GEELONG is prepared to live with just one night game at Simonds Stadium in 2015 after achieving its major objective of securing eight games at the regional ground next season. 

Cats CEO Brian Cook spoke to Simon Lethlean this week about the relative lack of night games but was prepared to accept that fixture, as he imagined that quirk would iron itself out over the next few seasons. 

Geelong has played at night in 10 of the 22 games played at the venue since the lights were activated midway through 2013, which Cook said indicated that things eventually balanced out. 


Six of the Cats' seven games in 2014 finished under lights but just one is scheduled this season, although there is still a chance the final round game between Geelong and Adelaide might be played at night. 

The one night game scheduled so far – against the Sydney Swans in round 19 –could see Buddy Franklin play his first game at the venue. 

"I reckon next year we'll get four or five, who knows?" Cook told AFL.com.au. "We would have preferred four but we certainly can live with what has happened." 


Cook said getting the extra game at Simonds was a huge bonus that could add $500,000 to the club's bottom line – essential revenue given the new competitive balance policy. 

He conceded an extra game at home was also probably a football advantage, but said the overwhelming reason the club sought extra games at the venue was for commercial reasons. 

The club has consistently said it hopes at some stage to play nine or even 10 games a season at its home ground and expand its capacity to close to 40,000. 

AFL scheduling boss Simon Lethlean said Geelong was rapt to have the eighth game at home and said there were a variety of reasons why fewer night games had been scheduled at Simonds in 2015. 

He said the move to play more Saturday afternoon games in Victoria had played a part in the eventual make-up. 

"There are a couple of mid-winter games there [at Simonds Stadium] that are 3.20 starts where the lights will be on but it is just part of a few more Saturday afternoons in Victoria," Lethlean said. "They are rapt with eight games and it is a big story down there."

Cook said overall the fixture was a good result for the club, with eight home games and two blockbuster home games at the MCG against Hawthorn and Collingwood.