The 2025 Australian Football League (AFL) Finals Series will see the Geelong Cats play against the Hawthorn Hawks in Preliminary Final 1 at MCG, Melbourne.
The Cats ended the 2025 home-and-away season in third on the ladder after grabbing 17 wins, and the second-best offensive record in the league, scoring 2425 points over the course. Geelong reached the Preliminary Finals after their massive 112-74 Qualifying Final over the 2024 Major Premiers, the Brisbane Lions.
The Hawks barely snuck into the Finals Series in eighth on the ladder despite facing two losses in their last four games. Nonetheless, Hawthorn have shown strong form through the Finals Series, they defeated the Giants 107-88 in the Elimination Final before thrashing the Minor Premiers, the Adelaide Crows, 101-67 in the Semi-Finals.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, kickoff times, and the latest lineup news.
Geelong Cats vs. Hawks free live stream, free-to-air channel
- Live Stream: Kayo, Foxtel, 7plus
- TV Channel: Fox Footy
- Free-to-air: Channel 7
Kayo, 7plus and Foxtel are providing both live and catch-up coverage of the match. The clash will also be available to watch on Fox Footy and Channel 7.
Fans can stream Geelong Cats vs. Hawks on Kayo, which is currently offering a free trial for new subscribers so you can essentially watch this game and others this week for free. The match will also be streamed on the AFL website.
Geelong Cats vs. Hawks start time
- Date: Friday, September 19, 2025
- Start Time: 7:40 p.m. AEST
- Venue & Location: MCG, Melbourne
The AFL Finals Series game between the Geelong Cats and the Hawthorn Hawks will be played on Friday, September 19, at 7:40 p.m. AEST.
It will be played at the MCG in Melbourne, Victoria.
Here's how that kick-off time translates to the various Australian time zones:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | Friday, September 19 | 7:40 p.m. |
| Australian Central Standard Time | Friday, September 19 | 7:10 p.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Friday, September 19 | 5:40 p.m. |
AFL 2025 fixture schedule this week
Friday, September 19
| Fixture | Venue | Time (AEST) | TV/Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geelong Cats vs. Hawthorn Hawks | MCG | 7:40 p.m. | Channel 7, Fox/Kayo |
Saturday, September 20
| Fixture | Venue | Time (AEST) | TV/Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collingwood vs. Brisbane Lions | MCG | 5:15 p.m. | Channel 7, Fox/Kayo |