals = Runners-up
| home&away   = 2nd
| topgoalkicker  = [[Jeremy Cameron]] (88 goals)
| bestandfairest = [[Max Holmes]]
| bestandfairestname = Carji Greeves Medal
| founded     = {{Start date and age|18 July 1859}}
| colours     = Navy blue, white<br> {{color box|#0C2340}} {{color box|white}}
| league      = '''[[Australian Football League|AFL]]:''' Senior men<br />'''[[AFL Women's|AFLW]]:''' Senior women (national level)<br />'''[[Victorian Football League|VFL]]:''' Reserves men<br />'''[[VFL Women's|VFLW]]:''' Senior women (state level)
| president    = Grant McCabe
| ceo         = [[Steve Hocking]]
| coach       = '''AFL:''' [[Chris Scott (Australian footballer)|Chris Scott]]<br />'''AFLW:''' [[Daniel Lowther]]<br />'''VFL:''' Mark Corrigan<br />'''VFLW:''' Taylah Hassett
| captain     = '''AFL:''' [[Patrick Dangerfield]]<br />'''AFLW:''' [[Meg McDonald (footballer)|Meg McDonald]]<br />'''VFL:''' Dan Capiron<br />'''VFLW:''' Mel Staunton
| premierships = '''VFL/AFL''' (10) {{hlist|[[1925 VFL Grand Final|1925]]|[[1931 VFL Grand Final|1931]]|[[1937 VFL Grand Final|1937]]|[[1951 VFL Grand Final|1951]]|[[1952 VFL Grand Final|1952]]|[[1963 VFL Grand Final|1963]]|[[2007 AFL Grand Final|2007]]|[[2009 AFL Grand Final|2009]]|[[2011 AFL Grand Final|2011]]|[[2022 AFL Grand Final|2022]]}}'''VFA''' (7) {{hlist|[[1878 VFA season|1878]]|[[1879 VFA season|1879]]|[[1880 VFA season|1880]]|[[1882 VFA season|1882]]|[[1883 VFA season|1883]]|[[1884 VFA season|1884]]|[[1886 VFA season|1886]]}} '''Reserves/VFL''' (16) {{hlist|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1923]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1924]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1930]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1937]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1938]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1948]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1960]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1963]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1964]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1975]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1980]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1981]]|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1982]]|[[2002 VFL season|2002]]|[[2007 VFL season|2007]]|[[2012 VFL season|2012]]}}
| ground      = [[Kardinia Park (stadium)|GMHBA Stadium]]{{efn|name=no gf|Used for most of the club's home matches in the AFL. Since 2017, Geelong have played 9 home matches a year there.}}
| capacity    = 40,000
| ground2     = [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]]{{efn|name=no gf1|Used for remaining home matches in the AFL, and for AFL finals matches. Since 2017, Geelong have played 2 home matches a year there.}}
| capacity2   = 100,024
| formerground = [[Corio Oval]]
| span      = 1878-1940
| trainingground = [[Deakin University Elite Sports Precinct]]<br />[[Kardinia Park (stadium)|GMHBA Stadium]]
| pattern_b2      = _geelong2023h
| pattern_sh2     =
| pattern_so2     = _hoops_white
| body2           = FFFFFF
| shorts2         = FFFFFF
| socks2          = 021A31
| pattern_b1      = _geelong2023h
| pattern_sh1     =
| pattern_so1     = _3whitehoops
| body1           = 0
| shorts1         = 021A31
| socks1          = 021A31
| url         = [http://www.geelongcats.com.au/ www.geelongcats.com.au]
| jumper      =
| current     = 2025 Geelong Football Club season
}}
The '''Geelong Football Club''', nicknamed the '''Cats''', is a professional [[Australian rules football]] club based in [[Geelong]], Victoria, Australia. The club competes in the [[Australian Football League]] (AFL), the sport's premier competition. The club formed on 13 April 1859, making it the [[List of Australian rules football clubs by date of establishment|second-oldest AFL side]] after [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]] and one of the [[oldest football club]]s in the world.<ref name="catshistory">[http://www.gfc.com.au/ Official Website of the Geelong Football Club] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426211854/http://www.gfc.com.au/ |date=26 April 2012 }} [http://www.gfc.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=4015 GFC History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070902144558/http://gfc.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=4015 |date=2 September 2007 }} Retrieved on 10 June 2007.</ref>

In the 1860s, Geelong participated in a series of [[Challenge Cup (Australian rules football)|Challenge Cup]] competitions, and was a foundation member of both the [[Victorian Football Association]] (VFA) in 1877 and the [[Victorian Football League (1897–1989)|Victorian Football League]] (VFL) in 1897, now the national AFL.<ref name="l">Rodgers, Stephen (1983) ''Every Game Ever Played'' p. i. Melbourne: Lloyd O'Neil</ref> The club won the Western District Challenge Cup in 1875, a then-record seven VFA premierships between 1878 and 1886, and six VFL premierships by 1963, after which it experienced a 44-year waiting period until it won its next premiership, a grand final record 119-point victory in [[2007 AFL Grand Final|2007]].<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web |url=http://www.afltables.com/ |title=AFL Tables |work=afltables.com |access-date=21 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afltables.com/afl/teams/allteams/seasons.html |title=AFL Tables – Season Summary |work=afltables.com |access-date=21 August 2016}}</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20120707005810/http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=295078 The Bulletin publishes for the last time]</ref> Geelong won a further three premierships in [[2009 AFL Grand Final|2009]], [[2011 AFL Grand Final|2011]] and [[2022 AFL Grand Final|2022]]. The Cats have fierce competitive rivalries with [[Hawthorn Football Club|Hawthorn]] and [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]].

Geelong play most of their home games at [[Kardinia Park (stadium)|Kardinia Park]] in [[South Geelong, Victoria|South Geelong]] (nicknamed the Cattery and known for sponsorship reasons as GMHBA Stadium) and play the remainder at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]]. Geelong's traditional [[Guernsey (Australian rules football)|guernsey]] colours are white with navy blue hoops. The club's nickname was first used in 1923 after a run of losses prompted a local cartoonist to suggest that the club needed a [[Black cat#Superstition, folklore, bringer of good or bad luck|black cat]] to bring it good luck. The club's official team song and anthem is "We Are Geelong".

Geelong also fields a [[#Reserves team|reserves men's team]] in the [[Victorian Football League]] (VFL), a [[#AFL Women's teams|senior women's team]] in the [[AFL Women's]] (AFLW) and a [[#AFL Women's teams|reserves women's team]] in the [[VFL Women's]] (VFLW) competitions.

==History==
{{Main|History of the Geelong Football Club}}
[[File:Performance Chart AFL GEE.svg|thumb|Chart of yearly ladder positions for Geelong in [[Australian Football League|VFL/AFL]]]]

The club was founded in 1859 in the city of [[Geelong]], Australia, and is the second oldest AFL club. It is believed to be the fourth [[oldest football club]] in Australia and one of the oldest in the world and one of the most successful.<ref name="catshistory"/> Initially playing under its own rules, some of which, notably, were permanently introduced into [[Australian Football]], it adopted the [[Laws of Australian Football]] in the early 1860s after a series of compromises with the Melbourne Football Club.

Geelong went on to play for most of its existence in the premier competitions, the first competition, the Caledonian Society Cup, a foundation club of both the [[Victorian Football Association]] (VFA) in 1877 and the [[Victorian Football League (1897–1989)|Victorian Football League]] (VFL) in 1897.,<ref name="l" /> VFL and continues in the elite [[Australian Football League]] (AFL). The Cats have been the [[Australian Football League|VFL/AFL premiers]] ten times, with four in the AFL era (since 1990) in 2007, 2009, 2011, and most recently, 2022, to be the third most successful club over that period behind Brisbane and Hawthorn. They have also won ten [[McClelland Trophy|McClelland Trophies]], the most of any AFL/VFL club.<ref name="catshistory"/><ref name="yearstats">[http://www.afltables.com/ AFL Tables] [http://www.afltables.com/afl/teams/allteams/seasons.html Finishing Summary 1897–2006].</ref>

Many of the club's official records before 1920 have disappeared.<ref>{{cite web |last=McClure |first=Geoff |title=UNEARTHING HISTORY: THE LOST BROWNLOW FILES |publisher=fullpointsfooty.net |url=http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/unearthing_history_the_lost_brownlow_files.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050310231659/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/unearthing_history_the_lost_brownlow_files.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=10 March 2005 |accessdate=30 September 2010}}</ref>

== Club identity and culture ==

=== Guernseys ===
[[File:Jim McShane.jpg|thumb|upright|Club attire in 1895 ([[Jim McShane]] pictured)]]
Geelong's traditional navy blue and white hooped guernsey has been worn since the club's inception in the mid-1800s. The design is said to represent the white seagulls and blue water of [[Corio Bay]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gfc.com.au/detailed%20history/tabid/4015/default.aspx |title=Official AFL Website of the Geelong Cats Football Club |work=gfc.com.au |access-date=21 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101029220912/http://www.gfc.com.au/detailed%20history/tabid/4015/default.aspx |archive-date=29 October 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The team has worn various away guernseys since 1998, all featuring the club's logo and traditional colours.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://footyjumpers.com/ |title=www.footyjumpers.com |work=footyjumpers.com |access-date=21 August 2016}}</ref>

=== Nickname ===
Geelong has been nicknamed the Cats since 1923. Following a disappointing start to the season, the ''[[The Herald (Melbourne)|Melbourne Herald]]'''s sporting cartoonist, [[Samuel Garnet Wells]], suggested that adopting a [[Black cat#Superstition, folklore, bringer of good or bad luck|black cat]] as a mascot might bring the club good luck. A local entrepreneur seized on the idea, producing and selling badges featuring a black cat at games. Shortly afterward, Geelong won four consecutive games, cementing the cat in club folklore.<ref>{{cite news |last=Webb |first=Carolyn |date=6 September 2019 |title=How the Geelong Cats got their nickname, and other stories |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/how-the-geelong-cats-got-their-nickname-and-other-stories-20190905-p52ogc.html |work=The Age |location= |publisher= |access-date=31 August 2025}}</ref>

In earlier years, Geelong was often referred to as the Pivotonians, a name derived from the city's nickname, the Pivot. They were also called the Seagulls, in reference to Geelong's seaside location.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pollard |first=Kyle |date= |title=Kyle Pollard: The five footy club nicknames that just didn't stick |url=https://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/sport/kyle-pollard-the-5-footy-nicknames-that-just-didnt-stick/news-story/1508985b41a4dc5d732fa28db5b3b37d |work=Geelong Advertiser |location= |publisher= |access-date=31 August 2025}}</ref>

===Songs===
Geelong's official [[List of Australian Football League team songs|club song]], "We Are Geelong", is set to the tune of "[[Toreador Song|Toreador]]" from ''[[Carmen]]'', with lyrics written by former premiership player [[John Watts (Australian rules footballer)|John Watts]]. For many years only the first verse was performed at matches and following victories, however since the start of the 2025 season, the club has played both verses. The version currently used by the club was recorded by the Fable Singers in 1972.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-tunes-to-remember-20100723-10nyh.html AFL Tunes to Remember] ''The Melbourne Age'', 23 July 2010</ref> The lyrics are as follows:

: ''We are Geelong, the greatest team of all''
: ''We are Geelong; we're always on the ball''
: ''We play the game as it should be played''
: ''At home or far away''
: ''Our banners fly high, from dawn to dark''
: ''Down at Kardinia Park.''

: ''So! Stand up and fight, remember our tradition''
: ''Stand up and fight, it's always our ambition''
: ''Throughout the game to fight with all our might''
: ''Because we're the mighty blue and white''
: ''And when the ball is bounced, to the final bell''
: ''Stand up and fight like hell!''

In the 1980s and 1990s, Geelong experimented with alternative club songs, starting with [[Barry Crocker]]'s "C'mon the Cats!" and followed by "Cat Attack", which the team ran out to during the [[1992 AFL Grand Final|1992 Grand Final]]. However, these received a lukewarm response from fans at the time, and the club returned to its traditional anthem.<ref>{{cite book |last=Crocker |first=Barry |date=2003 |title=Bazza: The Adventures of Barry Crocker |url= |location= |publisher=Pan Macmillan Australia |pages=62–63 |isbn=9780732911751 |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Darling |first=Alexander |date=27 May 2024 |title=Your AFL club has probably experimented with different theme songs — will Tasmania get its right first go? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-27/footy-club-theme-song-tasmania-gws-harry-angus-west-coast/103891546 |work=ABC News |location= |publisher= |access-date=14 September 2025}}</ref> In 2022, the club revived "Cat Attack" for Retro Round and has continued to play it following victories at Kardinia Park.

== Stadium and training facilities ==
Geelong's administrative headquarters is its home stadium, [[GMHBA Stadium]] or also known as [[Kardinia Park (stadium)|Kardinia Park]]. The club trains here during the season, however it also trains at its alternate training venue, the [[Deakin University Elite Sports Precinct]]. The latter features an [[MCG]]-sized oval and is used often by the club in the pre-season, when [[Kardinia Park (stadium)|Kardinia Park]] is being used for other events.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/media-releases/articles/deakin-welcomes-cats-as-mcg-blockbuster-looms |title=Deakin welcomes Cats as MCG blockbuster looms |work=Deakin University |date=19 May 2016}}</ref>

== Rivalries ==
=== Hawthorn ===
{{Further|Kennett curse}}
The rivalry between Hawthorn and Geelong is defined by two Grand Finals: those of 1989 and 2008. In the [[1989 VFL Grand Final|1989 Grand Final]], Geelong played the man, resulting in major injuries for several Hawks players, [[Mark Yeates (Australian rules footballer)|Mark Yeates]] knocking out [[Dermott Brereton]] at the opening bounce; Hawthorn controlled the game, leading by approximately 40 points for most of the match; in the last quarter, Geelong almost managed to come from behind to win, but fell short by six points. In the [[2008 AFL Grand Final|2008 Grand Final]], Geelong was the heavily backed favourite and had lost only one match for the season, but lost by 26 points; Geelong then won its next eleven matches against Hawthorn over the following five years, under a curse, which was dubbed the "[[Kennett curse]]" which was attributed to disrespectful comments made by Hawthorn president [[Jeff Kennett]] following the 2008 Grand Final. It was later revealed that after the 2008 grand final, Paul Chapman initiated a pact between other Geelong players to never lose to Hawthorn again. The curse was broken in a preliminary final in 2013, after Paul Chapman played his final match for Geelong the previous week. Hawthorn went on to win the next three premierships. In 2016 Geelong again defeated Hawthorn in the qualifying final. In twenty matches between the two sides between 2008 and 2017, twelve were decided by less than ten points, with Geelong victorious in eleven of those twelve matches.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://finalsiren.com/PreviousGames.asp?Team1ID=4&Team2ID=16&Go=Go |title=Head to Head Between Geelong and Hawthorn |work=finalsiren.com |access-date=21 August 2016}}</ref>

=== Collingwood ===
In 1925, Geelong won their first flag over Collingwood. In 1930, Collingwood defeated Geelong in the grand final making it four flags in-a-row for the Pies. Geelong would later deny Collingwood three successive premierships in 1937, winning a famous grand final by 32 points.

The two sides played against each other in 6 finals between 1951 and 1955, including the 1952 Grand Final when Geelong easily beat Collingwood by 46 points. In 1953, Collingwood ended Geelong's record 23-game winning streak in the home and away season, and later defeated them by 12 points in the grand final, denying the Cats a third successive premiership.

Since 2007, the clubs have again both been at the top of the ladder and have met regularly in finals. Geelong won a memorable preliminary final by five points on their way to their first flag in 44 years. In 2008, Collingwood inflicted Geelong's only home-and-away loss, by a massive 86 points, but the teams did not meet in the finals. They would meet in preliminary finals in 2009 and 2010, each winning one ''en route'' to a premiership. They finally met again in a Grand Final in 2011, which Geelong won by 38 points; Geelong inflicted Collingwood's only three losses for the 2011 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/2013-05-14/an-epic-rivalry |title=An epic rivalry |website=collingwoodfc.com.au |access-date=21 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821215600/http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/2013-05-14/an-epic-rivalry |archive-date=21 August 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Brisbane ===
In the 2020s, [[Geelong]] and [[Brisbane]] have played off against each other in 5 finals (2020 Preliminary final, 2022 Preliminary Final, 2024 Preliminary final, 2025 2nd Qualifying Final and 2025 Grand Final). The current record in this time frame stands at 3 wins for Geelong and Brisbane with 2 wins. This includes Brisbane's most recent premiership in 2025, beating Geelong by 47 points in what was a dominant fashion during the 2nd half of play in front of a crowd of 100,022 at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/46343458/afl-brisbane-lions-geelong-cats-rivalry-fire-overdue-date-dominant-decades |title=AFL rivalry to fire in overdue date after dominant decades |website=www.espn.com.au |access-date=5 October 2025}}</ref>

== Corporate ==
=== Sponsorship ===
At 100 years as of 2025, Geelong's sponsorship with the [[Ford Motor Company]] is one of the longest active sports sponsorship of any sports team in the world, with continuous sponsorship dating back to 1925. The sponsorship had previously been ratified as the longest in the world by the [[Guinness World Records]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2022-05-03 |title=The most enduring sponsorships of all time |url=https://elevent.co/the-top-ten-most-enduring-sponsorships-of-all-time/ |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=Elevent |language=en-US}}</ref> until a change in definitions.

In recent years Geelong-based retail company [[Cotton On Group]] has become synonymous with the club, with the company manufacturing on-field and other team merchandise since 2016.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Edwards |first1=Aimee |title=Spotlight On Sponsors: Geelong Maintains Record Breaking Sponsorship Despite Dramatic Fall From Grace In 2023 |url=https://www.bandt.com.au/spotlight-on-sponsors-geelong-maintains-record-breaking-sponsorship-despite-dramatic-fall-from-grace-in-2023/ |website=bandt.com.au |access-date=12 September 2024 |date=15 February 2024}}</ref>
====AFL====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|- style="background:#bdb76b;"
! Year !! Kit Manufacturer !! Major Sponsor !! Shorts Sponsor !! Bottom Back Sponsor !! Top Back Sponsor
|-
|1925–1992|| — || rowspan="11" |[[Ford Australia|Ford]]{{efn|fn=ford|Logo first appeared on Geelong guernseys during the 1970s}}|| — || — ||rowspan="9"| —
|-
|1993|| — || rowspan="5" |[[Ford Australia|Ford]]|| —
|-
|1994–1996|| — || rowspan="9" |[[Ford Australia|Ford]]
|-
|1997–1998||[[Adidas]]
|-
|1999–2002||[[Fila (company)|Fila]]
|-
|2003–2006|| rowspan="2" |[[Slazenger]]
|-
|2007||rowspan=2|[[nib Health Funds|nib]]
|-
|2008–2016||[[ISC (sportswear)|ISC]]
|-
|2017–2021||rowspan="3"|[[Cotton On Group|Cotton On]]||rowspan="2"|[[GMHBA]]
|-
| 2022–2023 || rowspan="2"| [[Ford Australia|Ford]]
|-
| 2024–present || Simonds
|}

====AFL Women's====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|- style="background:#bdb76b;"
! Year !! Kit Manufacturer !! Major Sponsor !! Shorts Sponsor !! Bottom Back Sponsor !! Top Back Sponsor
|-
| 2019-21 || rowspan="4"| [[Cotton On Group|Cotton On]] || rowspan="4"| [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] || [[Viva Energy]] || rowspan="4"| [[Deakin University]] || rowspan="2"| —
|-
| 2022 (S6) || rowspan="2"| Geelong Dairy
|-
| 2022 (S7)–2023 || rowspan="2"|[[Bulla Dairy Foods]]
|-
| 2024–present || [[Viva Energy]]
|}

=== Supporter base ===
[[File:Geelong Cats supporters.jpg|thumb|Geelong's supporters came out in force in the [[2009 AFL Grand Final|2009 Grand Final]] against St Kilda]]
[[File:Geelong FC's one-man cheer squad.jpg|thumb|Well-known supporter Troy West, nicknamed "Catman"]]
[[File:Geelong Cats Banner 2013.jpg|thumb|right|Geelong players prepare to break a banner, which is created by its supporters, before a match against {{AFL GWS}} in June 2013.]]

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Table of club membership, with home attendance figures (since 1984)
|-
! scope="col" | Season
! scope="col" | Members
! scope="col" | Average home<br />attendance<ref>{{cite web |title=Geelong Attendances |publisher=AFL Tables |url=http://www.afltables.com/afl/crowds/geelong.html |access-date=1 July 2018}}</ref>
! class="unsortable"|Ref
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[1984 VFL season|1984]]
| 7,709 || 20,577 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[1985 VFL season|1985]]
| 7,718 || 19,463 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[1986 VFL season|1986]]
| 6,985 || 15,319 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[1987 VFL season|1987]]
| 6,981 || 20,462 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[1988 VFL season|1988]]
| 9,667 || 20,790 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[1989 VFL season|1989]]
| 7,760 || 29,296 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[1990 AFL season|1990]]
| 15,087 || 24,711 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[1991 AFL season|1991]]
| 11,356 || 23,525 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[1992 AFL season|1992]]
| 13,535 || 27,698 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[1993 AFL season|1993]]
| 15,500 || 26,920 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[1994 AFL season|1994]]
| 14,312 || 26,461 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[1995 AFL season|1995]]
| 15,922 || 25,317 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[1996 AFL season|1996]]
| 17,346 || 25,161 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[1997 AFL season|1997]]
| 18,858 || 28,324 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[1998 AFL season|1998]]
| 19,971 || 28,371 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[1999 AFL season|1999]]
| 21,032 || 24,840 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2000 AFL season|2000]]
| 25,595 || 27,729 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2001 AFL season|2001]]
| 25,420 || 27,093 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2002 AFL season|2002]]
| 23,756 || 27,040 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2003 AFL season|2003]]
| 24,017 || 25,971 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2004 AFL season|2004]]
| 25,021 || 25,747 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2005 AFL season|2005]]
| 30,821 || 27,783 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2006 AFL season|2006]]
| 32,290 || 27,428 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2007 AFL season|2007]]
| 30,169 || 31,547 || <ref>{{cite news |last1=Pierik |first1=Jon |title=Club members post record |work=Herald Sun |publisher=News Limited |date=13 July 2007 |location=Melbourne |page=106}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2008 AFL season|2008]]
| 36,850 || 29,474 || <ref>{{cite news |last1=Ralph |first1=Jon |title=Bid to keep new Kanga members |work=Herald Sun |publisher=News Limited |date=16 July 2008 |location=Melbourne |page=77}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2009 AFL season|2009]]
| 37,160 || 30,069 || <ref>{{cite news |last1=Rucci |first1=Michelangelo |title=Fans are quitting SA seats |work=The Advertiser |publisher=News Limited |date=24 July 2009 |location=Adelaide |page=109}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2010 AFL season|2010]]
| 40,326 || 39,129 || <ref>{{cite news |last1=Warner |first1=Michael |title=Roos lose support |work=Herald Sun |publisher=News Limited |date=17 July 2010 |location=Melbourne |page=39}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2011 AFL season|2011]]
| 39,343 || 35,401 || <ref>{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Bruce |title=Magpie army leads charge on AFL membership |work=Sunday Herald Sun |publisher=News Limited |date=31 July 2011 |location=Melbourne |page=78}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2012 AFL season|2012]]
| 40,200 || 31,508 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2013 AFL season|2013]]
| 42,884 || 36,650 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2014 AFL season|2014]]
| 43,803 || 33,915 || <ref>{{cite web |author1=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Record AFL club membership in 2014 |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-08-22/record-afl-club-membership-in-2014 |website=AFL.com.au |publisher=Telstra Media |access-date=7 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301051019/http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-08-22/record-afl-club-membership-in-2014 |archive-date=1 March 2018 |date=22 August 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2015 AFL season|2015]]
| 44,312 || 29,582 || <ref>{{cite news |last1=Siracusa |first1=Claire |title=AFL club membership grows, but three clubs dropped off |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-club-membership-grows-but-three-clubs-dropped-off-20150826-gj7vkm.html |access-date=7 July 2018 |work=The Age |publisher=Fairfax Media |date=26 August 2015 |location=Melbourne}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2016 AFL season|2016]]
| 50,571 || 30,497 || <ref>{{cite web |last1=Bowen |first1=Nick |title=The membership ladder: Hawks overtake Pies, Dons slide |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-08-25/hawks-overtake-pies-to-top-membership-ladder |website=AFL.com.au |publisher=Telstra Media |access-date=1 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222061233/http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-08-25/hawks-overtake-pies-to-top-membership-ladder |archive-date=22 December 2017 |date=25 August 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2017 AFL season|2017]]
| 54,854 || 35,111 || <ref>{{cite web |last1=Guthrie |first1=Ben |title=AFL club membership heads towards a million |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-08-16/afl-club-membership-tally-hits-new-high |website=AFL.com.au |publisher=Telstra Media |access-date=1 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009093152/http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-08-16/afl-club-membership-tally-hits-new-high |archive-date=9 October 2017 |date=16 August 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2018 AFL season|2018]]
| 63,818 || 34,207 || <ref>{{cite web |last1=King |first1=Travis |title=Thanks a million: New membership benchmark |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-08-02/thanks-a-million-new-membership-benchmark |website=AFL.com.au |publisher=Telstra Media |access-date=26 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826041839/http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-08-02/thanks-a-million-new-membership-benchmark |archive-date=26 August 2018 |date=2 August 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2019 AFL season|2019]]
| 65,063 || 33,405 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=AFL CLUB MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS FOR 2019 REVEALED |url=https://www.sen.com.au/news/2019/08/06/afl-club-membership-numbers-for-2019-revealed/ |website=sen.com.au |publisher=Sports Entertainment Network |access-date=13 April 2022}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2020 AFL season|2020]]
| 60,066 || 4,569 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=AFL statement on club memberships in 2020 |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/497527/afl-statement-on-club-memberships |website=afl.com.au |access-date=13 April 2022 |date=9 September 2020}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2021 AFL season|2021]]
| 70,293|| 14,262 ||<ref>{{cite web |last1=Collings |first1=Tom |title=Cats Set All-Time Membership Record |url=https://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/994007/cats-set-all-time-membership-record |website=Geelong Football Club |access-date=13 April 2022 |date=5 August 2021}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2022 AFL season|2022]]
| 71,943|| 26,875 ||<ref>{{cite web |last1=Negrepontis |first1=Nic |title=ALL 18 AFL CLUBS' MEMBERSHIP TALLIES FOR 2022 REVEALED |url=https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/09/05/all-18-afl-clubs-membership-tallies-for-2022-revealed/ |website=sen.com.au |publisher=Sports Entertainment Network |access-date=4 October 2022 |date=5 September 2022}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2023 AFL season|2023]]
| 82,155|| 31,271 ||<ref>{{cite web |title=AFL breaks all-time club membership record |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1024903/afl-breaks-all-time-club-membership-record |website=afl.com.au |access-date=6 September 2023 |date=6 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Geelong Celebrates 80,000 Members In 2023 |url=https://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/1379150/geelong-celebrates-80000-members-in-2023 |website=Geelong Football Club |access-date=27 August 2023 |date=14 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wakefield |first1=Bryn |title=AFL membership numbers 2023: All-time record broken for competition |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/afl/news/membership-numbers-2023-all-time-members-record/fk66mawntzeiuv0l1ivnqeu0 |website=Sporting News |access-date=6 September 2023 |date=6 September 2023}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2024 AFL season|2024]]
| 90,798|| 38,861 ||<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jovanovski |first1=Jack |title=Vic powerhouse defends title; new No. 2 leapfrogs Eagles: 2024 AFL membership ladder revealed |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-member-numbers-ladder-2024-club-membership-by-team-club-records-which-club-has-the-most-members-alltime-record-broken-collingwood-magpies-carlton-blues-west-coast-eagles-latest-news/news-story/3d39abb09b01db190be1b2a215552468 |website=foxsports.com.au |access-date=11 September 2024 |date=11 September 2024}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | [[2025 AFL season|2025]]
| 92,379|| 35,439 ||<ref>{{cite web |last1=Waterworth |first1=Ben |title=AFL membership ladder 2025 revealed: Eagles power on full display amid Qld clubs' stunning growth |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-member-numbers-ladder-2025-afl-club-membership-by-team-club-records-most-members-collingwood-pips-west-coast-as-brisbane-and-gold-coast-surge/news-story/dd672eed088359c13bb2f1c98b139956 |website=foxsports.com.au |publisher=News Corporation Australia |access-date=10 September 2025 |date=10 September 2025}}</ref>
|}

== Players and staff ==
{{Further|List of Geelong Football Club players|Geelong Football Club draft and trade history|List of Geelong Football Club coaches|List of Geelong Football Club captains}}
[[File:Chris Scott 2018.1.jpg|thumb|right|Chris Scott is the club's current head coach.]]
[[File:Patrick Dangerfield May 2019.jpg|thumb|right|Patrick Dangerfield is the club's current captain.]]

===Current playing list and coaches===
{{Geelong Football Club AFL personnel}}

=== Officials ===
* '''President:''' Craig Drummond
* '''Vice President:''' Diana Taylor
* '''Chief Executive Officer:''' [[Steve Hocking]]

== Club records ==
{{Further|List of Geelong Football Club seasons}}

=== Premierships and awards ===
{{See also|List of Geelong Football Club individual awards and records}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#bdb76b;" align="center"| '''Premierships'''
|- style="background:#bdb76b;"
! style="width: 210px;" | Competition
! style="width: 145px;" | Level
!Wins
!Years Won
|-
|rowspan=3 scope="row" style="text-align: left"|'''[[Australian Football League]]'''||[[List of VFL/AFL premiers|Seniors]]||10||[[1925 VFL Grand Final|1925]], [[1931 VFL Grand Final|1931]], [[1937 VFL Grand Final|1937]], [[1951 VFL Grand Final|1951]], [[1952 VFL Grand Final|1952]], [[1963 VFL Grand Final|1963]], [[2007 AFL Grand Final|2007]], [[2009 AFL Grand Final|2009]], [[2011 AFL Grand Final|2011]], [[2022 AFL Grand Final|2022]]
|-
|[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|Reserves]] <small>(1919–1999)</small>||13||[[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1923]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1924]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1930]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1937]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1938]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1948]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1960]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1963]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1964]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1975]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1980]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1981]], [[List of VFL/AFL reserves premiers|1982]]
|-
|[[List of VFL/AFL premiers#VFL/AFL Thirds/Under-19s premierships|Under-19s]] <small>(1946–1991)</small>||1||[[List of VFL/AFL premiers#VFL/AFL Thirds/Under-19s premierships|1962]]
|-
|rowspan=2 scope="row" style="text-align: left"|'''[[Victorian Football League]]'''||[[List of VFA/VFL premiers|Seniors]] <small>(1877–1896)</small>||7||[[1878 VFA season|1878]], [[1879 VFA season|1879]], [[1880 VFA season|1880]], [[1882 VFA season|1882]], [[1883 VFA season|1883]], [[1884 VFA season|1884]], [[1886 VFA season|1886]]
|-
|[[List of VFA/VFL premiers|Reserves]] <small>(2000–present)</small>||3||[[2002 VFL season|2002]], [[2007 VFL season|2007]], [[2012 VFL season|2012]]
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#bdb76b;" align="center"| '''Other titles and honours'''
|-
||'''[[McClelland Trophy]]'''||Seniors||11||[[1952 VFL season|1952]], [[1954 VFL season|1954]], [[1962 VFL season|1962]], [[1963 VFL season|1963]], [[1980 VFL season|1980]], [[1981 VFL season|1981]], [[1992 AFL season|1992]], [[2007 AFL season|2007]], [[2008 AFL season|2008]], [[2019 AFL season|2019]], [[2022 AFL season|2022]]
|-
|'''[[Challenge Cup (Australian rules football)|Challenge Cup]]'''||Seniors||1||[[Challenge Cup (Australian rules football)#Caledonian Society Challenge Cup|1863–64]]
|-
|'''[[VFL Night Series]]'''||Seniors||1||[[1961 Night Series Cup|1961]]
|-
|'''[[Australian Football League pre-season competition|AFL pre-season competition]]'''||Seniors||2||[[2006 NAB Cup|2006]], [[2009 NAB Cup|2009]]
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#bdb76b;" align="center"| '''Finishing positions'''
|-
|rowspan=3 scope="row" style="text-align: left"| '''[[Australian Football League]]'''||[[List of VFL/AFL minor premiers|Minor premiership]]||15|| [[1897 VFL season|1897]], [[1901 VFL season|1901]], [[1925 VFL season|1925]], [[1931 VFL season|1931]], [[1937 VFL season|1937]], [[1951 VFL season|1951]], [[1952 VFL season|1952]], [[1953 VFL season|1953]], [[1954 VFL season|1954]], [[1980 VFL season|1980]], [[1992 AFL season|1992]], [[2007 AFL season|2007]], [[2008 AFL season|2008]], [[2019 AFL season|2019]], [[2022 AFL season|2022]]
|-
||[[AFL Grand Final|Grand Finalist]]||10|| [[1930 VFL Grand Final|1930]], [[1953 VFL Grand Final|1953]], [[1967 VFL Grand Final|1967]], [[1989 VFL Grand Final|1989]], [[1992 AFL Grand Final|1992]], [[1994 AFL Grand Final|1994]], [[1995 AFL Grand Final|1995]], [[2008 AFL Grand Final|2008]], [[2020 AFL Grand Final|2020]], [[2025 AFL Grand Final|2025]]
|-
||[[List of VFL/AFL wooden spoons|Wooden spoons]]||5||[[1908 VFL season|1908]], [[1915 VFL season|1915]], [[1944 VFL season|1944]], [[1957 VFL season|1957]], [[1958 VFL season|1958]]
|-
|rowspan=3 scope="row" style="text-align: left"|'''[[Victorian Football League]]'''<br>{{small|(Since 2000)}}||Minor premiership||2||[[2002 VFL season|2002]], [[2013 VFL season|2013]]
|-
||Grand Finalist||2||[[2006 VFL season|2006]], [[2013 VFL season|2013]]
|-
||Wooden spoon||1||[[2005 VFL season|2005]]
|-
|rowspan=3 scope="row" style="text-align: left"|'''[[VFL Women's]]'''||Grand Finalist||2||[[2018 VFL Women's season|2018]], [[2021 VFL Women's season|2021]]{{efn|name=fn2021|After qualifying for the 2021 VFLW Grand Final, the match was postponed and later cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria]].}}
|-
||Wooden spoon||1||[[2024 VFL Women's season|2024]]
|}

=== Win–loss record ===
{{multiple image
 | align     = right
 | direction = horizontal
 | header_align = center
 | header    =
 | image1    = Chas Brownlow.jpg
 | width1    = 178
 | alt1      =
 | caption1  = Awarded to the "[[best and fairest]]" player during the AFL's home-and-away season, the [[Brownlow Medal]], football's most prestigious award, is named after Geelong player and administrator [[Chas Brownlow|Charles "Chas" Brownlow]].
 | image2    = Carji Greeves.jpg
 | width2    = 152
 | alt2      =
 | caption2  = Geelong footballer [[Edward Greeves Jr.|Edward "Carji" Greeves]], winner of the inaugural Brownlow Medal in 1924, and namesake of the [[Carji Greeves Medal]], awarded to Geelong's best and fairest player of the season
 }}
: ''Statistics are correct to end of the 2025 season''<ref>{{cite web |title=Geelong Win–loss records |url=http://www.afltables.com/afl/teams/geelong/overall_wl.html |publisher=AFL Tables |access-date=24 February 2025}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Geelong's win–loss record against other VFL/AFL clubs
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Club
! scope="col" | T
! scope="col" | W
! scope="col" | L
! scope="col" | D
! scope="col" | Win%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL Ade}}
| 52 || 31 || 21 || 0 || 59.6
|-
! scope="row"  style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL BB}}
| 15 || 10 || 4 || 1 || 70.0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL BL}}
| 47 || 26 || 21 || 0 || 55.3
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL Car}}
| 227 || 104 || 121 || 2 || 46.3
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL Col}}
| 243 || 106 || 136 || 1 || 43.8
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL Ess}}
| 226 || 106 || 115 || 5 || 48.0
|-
! scope="row"  style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL Fit}}
| 183 || 103 || 79 || 1 || 56.6
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL Fre}}
| 46 || 30 || 16 || 0 || 65.2
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL GC}}
| 17 || 13 || 4 || 0 || 76.5
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL GWS}}
| 18 || 9 || 8 || 1 || 52.8
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL Haw}}
| 174 || 97 || 76 || 1 || 56.0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL Mel}}
| 226 || 135 || 89 || 2 || 60.2
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL NM}}
| 173 || 109 || 63 || 1 || 63.3
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL|PA}}
| 45 || 30 || 14 || 1 || 67.8
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL Ric}}
| 205 || 110 || 92 || 3 || 54.4
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL StK}}
| 225 || 136 || 88 || 1 || 60.7
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL Syd}}
| 233 || 128 || 104 || 1 || 55.2
|-
! scope="row"  style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL Uni}}
| 14 || 8 || 6 || 0 || 57.1
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL WC}}
| 60 || 32 || 27 || 1 || 54.2
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFL WB}}
| 170 || 109 || 59 || 2 || 64.7
|- class="sortbottom"
! Totals
! 2599
! 1432
! 1143
! 24
! 55.6
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=8 | Key
|-
! style="width:3em" | W
| style="width:3em" | Wins
! style="width:3em" | L
| style="width:3em" | Losses
! style="width:3em" | D
| [[Tie (draw)|Draws]]
! style="width:3em" | T
| Total
|-
! style="width:3em" | Win%
| colspan=3 | [[Winning percentage]]
| style="border:1px solid #aaa; width:3em;"|
| colspan=3 |
|}

=== Match records ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Table of club VFL/AFL match records
|-
! scope="col" | Club record
! scope="col" | Round
! scope="col" | Venue
! scope="col" | Opponent
! scope="col" | Details
! class="unsortable"|Ref
|-
! scope="row" | Highest score
| Round 7, 1992
| [[Carrara Stadium|Carrara]]
| {{AFL BB}}
| Geelong 37.17 (239) v Brisbane Bears 11.9 (75)
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>V/AFL record</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Lowest score
| Round 3, 1899
| [[Corio Oval]]
| {{AFL Fit}}
| Geelong 0.8 (8) v Fitzroy 4.8 (32)
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afltables.com/afl/teams/geelong/gamer.html#02 |title=AFL Tables – Geelong – Game Records |work=afltables.com |access-date=21 August 2016}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Highest losing score
| Round 6, 1989
| Princes Park
| {{AFL Haw}}
| Geelong 25.13 (163) v Hawthorn 26.15 (171)
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>V/AFL record. Geelong took both this record and that for the highest score from Fitzroy.</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Lowest winning score
| Round 9, 1897
| Corio Oval
| {{AFL Mel}}
| Geelong 1.9 (15) v Melbourne 0.10 (10)
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>Only one behind kicked in first quarter; aggregate of scoring shots lowest since 1953 and second lowest since [[1905 VFL Grand Final|1905 Grand Final]]</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Biggest winning margin
| Round 19, 2011
| Kardinia Park
| {{AFL Mel}}
| 186 points Geelong 37.11 (233) v Melbourne 7.5 (47)
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afltables.com/afl/teams/geelong/gamer.html#05 |title=AFL Tables – Geelong – Game Records |work=afltables.com |access-date=21 August 2016}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Biggest losing margin
| Round 21, 1986
| Princes Park
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 135 points  – Geelong 13.12 (90) v Hawthorn 35.15 (225)
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>Geelong actually led early in the third quarter before Hawthorn kicked 25.7 (157) to 1.7 (13) for a record score for a half</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Record attendance (home and away game)
| Round 6, 2025
| [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]]
| {{AFL Haw}}
| 88,746
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |title=Geelong hang on for thrilling Easter Monday win |url=https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/44778934/afl-geelong-cats-hang-hawthorn-hawks-thrilling-easter-monday-win |website=espn.com.au |access-date=23 April 2025 |date=21 April 2025}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Record attendance (finals matches, excluding Grand Finals)
| [[1968 VFL season#Preliminary final|1968 VFL season preliminary final]]
| [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]]
| {{AFL Ess}}
| 103,649
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" | Record attendance (finals match)
| [[1967 VFL Grand Final]]
| [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]]
| {{AFL Ric}}
| 109,396
| style="text-align:center;"|
|}

=== Team of the Century ===
{{Geelong Team of the Century|state=expanded}}

== Reserves team ==
{{See also|List of Geelong Football Club reserves team seasons}}
The '''Geelong reserves''' (also known as the '''Bendigo Bank Cats''' for sponsorship reasons) are the reserves side of the club, playing in the [[Victorian Football League]].

===History===
Geelong's reserves side began competing in the [[AFL reserves|Victorian Junior Football League]], later known as the [[AFL reserves|VFL/AFL reserves]], in [[1922 VJFL season|1922]]. The team won thirteen premierships during that time ([[1923 VJFL season|1923]], [[1924 VJFL season|1924]], 1930, 1937, 1938, 1948, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1975, 1980, 1981 and 1982), the most of any club.

Since the demise of the AFL reserves competition, the Geelong reserves have competed in the [[Victorian Football League]]. Unlike all other Victorian AFL clubs, Geelong has never operated in a [[Australian Football League reserves affiliations|reserves affiliation]] with an existing VFL club, having instead operated its stand-alone reserves team continuously. The team is composed of both reserves players from the club's primary and rookie AFL lists, and a separately maintained list of players eligible only for VFL matches. Home games are played at [[GMHBA Stadium]], with some played as curtain-raisers to senior AFL matches.

The side is also known as the Bendigo Bank Cats, referring to the club's commercial partnership with [[Bendigo Bank]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Geelong and Bendigo Bank Extend Partnership |date=16 March 2021 |url=https://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/880246/geelong-and-bendigo-bank-extend-partnership |publisher=Geelong Cats}}</ref>

===Club honours===
* '''Premierships (3)''': [[2002 VFL season|2002]], [[2007 VFL season|2007]], [[2012 VFL season|2012]]
* '''Runners-ups (2)''': [[2006 VFL season|2006]], [[2013 VFL season|2013]]
* '''Minor premierships (2)''': [[2002 VFL season|2002]], [[2013 VFL season|2013]]
* '''Wooden spoons (1)''': [[2005 VFL season|2005]]

== Women's teams ==
{{further|List of Geelong Football Club women's seasons}}
In 2017, following the inaugural [[AFL Women's]] (AFLW) season, Geelong was among eight clubs that applied for licences to enter the competition from 2019 onwards.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schmook |first=Nathan |title=Decision on AFLW expansion delayed |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-08-29/decision-over-aflw-expansion-delayed |work=afl.com.au |date=29 August 2017 |access-date=5 April 2018}}</ref> In September 2017, the club was announced as one of two clubs, along with {{AFLW|NM}}, to receive a licence to join the competition in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last=Black |first=Sarah |title=North and Geelong win AFLW expansion race |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-09-27/afl-set-to-reveal-new-womens-teams-for-2019 |work=afl.com.au |date=27 September 2017 |access-date=5 April 2018}}</ref> The club has also had a team in the second-tier [[VFL Women's]] league since 2017.

The club has qualified for the AFL Women's finals on three occasions, making it through the preliminary final in [[2023 AFL Women's season|2023]] before losing to eventual premiers {{AFLW|Bri}}.

===AFL Women's team===
{{Geelong Football Club AFL Women's personnel}}

===Match records===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Table of club AFLW match records
|-
! scope="col" | Club record
! scope="col" | Round
! scope="col" | Venue
! scope="col" | Opponent
! scope="col" | Details
! class="unsortable"|Ref
|-
! scope="row" | Highest score
| Round 10, 2022 (S7)
| [[Kardinia Park (stadium)|Kardinia Park]]
| {{AFLW|Syd}}
| Geelong 15.12 (102) v Sydney 4.3 (27)
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://australianfootball.com/clubs/highest_scores/geelong%2Bwfc/4215 |title=Australian Football – Geelong – Game Records |work=australianfootball.com |access-date=19 July 2024}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Lowest score
| Week 3, 2024
| [[Princes Park (stadium)|Princes Park]]
| {{AFLW|Car}}
| Geelong 0.5 (5) v Carlton 4.5 (29)
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://australianfootball.com/clubs/lowest_scores/geelong%2Bwfc/4215 |title=Australian Football – Geelong – Game Records |work=australianfootball.com |access-date=19 July 2024}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Highest losing score
| Week 5, 2024
| [[Kardinia Park (stadium)|Kardinia Park]]
| {{AFLW|Haw}}
| Geelong 9.7 (61) v Hawthorn 12.7 (79)
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" | Lowest winning score
| Round 1, 2022 (S7)
| [[Kardinia Park (stadium)|Kardinia Park]]
| {{AFLW|Ric}}
| Geelong 2.3 (15) v Richmond 1.5 (11)
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" | Biggest winning margin
| Round 10, 2022 (S7)
| [[Kardinia Park (stadium)|Kardinia Park]]
| {{AFLW|Syd}}
| 75 points – Geelong 15.12 (102) v Sydney 4.3 (27)
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://australianfootball.com/clubs/biggest_wins/geelong%2Bwfc/4215 |title=Australian Football – Geelong – Game Records |work=australianfootball.com |access-date=19 July 2024}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Biggest losing margin
| Preliminary final, 2019
| [[Adelaide Oval]]
| {{AFLW|Ade}}
| 66 points  – Geelong 1.1 (7) v Adelaide 11.7 (73)
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://australianfootball.com/clubs/biggest_losses/geelong%2Bwfc/4215 |title=Australian Football – Geelong – Game Records |work=australianfootball.com |access-date=19 July 2024}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Record attendance (home and away game)
| Round 1, 2019
| [[Kardinia Park (stadium)|Kardinia Park]]
| {{AFLW|Col}}
| 18,429
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="AFLWCrowds">{{cite web |url=https://australianfootball.com/clubs/biggest_crowd/geelong%2Bwfc/4215 |title=Australian Football – Geelong – Game Records |work=australianfootball.com |access-date=19 July 2024}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | Record attendance (finals matches, excluding Grand Finals)
| Preliminary final, 2019
| [[Adelaide Oval]]
| {{AFLW|Ade}}
| 13,429
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="AFLWCrowds"/>
|-
! scope="row" | Record attendance (finals match)
| Preliminary final, 2019
| [[Adelaide Oval]]
| {{AFLW|Ade}}
| 13,429
| style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="AFLWCrowds"/>
|}
===Win–loss record ===
: ''Statistics are correct to end of the 2025 season''<ref>{{cite web |title=Geelong Win–loss records |url=https://aflwstats.com/team/gee/opponent |publisher=AFLW Stats |access-date=27 October 2025}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Geelong's win–loss record against other AFL Women's clubs
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Club
! scope="col" | {{Abbr|P|Matches played}}
! scope="col" | {{Abbr|W|Wins}}
! scope="col" | {{Abbr|L|Losses}}
! scope="col" | {{Abbr|D|Draws}}
! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Win%|Win percentage}}
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFLW|Ade}}
| 6 || 0 || 6 || 0 || 0.0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFLW|Bri}}
| 5 || 2 || 3 || 0 || 40.0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFLW|Car}}
| 5 || 1 || 4 || 0 || 20.0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFLW|Col}}
| 5 || 1 || 4 || 0 || 20.0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFLW|Ess}}
| 4 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 75.0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFLW|Fre}}
| 5 || 2 || 3 || 0 || 40.0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFLW|GC}}
| 4 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 75.0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFLW|GWS}}
| 4 || 1 || 3 || 0 || 25.0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFLW|Haw}}
| 3 || 1 || 2 || 0 || 33.3
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFLW|Mel}}
| 4 || 1 || 3 || 0 || 25.0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFLW|NM}}
| 8 || 0 || 7 || 1 || 0.0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFLW|PA}}
| 2 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 50.0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFLW|Ric}}
| 7 || 5 || 2 || 0 || 71.4
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFLW|StK}}
| 3 || 1 || 2 || 0 || 33.3
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFLW|Syd}}
| 4 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 75.0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFLW|WC}}
| 5 || 3 || 2 || 0 || 60.0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"| {{AFLW|WB}}
| 6 || 3 || 3 || 0 || 50.0
|- class="sortbottom"
! Totals
! 80
! 32
! 47
! 1
! 40.0
|}

==Activism==
===Same-Sex Marriage===
During the [[Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey]], Geelong Football Club supported the Yes vote.<ref name="nso">{{cite web |title=Sport |url=http://www.australianmarriageequality.org/sport-support/ |website=Australian Marriage Equality |access-date=13 September 2017}}</ref>

===Voice to Parliament===
Geelong Football Club was a supporter of the [[Voice to Parliament]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cross |first=Jarred |date=17 May 2023 |title=Geelong Football Club backs 'Yes' to Indigenous Voice to Parliament |work=National Indigenous Times |url=https://nit.com.au/17-05-2023/6004/geelong-cats-support-yes-vote-on-voice-to-parliament |access-date=18 May 2023}}</ref>
==See also==
{{Portal|Sports|Australia}}
* [[Sport in Australia]]
* [[Sport in Victoria]]
* [[List of Geelong Football Club players]], [[List of Geelong Football Club captains|captains]] and [[List of Geelong Football Club coaches|coaches]]
* [[1963 Miracle Match]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==Footnotes==
;References
{{Reflist|30em}}
;Bibliography
* {{Cite book |editor=Michael Lovett |title=AFL Record Season Guide |publisher=Geoff Slattery Media Group |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-9806274-5-9}}
{{Notelist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.geelongcats.com.au/ Official website of the Geelong Football Club]
* [http://www.afl.com.au/ Official AFL website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080210000341/http://www.gfc.com.au/GFC/TheClub/History/HonourRoll/tabid/4014/Default.aspx Geelong Football Club Honour Roll] – list of all Presidents, captains, coaches and Best & Fairest winners since 1879.
* [https://www.flashscore.com.au/team/geelong-cats/hCAS2n4i/results/ Geelong Cats results] - Latest scores for Geelong Football Club

{{Geelong Football Club|state=collapsed}}
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|list =
{{VFL/AFL minor premiers}}
{{VFL/AFL premiers}}
{{Australian Football League}}
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{{AFL Under-19s}}
{{AFL Women's}}
{{VFL}}
{{VFL Women's}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Geelong Football Club| ]]
[[Category:Australian rules football clubs established in 1859]]
[[Category:Australian Football League clubs]]
[[Category:AFL Women's clubs]]
[[Category:Australian rules football clubs in Geelong]]
[[Category:1859 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Former Victorian Football League clubs]]