GEELONG will request nine home games at Simonds Stadium in 2018 as it aims to build its club membership figures in the region.

Cats CEO Brian Cook told AFL.com.au that the AFL's recent purchase of Etihad Stadium and the opening of the new Brownlow Stand, which lifts Simonds Stadium's capacity to 36,000, made it possible for the AFL to meet Geelong's request.

"We are going to ask the AFL for nine games at Simonds Stadium next year because we don't believe we should be playing home games at Etihad Stadium," Cook said.

"If we do that, I think there will be a quantum leap in membership in the Geelong area."

The Cats play two home fixtures at Etihad Stadium in 2017 as work on the Brownlow Stand nears completion, beating North Melbourne by a point last Sunday before this weekend's meeting with Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.

They have been forced to play home games at Etihad Stadium in recent seasons because of the AFL's contractual requirement to play a certain number of games at the venue.

The Cats have felt they were left to make up the shortfall caused by other clubs being able to play home games at interstate venues such as Alice Springs, Hobart and Launceston.

"We're looking for equity in this area and fairness," Cook said.

"That argument of reasonableness should come through unless the AFL has some minimum requirement [of games] at Etihad that they have in their head, because they are not contractually-bound to do that any more with anyone, I would assume."

The Cats argue they are the only team that plays seven games at their home venue and 15 away games in 2017.

They have only played more than seven premiership matches in a season at Simonds Stadium in one season (2015) since 2009.

Despite that, they are once again on track for record membership, aiming for between 50-60,000 members in 2017.

Cook said research shows however that 80 per cent of the club's Geelong and Surf Coast-based members don't travel to Melbourne for games, adding that nine home games would lead to greater uptake of membership packages from people living in the area.

The Brownlow Stand and state-of-the-art football department remains on track to open when the Cats play the Western Bulldogs under lights on Friday May 19, with Cook saying the finishing touches will put in place on game day.