Essendon president David Barham has agreed with one angered fan at their AGM, after a complaint was made about their trip down the highway to face Geelong in 2025.
The Bombers will head to GMHBA Stadium in round 22 to take on the Cats, which is rare considering the sides usually meet for their country clash at the MCG and Marvel Stadium if they play twice.
It will be just the second time Essendon will play in Geelong since 1993.
The change has left some Bombers members fuming, with one verbalising those concerns during the meeting.
"I don't want to go to Geelong either," Barham replied at the AGM.
Essendon President, David Barham speaks to the media. Getty
Meantime, the club remains confident that they will be able to cut down on their home games at Marvel Stadium, as they push for more at the MCG.
"Our club takes it quite seriously that we would love to play more games at the MCG," CEO Craig Vozzo said at the AGM.
Essendon were one of a number of clubs who requested one home match to be shifted from Marvel to the MCG.
That requested was denied when the AFL released the 2025 draw.
But it has not deterred the club from planning for that switch in the future.
"In fact, we are in the process of finalising an arrangement with the AFL at the moment with regards to the Marvel deal and we are quite confident that an ability to pick up an extra game at the MCG will come," Vozzo confirmed.
In 2025, the Bombers will play 16 games in Melbourne, both home and away.
The away game against the Cats in Geelong has not taken one of their already fixtured 16 in Melbourne.
Jack Bowes of the Cats runs with the ball under pressure from Andrew McGrath of the Bombers in round 16, 2024. via Getty Images
They will get to host Geelong at the MCG in round 14, while also hosting Adelaide (round two), Richmond (round 11) and Carlton (round 24) at the same venue.
Essendon will play seven of their home matches at Marvel Stadium next season.
The Bombers were Marvel Stadium's original tennant, hosting the first ever game at the former Telstra Dome against Port Adelaide in 2000.
Geelong will host Essendon at GMHBA Stadium in the pre-season when they face off on Tuesday February 25 at the Cattery.
