Ahead of a blockbuster qualifying final at Collingwood’s home ground, Geelong boss Steve Hocking has weighed in on whether the club will mount a renewed bid to host finals in coming years.
Chris Scott’s long campaign for Geelong to host finals at GMHBA Stadium appears to have been overpowered by new club boss Steve Hocking, who doesn’t want thousands of Cats fans locked out of September action.
Geelong’s record membership of 71,257 this season includes almost 30,000 Melbourne-based supporters and the club requested a Saturday twilight (4.35pm) qualifying final so their regional supporters could travel to the MCG and back home at a reasonable time.
GMHBA Stadium’s capacity will swell to 40,000 when the redevelopment is completed early next season and Hocking said the Cats had “a foot in each camp”, given they have a 9-2 split between games down the highway and at the ‘G.
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“I have a different view on that and so does the board,” Hocking said on 3AW when asked whether the Cats would renew their push for home finals at the renovated GMHBA Stadium next year.
“I’m really big on you’ve got to win finals at the MCG (and) we need to support our Melbourne supporters as well, which we have a big contingent of.
“Come finals you can’t be locking out a lot of people. Our final against Collingwood is sold out.”
The Cats have been spruiking their growing membership base in Melbourne and were trying to cater for them more while Hocking understands that the AFL is in charge of deciding where finals are played.
The minor premiers could play MCG tenants Collingwood (qualifying final), Richmond (preliminary final) and Melbourne (grand final) at their home ground in September.
But the Cats have won 10 out of their past 12 matches at the MCG.
Hocking also backed the pre-finals bye because it allowed players to get in “tip-top” shape and gave the AFLW clean air to launch its season this weekend.
Originally published as AFL finals news: Geelong happy to host finals at MCG
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