Geelong are pushing to play all of their home games at GMHBA stadium this year, with coach Chris Scott alluding to the fact that home ground advantage is almost diminished given the current circumstances with the COVID-19 crisis.
Geelong have campaigned in recent years to host their home games at GMHBA despite playing several home games at the MCG to increase attendance.
With the Cats set to host nine home games this season and no crowds for the foreseeable future, the Cats are more keen than ever to host all their home games at their home in Geelong.
“I think it does clearly take away from the home ground advantage,” coach Chris Scott said.
“I think my position has been really clear and if you go back to last year I would be repeating what I said there, in principle clubs should be playing their home games wherever they choose.
“The clubs don’t have any say over the fixture, sometimes we speak to what is fair and what’s not but that doesn’t imply that has any cut through with the decision makers.”
With Geelong heavily pushing for all home games to be played at GMHBA, there may be a chance for a 21-year first - a Collingwood-Geelong matchup at the Cattery.
The Cats were set to host the Pies in a home game at the MCG this season for the first time since 2017. But with the recent push for the Cats to play all home games in Geelong and no crowds playing a huge factor to the potential of using GMHBA stadium from here on out, Collingwood may just find their way down to the Cattery for the first time since 1999.
The AFL are expected to release the first four weeks of its new and revamped fixture next week.