Geelong has requested eight home games at Simonds Stadium in 2017 despite the fact the ground will not be available until the second half of May – or round nine.

The Cats are working with the AFL to secure the eight home appearances, which under the proposed fixture would come in the last 14 rounds of the season.

Club chief Brian Cook described the fixture request as the "lynchpin of our bid". Pointing out that the league had previously fixtured disproportionate clusters of home games to accommodate stadium issues, Cook said the Cats were keen to maximise their $91 million stadium renovation, which is due to be completed by May 19.

"We realise we are not the only club in the AFL," said Cook, "and we know they (the AFL) are doing their best for us and we are working together to achieve it."