Geelong coach Chris Scott has reiterated his desire for the club to play all 11 of their home games at GMHBA Stadium.

Following the Cats’ 51-point victory over Hawthorn, which solidified their fifth-place standing after a challenging seven-week stretch with only one win and six losses, Scott emphasized the importance of hosting home finals at their true home ground.

Historically, Geelong has played only one final at GMHBA Stadium, a 2013 qualifying final against Fremantle, which they lost by 15 points. Since then, the AFL has not permitted the Cats to host another final at their home venue.

Scott argued that each team should have the right to play all their home games, including finals, at their chosen home ground. He cited Sydney’s ability to host finals at the SCG as a precedent that should apply to Geelong as well.

“I think every team should play their 11 homes games where they choose,” Scott said. “If they choose to farm them to Alice Springs or Darwin, that’s fine. But you shouldn’t be forced to play home games away from your home venue.”

Scott’s sentiments were echoed by Geelong great Jimmy Bartel, who acknowledged the legitimacy of Scott’s push while also pointing out the necessity for Victorian clubs to commit to playing some home games at Marvel Stadium.

Bartel noted that while Scott’s primary focus is on maximizing home advantage, the Cats might still opt to play significant matches against large Melbourne-based clubs like Collingwood at the MCG to accommodate more fans.

GMHBA Stadium, with a capacity of 40,000 following recent renovations, is ready to host more high-stakes games, reinforcing Scott’s campaign for Geelong to utilize their home ground fully.