North Melbourne v Geelong Rd20

Saturday, July 26 – 7.35 PM AEST – Venue: Marvel Stadium

The Cats have a key finals spot to play for and will dominate the Roos on Saturday under the lights. Cameron, Neale and Stengle will be potent up forward, and Dangerfield could get a bagful of goals too.

Coleman Jones is our injured for the Roos, but Nick Larkey will be back from injury. Wardlaw is also likely to play which will help the Roos.

Conway could come into replace the out of form Stanley in the Ruck for the Cats.  

Geelong by 41 points

Round 20 Showdown: North Melbourne vs Geelong – What to Watch

The drama of Round 20 sets the stage at Marvel Stadium, where North Melbourne hosts Geelong under Saturday night lights. The spotlight inevitably falls on AFL Betting Tips, AFL Tips, and AFL Prediction—but beyond the odds, there’s a real story unfolding here.

North Melbourne has quietly shown some fight throughout 2025. Despite sitting 17th and riding a four-game losing streak, they’ve been competitive, notably in clearances averaging 40.5 per match, which edges out Geelong’s 37.8. Players like Jy Simpkin, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Tom Powell, and Luke Parker are driving that effort. Add Harry Sheezel’s domination in uncontested possessions and Colby McKercher’s consistent half-back runs, and you’ve got flashes of class from this young Roo side.

But let’s not downplay where Geelong stands. As a top-four contender, the Cats continue to roar toward September. They not only outclass young sides, but recent form has been ruthless hammering Richmond by 72 points, then putting together a controlled 31-point win against St Kilda. Add to that their blowout 101-point demolition of North Melbourne in this very fixture earlier this year, and the chasm in experience and class becomes crystal clear.

AFL Prediction time: Expect Geelong to stamp their authority early and coast to another comprehensive victory. Their scoring power and efficiency in ball movement present a deep challenge for a Roo defence that’s leaked heavily in recent weeks.

AFL Betting Tips angle: While head-to-head betting strongly favours the Cats, there’s intriguing value in the line. Some models suggest North might cover more than expected, especially if game flow slows in wet or under pressure conditions. Meanwhile, AFL Tips around team totals tilt toward a high-scoring Geelong affair, with some forecasts pushing their team total well past the 110-point mark.

In human terms – this clash feels like a coming-of-age test for the Roos, but one where Geelong enters as the confident giant. For punters and footy fans alike, the real takeaway: Geelong wins big, yet North’s clearance game and flashes of system execution mean they won’t roll over entirely. It’s a night where data meets instinct, and passion meets prediction.