The 2026 Geelong Football Club season is the club's 162nd season playing Australian rules football, with the club competing in their 127th season in the Australian Football League (AFL). Geelong continues to field a women's team in the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition, and men's and women's reserves teams in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and the VFL Women's (VFLW) respectively.
Club news
Club captain Patrick Dangerfield, as well as Jeremy Cameron, Bailey Smith and Max Holmes were chosen to represent Victoria in the return of State of Origin. Cameron would be forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury. Lawson Humphries was selected to represent Western Australia in the match, while Geelong coach Chris Scott was asked to coach the Victoria squad.
At the Australian Football Hall of Fame dinner in June, former dual premiership player Gary Ablett Jr., and player from the 1970s Tim Evans were both inducted into the Hall of Fame.
In July, the club honoured Gary Ablett Jr. by elevating him as the 29th legend in the club's Hall of Fame. Also recognised were 2007 and 2009 premiership coach Mark Thompson and former captain Joel Selwood who were both inducted into the Hall of Fame. Receiving life membership were current players Max Holmes, Jeremy Cameron, Brad Close, and Zach Guthrie. Women's players Julia Crockett-Grills, Nina Morrison, Georgie Rankin, Amy McDonald, Rebecca Webster, and recently retired players Meg McDonald and Maddy McMahon were also afforded life membership status. Former players Larry Donohue, Liam Pickering, and John Mossop we also granted life membership, with recruiter and talent scout Col Watts.
For the sixth successive year, the club broke their membership record, eclipsing last year's record of 92,379 members, reporting a total of 92,563 in August 2026.
Concussion waiver controversy In early August, it was revealed by News Corporation journalist Jay Clark in the Herald Sun that since 2024 an AFL club had a "secret deal requiring a player who has suffered multiple concussions to assume all legal responsibility for any further on-field brain trauma." The "disclosure agreement" was signed by the player who was initially not named by the media. Following the initial reports, the AFL and Geelong released a statement confirming that "the waiver one of its players signed after being cleared by the AFL's Concussion Panel 'went further than was intended'." The AFL and the AFL Players Association (AFLPA) also released a joint statement acknowledging that the waiver was not lodged or approved by the AFL or AFLPA and that it would be removed by Geelong.
The following day, club CEO Steve Hocking denied that the player was "coerced" into signing the document, stating:
Hocking characterised Geelong's failure to correctly notify the AFL and AFLPA as a "misstep" and that Geelong would take full responsibility. Geelong was issued with a "please explain" letter from the AFL in relation to the controversy.
Immediately following Hocking's remarks, Jake Kolodjashnij ended speculation by confirming that he was the player at the centre of the controversy. Kolodjasnij quoted as saying that "I participated fully in the AFL’s independent concussion panel process, respected its independence, and was comfortable with the outcome. I have continued playing AFL football since. What disappoints me most is that my private medical information has been made public. Everyone deserves the right to keep their confidential medical information private."
Forced to remove the "waiver," which Geelong president Grant McCabe called a "voluntary assumption of risk," Kolodasnij was made "unavailable for selection" in both Geelong's AFL and VFL team for the final two weeks of the home and away season.
The AFL engaged independent legal counsel, James Peters KC and Ben Holding (two Victorian Barristers) to investigate the circumstances regarding the controversy.
During the investigation it was revealed that the AFL's Concussion Panel had reached an uncertain or "amber" finding in relation to Kolodjashnij's risk in continuing to play contact sport in November 2023, and that the Geelong board had adopted a recommendation that he agree to an "Acknowledgement of Risk" document. Geelong drafted the document based upon wording provided to them by representatives for Kolodjashnij. The final version of the letter was not seen by the Geelong board or lodged with the AFL or AFLPA after it was determined that it did not vary Kolodjashnij's playing contract.
Following that review, the AFL Commission found that Geelong had breached AFL Rules 4.3(a) and 28.3(c) in relation to the letter signed by Kolodjashnij. The review finding that the letter constituted a "variation to the standard playing contract and should have been lodged with the AFL and AFLPA." The report did not find that Geelong, its current or former directors or employees, or the AFL had engaged in inappropriate or improper conduct, or had intentionally sought to breach AFL Rules. The review finding that there was nothing wrong with clubs seeking to mitigate their legal exposure by negotiating with players, even with those with a history of concussion symptoms.
On 27 August, the AFL Commission fined Geelong 140,000, imposing a fine of 100,000 for their breaches in relation to this controversy, also imposing a previously suspended 40,000 fine that was previously suspended from a 2025 sanction. The fines were to be paid into the AFLPA injury and support fund. AFL Chair Craig Dummond, who was president of the Geelong Football Club at the time when the letter was proposed and signed, apologised saying "the club went too far" and that "there was a process failure in relation to the lodgement of the agreement with the AFL and AFLPA." Drummond had been excluded from any AFL deliberation about the controversy.
Following the exposure of the waiver, Kolodjashnij was made unavailable for selection in either Geelong's AFL or VFL team. He would retire from football at the end of the season on medical grounds.
AFL team
Season summary It was the club's 16th AFL season under senior coach Chris Scott, with Patrick Dangerfield continuing as club captain.
In round six against the , forward Jeremy Cameron kicked ten goals to be the first Geelong player since 1994 to score ten goals in a match at Kardinia Park.
Midfielder Bailey Smith finished second in the Brownlow Medal count, polling a career-best 36 votes behind winner Nick Daicos. Smith earned votes in 14 matches including nine best-on-ground performances. Geelong finished the night with the third most votes among the clubs, with 13 players receiving 87 total votes. With his three votes, Patrick Dangerfield took his career tally to 262 votes, joining Gary Ablett Jr. with the most career Brownlow Medal votes.
Pre-season Geelong started the season with a match simulation game against at the Kennedy Community Centre on 16 February, losing 14.10 (94) to 16.15 (117), with Shannon Neale kicking four goals.
Geelong played an official practice match as part of the AFL's Community Series against at Ikon Park on 25 February. Carlton led for most of the contest, defeating Geelong by 15 points with the Blues scoring 13.8 (86) to the Cats 11.5 (71). The match was Tanner Bruhn's first match since early in 2025 after he was unavailable during the entire 2025 premiership season.
Coaching staff Chris Scott continued as the club's men's senior coach for a 16th season, having signed a contract extension in December 2025 until the end of the 2029 season.
+ 2026 Geelong coaching staff Role Name Senior coach Chris Scott Assistant coach Nathan Buckley Assistant coach James Kelly Assistant coach James Rahilly Head of player development Nigel Lappin Ruck coach Brad Ottens Development coach Aaron Black Development coach Shaun Higgins
Playing list Changes
+ Deletions from playing list Player Reason Retired Traded to Delisted
+ Additions to playing list Player Acquired Unrestricted free agent from 24, 2025 national draft 33, 2025 national draft 28, 2026 rookie draft Category B rookie
Statistics Updated to end of season +Key^Denotes player who was on the club's standard rookie list, and therefore eligible for senior selection.#Denotes Category B rookie where player needed to be elevated to club's senior list during this season to be eligible for senior selection.‡Competition leader in statistic category
+Playing list and statisticsPlayerGamesGoalsBehindsKicksHandballsDisposalsTacklesMarksHitoutsMilestone(s) 30 25 4 1 183 269 452 148 34 0 26 24 46 20 5 7 114 150 264 58 52 208 300th match(round 6) 12 9 7 6 91 67 158 22 33 0 150th AFL match(round 13) 4 23 1 6 296 198 494 68 107 0 # 41 5 19 41 29 211 61 272 20 113 1 13 9 3 3 76 71 147 24 40 0 45 18 11 12 87 104 191 42 38 0 6 35 19 30 16 157 127 284 34 66 0 16 19 1 1 109 164 273 29 69 140 100th match(round 17) 28 25 30 16 248 248 496 50 131 0 ^ 27 11 20 3 3 84 123 207 38 28 424 AFL debut(round 1) 39 25 1 1 259 141 400 59 128 0 150th match(round 23) 38 21 6 4 128 72 200 25 86 4 36 24 48 23 172 102 274 47 83 0 100th AFL match(round 17) 23 22 9 20 5 5 323 236 559 55 92 0 17 24 5 3 349 138 487 50 135 0 50th match(round 15) 10 2 2 2 11 10 21 7 4 0 8 11 1 0 76 55 131 10 44 0 200th match(round 6) 7 25 38 21 302 136 438 76 65 0 50th match(round 15) 19 18 22 15 117 84 201 44 73 0 ^ 31 # 25 32 17 6 5 187 156 343 39 82 0 20 34 25 3 6 160 184 344 102 73 0 50th match(round 7) 33 25 52 26 161 100 261 64 108 112 50th match(round 5)100th AFL goal(round 20) 42 22 4 3 168 149 317 56 96 0 14 25 1 2 229 147 376 41 165 1 50th match(Elimination final)^ 37 2 8 14 8 42 20 62 9 31 0 AFL debut(round 19) 3 24 11 6 476‡ 298 774 117 96 0 150th AFL match(Semi final) 1 1 0 0 8 9 17 3 3 17 18 ^ 15 2 1 0 11 18 29 6 5 0 44 23 2 1 342 134 476 32 129 0 200th match(round 9) 21 16 14 10 99 82 181 26 27 0 29 11 4 3 119 83 202 69 29 0 Club debut(Opening round)150th AFL match(round 5)
Results +KeyH Home gameA Away gameN Neutral venue gameEF Elimination finalSF Elimination final + Table of 2026 AFL season results Round Date Result Score Opponent Score Ground Attendance OR 10 9 69 19 11 125 People First Stadium A 19,859 1 16 14 110 14 16 100 GMHBA Stadium H 27,815 2 Bye 3 9 14 68 9 6 60 GMHBA Stadium H 20,403 4 14 7 91 13 14 92 Melbourne Cricket Ground A 84,712 5 17 20 122 11 10 76 Norwood Oval N 9,434 6 19 17 131 8 8 56 GMHBA Stadium H 33,200 7 10 5 65 13 17 95 Adelaide Oval A 41,164 8 21 9 135 13 8 86 GMHBA Stadium H 32,485 9 18 14 122 9 14 68 Melbourne Cricket Ground H 83,166 10 17 15 117 11 10 76 The Gabba A 29,221 11 15 17 107 12 8 80 GMHBA Stadium H 35,869 12 12 12 84 12 16 88 Melbourne Cricket Ground A 61,081 13 10 14 74 11 9 75 Adelaide Oval A 42,340 14 15 15 105 8 12 60 GMHBA Stadium H 30,276 15 14 6 90 14 15 99 Optus Stadium A 55,201 16 Bye 17 14 17 101 19 9 123 GMHBA Stadium H 26,741 18 11 7 73 12 14 86 Engie Stadium A 13,281 19 15 12 102 11 9 75 GMHBA Stadium H 23,737 20 18 9 117 14 13 97 Melbourne Cricket Ground A 49,292 21 15 7 97 10 12 72 Melbourne Cricket Ground A 60,023 22 17 15 117 7 8 50 GMHBA Stadium H 33,379 23 19 11 125 17 8 110 Marvel Stadium A 35,529 24 20 13 133 11 10 76 GMHBA Stadium H 29,194 EF 14 23 107 11 8 74 Melbourne Cricket Ground N 96,680—SF 16 10 106 18 12 120 Optus Stadium A 59,725
Ladder
Awards League awards All-Australian: Oliver Dempsey (Midfield) Bailey Smith (Midfield) 2026 AFL Rising Star: Mitchell Edwards (Nominee – Round 21) AFLPA 22 Under 22 team: Connor O'Sullivan (Defence) AFL Coaches Association awards: Development Coach of the Year: Nigel Lappin Career & Education Award: James Kelly
Club Awards Carji Greeves Medal: Bailey Smith (178 votes) Best Young Player Award: Mitchell Edwards Tom Harley Best Clubman: Mark Blicavs Carter Family Community Champion Award: Shaun Mannagh
VFL team
Season summary Mark Corrigan continued as coach of the club's VFL program for a fourth season. Dan Capiron continued as captain, with Marcus Herbert as vice-captain.