The Geelong Cats have highlighted the need for more home game blockbusters in its annual submission to the AFL ahead of planning for the 2009 Premiership Season fixture.

In the letter sent to the league this week, the need for home games against powerhouses such as Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton at the MCG was emphasised.

The key requests in the letter were:

  • Nine home games at Skilled Stadium.
  • A home game at the MCG against Collingwood.
  • A home game at the MCG against one of Hawthorn, Essendon or Carlton.
  • An even spread of home games throughout the season.
  • No more than five interstate games.
  • A home game at Skilled Stadium in round 2 or 3.
  • A round 22 game in Melbourne on either Friday night or Saturday.
  • Fewer Friday night games than in 2008.

Supporting evidence for the Cats need for a MCG home game against Collingwood included the fact that the club had only had two home games against the Magpies since 2002. In contrast, Carlton, Essendon and Melbourne have each enjoyed seven home games in the same period of time. The last three Geelong versus Collingwood games at the MCG have drawn crowds of 85,497, 98,002 and 78,206.