2023 Geelong Football Club season

The 2023 Geelong Football Club season was the club's 159th season playing Australian rules football, with the club competing in their 124th season in the Australian Football League (AFL). Geelong also fielded a women's team in the 2023 AFL Women's season, and men's and women's reserves team in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and the VFL Women's (VFLW) respectively.

Season summary
It was the club's thirteenth AFL season under senior coach Chris Scott, with Patrick Dangerfield appointed as club captain, replacing the retired Joel Selwood.

After a poor start to the season, Geelong would become the first reigning premiers to lose their opening three matches since 1976.

With the debut of Oisín Mullin in just his fourth game of Australian football, Geelong fielded three Irish players against in round 11, becoming the first club in VFL/AFL history to field three in the same team.

After losing to in the penultimate round of the season, Geelong were eliminated from finals contention, missing the finals for just the second time in Chris Scott's 13-year tenure. Geelong joining (2021),  (2017) and  (2009) as premiers in the last 20 years to miss finals the following season. A number of injuries to key players was one of the driving reasons behind the club's slide down the ladder.

Three consecutive losses to end the season saw the club equal its lowest ever finish, ending up in 12th place on the ladder.

Forward Jeremy Cameron would be the club's leading votegetter at the 2023 Brownlow Medal count, polling 13 votes including two best-on-ground matches.

Pre-season
Geelong defeated in a pre-season scratch match at GMHBA Stadium played over eight periods with both senior and reserves players. The final score was Geelong 31.34 (220) versus Hawthorn 18.25 (133). Geelong also played an official AFL practice match against on 2 March, and were defeated 13.13 (91) versus Geelong's 6.9 (45). Geelong's home-and-away season began on 17 March against at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Coaching staff
Chris Scott continued as the club's men's senior coach for a thirteenth season, having signed a two-year contract extension until the end of the 2024 season. Scott would coach his 300th AFL game in round 15 against, with Geelong winning by 15 points.

Scott would break Reg Hickey's long-standing record of 304 matches as coach of the club, coaching his 305th match in round 20 against.

Changes

 * Francis Evans was subsequently signed by during the 2022 free agency period.
 * Quinton Narkle was subsequently selected by in the 2023 mid-season rookie draft after starting the season with  in their VFL squad.

Statistics
Updated as at round 24

League awards

 * Tom Wills Award: Tom Hawkins (Round 7 vs )
 * AFLPA 22 Under 22 team: Sam De Koning (Defence)
 * All-Australian: Tom Stewart

Club Awards

 * Carji Greeves Medal: Tom Stewart (135 votes)
 * Best Young Player Award: Ollie Henry
 * Tom Harley Best Clubman: Tom Atkins
 * Carter Family Community Champion Award: Tom Stewart

Season summary
2022 VFL premiers coach Mark Corrigan was appointed as coach of Geelong's VFL team in October 2022, replacing Shane O'Bree who had been promoted to the club's AFL program. Corrigan had previously played with the club from 2011 to 2014 and was a member of the club's 2012 VFL premiership team. Angus Byrne was appointed as captain, with Tom Feely and Daniel Capiron as vice-captains.

Jye Chalcraft would win his second successive Geelong VFL best and fairest award, polling 163 votes after appearing in all 18 matches. Vice-captain Daniel Capiron would finish in second place, with Ted Clohesy rounding out the top three placegetters.

Awards

 * VFL Team of the Year: Oliver Dempsey (forward)

Club Awards

 * Best and Fairest: Jye Chalcraft (163 votes)
 * Little Vic Award (Best first year player): Mace Cousins

Season summary
Meg McDonald was reappointed captain ahead of the season, as part of a five-woman leadership group. Nina Morrison was re-elected as vice-captain, with Chantel Emonson, Becky Webster and Mikayla Bowen the other members of the leadership group.

The team would have its best season in the competition, qualifying for the final series for the second consecutive season. In the finals, Geelong would win their first AFLW finals matches, defeating Essendon and reigning premiers Melbourne to progress to a preliminary final against. In a controversially umpired match, Brisbane would eliminate Geelong one match short of the 2023 AFL Women's Grand Final, winning by four points.

Despite their high ladder position, Geelong would only have two players shortlisted for the 2023 AFL Women's All-Australian team, with both Georgie Prespakis and Amy McDonald both surprising omissions from the final squad announcement. Both players would feature in the top 10 in the count for the 2023 AFL Women's best and fairest medal behind eventual winner Monique Conti of. McDonald finishing in a tie for second place, with Prespakis finishing tied for seventh.

Irish import Aisling Moloney would be recognised at the 2023 AFL Players Association awards, winning the best first year player award after excelling in her first year playing the sport.

Pre season
In the club's first official action before the start of the new season, Geelong defeated by 13 points in a four-quarter match simulation at Victoria Park on 12 August. The Cats then played in their only official practice match, losing a tight contest 7.8 (50) to 8.8 (56) at the Adelaide Oval. Kate Darby kicked two goals in the match, with Irish recruit Aishling Moloney impressing.

Coaching staff
Daniel Lowther continued as head coach of the AFLW program for a third season. Former Geelong VFL Women's coach Andrew Bruce (forwards), Josh Finch (midfield), and 2023 Geelong VFL Women's coach Elise Coventry (defence) were appointed as assistant coaches. Current men's team player Gary Rohan, and former Geelong VFL player Will Sexton, joined the coaching staff as development coaches.

Changes

 * Georgia Clarke was subsequently signed by during the 2023 free agency period.

Statistics
Updated to end of season

League awards

 * Rising Star: Zali Friswell (nominated, round 10)
 * AFLPA 22under22 squad: Georgie Prespakis, Nina Morrison (midfield)
 * AFLPA Best First Year Player: Aisling Moloney

Club Awards

 * Best and fairest: Georgie Prespakis (188 votes)
 * Geelong AFLW Fan MVP: Georgie Prespakis
 * The 'Hoops' Award: Renee Garing
 * Community Champion: Kate Darby

Season summary
Former Geelong player Elise Coventry was appointed as the club's VFL Women's coach in December 2022, replacing Andrew Bruce. Coventry was joined by assistant coaches Anna Teague, Alf Della Monica and Aiden Yelland.

Chloe Leonard was appointed captain, after serving as vice-captain in 2022. Poppy Schaap, Abby Favell, Sachi DeGiacomi, and former captain Bree Beckley were the rest of the team's leadership group.

After losing to in round 1, Geelong went on a five game winning streak, including turning the tables on North Melbourne in round 6, with a last second goal to Olivia Cicolini to secure a 28–22 win.

Analea McKee and Charlotte Simpson were both selected in an invitational Under-23 All-Stars squad for a match against the AFLW Academy at Marvel Stadium during round 12 of the season.

The team would sit a game clear atop the competition ladder after round 9, but would endure a five-match winless streak to eventually miss the finals, finishing eighth.

Awards

 * Lambert–Pearce Medal: Charlotte Simpson (14 votes)
 * Debbie Lee Medal (VFLW Rising Star): Charlotte Simpson
 * VFL Women's Team of the Year: Charlotte Simpson (midfield)

Club Awards

 * Best and Fairest: Charlotte Simpson (72 votes)