Geelong Cats

Establishment and history

Geelong formed at the Victoria Hotel in July 1859 and played its first official match against Melbourne the following year. Its history is rooted in the city long before the VFL began. The navy-and-white hoops were adopted in 1876; the Cats name came later, in 1923.

The club’s record connects early VFA success with separate VFL/AFL eras. A first league premiership arrived in 1925. The modern flags of 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2022 give new readers another entry point, while Kardinia Park provides a continuing geographic link between the city and the team.

Official club history and milestones.

A short club timeline

1. 1859–60Formation followed by the first official match, against Melbourne.
2. 1876Navy-and-white hoops are adopted.
3. 1923–25Cats name, then the first VFL premiership.
4. 1941Home matches move to Kardinia Park.

Place these milestones in the wider Australian football history timeline, including league expansion and club changes.

Home ground and identity

Kardinia Park became Geelong’s home match ground in 1941. Its current sponsored name is GMHBA Stadium; selected men’s home matches also take place at the MCG.

For a particular match, use the current AFL fixture. The facts above identify the principal venues and club colours.

Honours

Senior men’s VFL/AFL premiership years through 2026: 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2022

Source: AFL premiership winners, 1897–2026. This is a league-specific record: it excludes AFLW, VFA, SANFL, reserves and pre-season titles.

Sources and scope

Reviewed 4 November 2026. Official club history; AFL historical chronology; AFL match-venue information; AFL honours register. Men’s team reference profile, with heritage noted where necessary. Current squads, captains and coaches are deliberately separate season-specific subjects.