Carlton, Geelong propose more games at home bases

With the coronavirus pandemic set to have AFL games without crowds, Cartlon CEO Cain Liddle has spoken about his willingness to play games at spiritual home Ikon Park.

Due to venues being potentially stretched with the AFL willing to squeeze multiple games in around potential breaks, venues such as Ikon Park could hold matches in 2020.

"As I sit here today, If I took a call from the AFL saying would you be open to playing games at Ikon (Park), we absolutely would be,” Liddle told SEN's Sportsday.

“If it helped the AFL, particularly as they might need to be getting games away every five days and cramming games in, we’d certainly be open to that". There’d be no reason from our end why that game (Round 2 against the Bulldogs) couldn’t be played there.”

Meanwhile, former Geelong president Frank Costa has stated that Hawthorn should play at GMHBA Stadium for their round 4 Easter Monday clash against the Cats. The traditional Easter blockbuster has been held at the MCG for the last 14 years.

Costa spoke to the Herald Sun about his proposal. “The only reason we would give up the stadium down at Geelong to play at the MCG is because of the crowd capacity, we believe when we play Hawthorn (on Easter Monday) we get somewhere around the 80,000-mark, which we can’t get in Geelong".

“But if there’s no crowd at all, well, we’re trying to win a competition and we have a much stronger chance of beating Hawthorn down at GMHBA Stadium then we’d have at the MCG. We’d call for our rights to be able to have our home game at our home ground. We would do that. There would be no argument at all.” Costa said.

Geelong have won 34 of their past 40 games at GMHBA Stadium, giving them a large home ground advantage. Despite this, a Geelong spokesperson said “We aren’t answering any questions around hypotheticals.’’

Carlton has released an official statement to members stating how ideal Ikon Park will be for home games.

“We also want to advise our members that the Club has confirmed to the AFL that Ikon Park is available to host any Carlton AFL or AFLW match that they want to schedule at the ground. During this lockout period, it goes without saying that Ikon Park should be considered for AFL games when capacity and supporter amenities are not a factor.”