Round 23 of the AFL season serves up a Saturday arvo fixture as the Roos look to be playing for pride as they host the Wildcard bound Geelong Cats.

North are coming off a genuinely significant win, downing the Western Bulldogs 100-77 under the roof last Thursday night. That was only the Kangaroos' second victory over a top eight opponent since Alastair Clarkson took charge and Luke Davies-Uniacke can take plenty of credit with 31 disposals, 11 score involvements, 10 tackles and two goals.

The problem is the ladder hasn't moved much. North remains eight points adrift of 10th-placed Carlton with a substantial percentage gap to bridge, which makes a wildcard berth all but mathematically impossible.

Geelong's week was busier off the field than on it, but the football part was straightforward. The Cats piled on 10 goals to two in the first half of a wet, windy afternoon at GMHBA Stadium and beat Essendon 117-50, a fourth consecutive win that sees them at seventh on the ladder.

Chris Scott's side has already banked a Wildcard Round spot, but the range of outcomes remains wide, anywhere from fourth to 10th depending on how these last two weekends fall.

The Cats won the Round 8 meeting at GMHBA Stadium by 49 points; but it should be intriguing how hard these Roos play; with just pride on the line, in front of their home fans.

For the latest team news, analysis, and expert insights, check out our North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Geelong Cats Round 23 prediction and preview below.

North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Geelong Cats Match Predictions and Betting Tips

Head-to-Head Prediction

The Kangaroos finally broke through against a classier opponent, which is worth celebrating.

The glass-half-empty view is that the team they beat, the Western Bulldogs, are hardly a contender and may not even make the Wildcard themselves.

For Geelong, a wild and dramatic week ended with an easy win over Essendon. This looms as a far slipperier proposition, with the in-form Roos under the roof at Docklands and the Cats away from GMHBA Stadium.

The tactical thread to pull is Oisin Mullin, who will almost certainly go to Luke Davies-Uniacke. If North's best midfielder gets locked down, Harry Sheezel, George Wardlaw and Finn O'Sullivan need to pick up the slack rather than wait for him to work his way through it.

Tristan Xerri also gets a real opportunity here. Geelong's ruck division is a mix-and-match of Sam De Koning, Mark Blicavs and possibly Mitch Edwards and Xerri is capable of tilting the stoppage battle if North can convert that supply into scoreboard pressure.

The Cats should still have the class edge, but this shapes as far tighter than the odds suggest.

Head-to-head prediction: Geelong Cats by 8 points.

First Goal Scorer Prediction

Ollie Henry has been causing problems for opposition defences left, right and centre.

The 24-year-old has kicked 13 goals across his past four matches, including four against Essendon and has hit the scoreboard in 18 of his 20 games this season.

Against the Bombers he looked the most threatening of forward line; taking four marks inside 50 and finishing with a game-high 10 score involvements.

With Jeremy Cameron still sidelined, (for now) Henry remains the most reliable early target in the Cats' forward line.

We wouldn't be surprised to see him tearing up the North defence inside the opening minutes.

Betting tip: Ollie Henry.

Most Disposals Prediction

Bailey Smith was on an absolute tear against Essendon, racking up 38 disposals in conditions that suited nobody.

He tends to feast on sides that don't compete hard through the midfield and while the Kangaroos are a far more willing outfit than the Bombers were last Saturday, the volume he's producing is difficult to ignore.

Sheezel and Davies-Uniacke are obvious counters, but Mullin's likely tag on Davies-Uniacke frees Smith up considerably to lead the disposal count.

We think Bazlenka finds a way to out-compete the lot of them.

Betting tip: Bailey Smith.

AFL Same Game Multi Tips

Betting tip: Geelong Cats to win by 1-39 points, Bailey Smith 30+ disposals, Ollie Henry 3+ goals, Jack Darling 2+ goals, Luke Davies-Uniacke over 24.5 disposals.

*Odds are subject to change.

North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Geelong Cats Predicted Teams

North Melbourne Kangaroos Predicted Team List

FB: Griffin Logue, Charlie Comben, Aidan Corr

HB: Colby McKercher, Caleb Daniel, Riley Hardeman

C: Dylan Stephens, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Finn O'Sullivan

HF: Jy Simpkin, Cooper Trembath, Charlie Spargo

FF: Paul Curtis, Nick Larkey, Cameron Zurhaar

FOLL: Tristan Xerri, Jack Darling, Harry Sheezel

I/C: Luke Parker, Tom Blamires, George Wardlaw, Zac Banch, Wil Dawson

Geelong Cats Predicted Team List

FB: Tom Stewart, Connor O'Sullivan, Lawson Humphries

HB: Zach Guthrie, Jack Henry, Tanner Bruhn

C: Oliver Dempsey, Bailey Smith, Mark Blicavs

HF: Gryan Miers, Oliver Henry, Brad Close

FF: Oliver Wiltshire, Shannon Neale, Jay Polkinghorne

FOLL: Sam De Koning, Tom Atkins, Oisin Mullin

I/C: Jhye Clark, Mark O'Connor, James Worpel, Jack Martin, Shaun Mannagh

North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Geelong Cats Match Details

Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026

First Bounce: 3:45pm AEST

Location: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

How to Watch: Fox Footy/Kayo Sports