GEELONG (Azat TV) – The Kennedy Community Centre became a central venue for the Australian Rules Football pre-season on Monday, February 16, 2026, as it hosted the first match simulation of the year for the Geelong Cats, who faced off against Hawthorn. This significant fixture marked Geelong’s initial action of the 2026 season, providing crucial early minutes for the wider playing group ahead of the official AFL campaign.
The highly anticipated match simulation commenced at 1:45 PM AEDT, featuring four 30-minute quarters without additional time-on, a standard format for early pre-season encounters. Hawthorn ultimately secured a victory over Geelong with a final score of 14.10.94 to 10.10.70, according to the official live blog from the Geelong Cats. Key players made early impressions, with Hawthorn’s Jay Polkinghorne kicking three goals and Geelong’s Shannon Neale contributing two, alongside single goals from Ollie Henry and George Stevens. Notably, Geelong’s Tanner Bruhn was sidelined due to illness.
Geelong-Hawthorn Clash at Kennedy Community Centre
The match at the Kennedy Community Centre provided an important opportunity for both clubs to assess player fitness, team cohesion, and strategic adjustments. The conditions were challenging, with temperatures approaching 30 degrees, adding an extra layer of difficulty for the athletes. The Geelong Cats opted to wear their 2026 Clash Guernsey for the second consecutive year against Hawthorn in this simulation, a detail noted by the club’s official channels.
Fans eager to follow the early pre-season action had multiple viewing options. The entire match simulation was broadcast live on Kayo and Fox Sports, with the Geelong Cats also providing an official live blog for minute-by-minute updates. This accessibility underscores the growing interest in pre-season preparations and the value placed on these early contests by both clubs and supporters.
Broader AFL Pre-Season Schedule
The Geelong-Hawthorn clash at the Kennedy Community Centre was just one of several match simulations scheduled across the league in mid-February, signaling the full commencement of the 2026 AFL pre-season. Other notable fixtures included Brisbane v Carlton at Brighton Homes Arena, Western Bulldogs v Sydney at Mission Whitten Oval, and Gold Coast v St Kilda at People First Stadium, all taking place later in the week. The extensive schedule, as reported by DreamTeamTalk.com, highlights a league-wide effort to ensure teams are well-prepared for the competitive season ahead, with a mix of free-entry games and broadcast events.
These match simulations are critical for coaches to fine-tune strategies, integrate new recruits, and manage player loads before the intensity of the regular season. The Kennedy Community Centre, serving as a modern training and match-day facility, played a crucial role in facilitating this initial phase of preparation for one of the league’s prominent teams.
The successful hosting of Geelong’s first 2026 pre-season match at the Kennedy Community Centre underscores the facility’s importance as a key venue for high-level AFL preparations, offering a controlled environment for teams to build form and test new tactics away from the pressures of official competition.