PLANNING for the final stage of the Simonds Stadium redevelopment will get underway soon with the Victorian State Government committing $3.9 million to planning and design in Tuesday's budget.

The pledge will set in motion the redevelopment of the Ford Stand and the Ablett and Southern Terrace increasing the ground's capacity to 40,000.

The new state-of-the-art Charles Brownlow Stand is due to open when the Cats meet the Western Bulldogs under lights in round nine, increasing the ground's capacity to 36,000.

A full house is anticipated as the Friday night match between premiership contenders shapes as one of the matches of the season.

Club president Colin Carter said on Sunday the investment into the stadium by the club and governments at all levels was critical to Geelong's survival.

"This project is a game changer for us," Carter said.

"If we didn't invest in the stadium in Geelong our footy club would probably have been sucked back into Melbourne, probably playing at Etihad, and that would have been the beginning of the end for Geelong footy club as we know it."





The Cats will request nine home games in 2018 and has indicated it sees Simonds Stadium as a potential finals venue in the future.

The Cats have invested heavily in the ground's redevelopment that is now managed by the Kardinia Park Trust.

Simonds Stadium will be used for other events in the local community and the Cats now have an alternative training venue at Deakin University.