Geelong will play ten home games at GMHBA Stadium for the first time since 1996 next year.
The Cats have confirmed via their website that the AFL will grant the club’s request in next month’s fixture release.
“While our banners fly high all over Australia and the world, we know how important playing in Geelong at GMHBA Stadium – our spiritual home, the Cattery – is to our members and our fans,” a statement read.
“With that collective desire at the forefront of our minds, the Club has been working closely with the AFL to seek to secure a 10th home game at GMHBA Stadium for next season.
“With the completion of the Joel Selwood Stand increasing our stadium capacity to 40,000, we have welcomed the opportunity to host blockbuster fixtures here in Geelong.
“For our Melbourne based members and fans, the Club expects to play one blockbuster home game at the MCG in 2025, as well as a number of other marquee away matches in Melbourne.”
CEO Steve Hocking told K rock Football twice this year, including as most recently as October 1 of Geelong’s desire to increase its home games.
“I want our members, (and) supporters to know, we’re working hard to increase the amount of games we have in-season down here,” he said.
“I know there’s a whole group that believe that finals should be here.
“But we need to understand that our preference as a club is to have to more home games fixtured here, and finals are taken care of by the AFL.
“We’re part of that ecosystem; which is we play at the MCG, and we want to be able to do that and maintain that as well.
“But, ten home games here would be really beneficial.
Geelong is due to be the ‘home’ team for Easter Monday.
The Cats have also been floated being involved in Opening Round.
“I think what will naturally happen is, because of the teams that had their time in that this year, then there’ll be other teams that will roll through,” Hocking said.
“Whether we’re part of that… we’ve got a strong following in those northern states – it’s really, really strong.
“We’d be one of the most supported clubs up through that area.
“So that may be the case. We’ll leave that to the AFL.”
