By NOEL MURPHY
AFL BOSS Andrew Demetriou has pledged his support for the Geelong Cats’ $140 million stage four and five redevelopment of Simonds Stadium.
But he hedged at any specific financial commitment, telling the Independent an AFL contribution would depend on governments also backing the project.
The Independent revealed earlier this month that the club had begun pitching the project to potential funding sources, including state and federal governments.
The project would complete the Simonds Stadium upgrade and eclipse the $104 million spent on the first three stages.
The club wasted little time tackling the fund-raising task, beginning talks before the third stage upgrade opened under lights with a spectacular night game this month.
“The AFL is supportive of the further development of Simonds Stadium,” Mr Demetriou told the Independent.
“We have not yet committed to a further funds contribution, as that would be dependent on federal and state support.”
Mr Demetriou said the AFL considered Simonds Stadium “extremely important to the western district” in providing elite sport and AFL matches.
“The economic and social benefit to the Geelong region by playing AFL matches in the Geelong area is incredibly important,” Mr Demetriou said.
“I cannot provide an answer on the timeframe for further work as that is dependent primarily on government support for the project.”
The region’s federal MPs, Richard Marles and Darren Cheeseman, have expressed support for the project but were reluctant to predict whether it might secure a Commonwealth funding commitment before the 14 September election.
