Gold Coast vs Geelong Preview & Prediction | 2026 AFL | Regular Season | Round 1

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2025 runners-up Geelong begin their new campaign with a trip north to take on Gold Coast.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / USA – Some matches are televised on Fox Sports channels

How to watch online: UK – discovery+ & Watch AFL / USA – Watch AFL

The prediction

Gold Coast fans will be hoping history repeats itself as they watched their side start the 2025 campaign in superb fashion, winning their first four games, and eight of the first ten.

That start laid the foundation for their first ever finals appearance, so it will be intriguing to see if they can back that up this time around.

Beaten Grand Finalists last year, it can be argued that Geelong saved their worst performance of the season for the title-deciding showdown with Brisbane Lions. Keen to distance themselves from that shocker and start the 2026 campaign in positive fashion, the Cats are not helped by some personnel issues with injury doubts over the likes of Bailey Smith, Jeremy Cameron ands Shannon Neale.

The humid conditions should suit Gold Coast on home turf, and we think they have what it takes to edge this opener.

Gold Coast vs Geelong tip: Gold Coast to win