With fixturing looming as the next equalisation battleground, Cook told AFL.com.au that an eighth game at Simonds Stadium could add approximately $500,000 to the Cats' bottom line and create a more sustainable business model for the club.
He said without the eighth game the club could struggle to contribute - as is expected - to the AFL's recently revised equalisation policy.
"[A] structure with seven games being played at Simonds [Stadium] makes it really difficult for us to meet the [equalisation] commitment that the AFL is talking about," Cook said.
Cook's comments come just a week after club president Colin Carter criticised the AFL's equalisation policy, telling Fairfax media Geelong was being "screwed".
Under the policy, Geelong is expected to contribute $300,000 to shared revenue while the contribution of financial powerhouses such as Collingwood and Hawthorn is being capped at $500,000.
Carter said the compromise actually weakened Geelong's position in relation to clubs such as Collingwood, rather than bringing it closer, as was intended when the need for a revised competitive-balance strategy was initially proposed.
Soon after Carter's comments, Cook met with the AFL's equalisation strategist Sam Graham to discuss how the respective contribution of clubs was developed.
According to Cook, the meeting was productive and informative, with Geelong having a clearer understanding of the method used, however, it did not change the club's position that strong decisions on the fixture could further restore balance.
The Cats preference in 2015 is to play eight home games at Simonds Stadium and three in Melbourne, preferably at the MCG, however, they understand they may have to play at least one of the three games at Etihad Stadium.
Cook said the AFL's response so far had been lukewarm but the club had been told the AFL would make "reasonable endeavours" to schedule an eighth game at Simonds Stadium.
Geelong also believes it is being forced to play at Etihad Stadium because other Victorian clubs play at venues such as Cairns, Hobart and Alice Springs
Playing at Etihad hurts the Cats financially but the club feels it is being scheduled there to ensure the AFL fulfils its minimum game requirements at that venue.
"We don't believe we should be compensating clubs that choose, under AFL approval, to go elsewhere and play," Cook said.
The club is understood to have no issue with clubs playing at a variety of venues but it just questions why it should be disadvantaged as a result.
In May, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan told K-Rock that the big challenge was finding a suitable opponent for Geelong to make that eighth game viable.
However, Cook indicated that the Cats home games this season against Carlton (at Etihad) and Richmond (at the MCG) drew just above the 33,500 capacity at Simonds Stadium and could therefore be accommodated at Simonds Stadium, which has had lights operating for night football and an extended capacity since 2013.
Both those Melbourne games in 2014 are expected to yield poor financial returns for the Cats.
The Cats also played a home game against Hawthorn (MCG) in 2014 and play a home game against Essendon this Friday night at Etihad.
An AFL spokesperson said on Tuesday night it was aware of Geelong's desire for an eighth home game at Simonds Stadium.
"This will be given due consideration in the fixturing process across the next four months, along with the many other variables and contractual obligations that need to be considered in the process," the spokesperson said.
Cook said Geelong believed its argument for an eighth game was "fair and reasonable".
Geelong had not played eight games at Simonds Stadium since 2009 until it played a final against Fremantle last season (which Geelong lost) that was scheduled after the season.
The Cats did not make money from that game and believe it cost them $500,000 (because it meant the AFL had to play an extra game at Etihad Stadium in 2014, which involved Geelong).
Cook said he would have second thoughts if the club was offered a home final again.
"[We'd] certainly think twice now which is a real pity. It's not what Port Adelaide will do when they get their opportunity," Cook said.
The Cats have averaged 25,368 in four home games this season (which has included a Thursday and Friday night game) after averaging 26,792 in the seven home and away games at the venue last year.
