Geelong will play its annual intra-club practice match in West Sydney on 12 February. The match will be the final activity of the Cats three day community camp in the AFL’s latest growth area.

“Normally we would play at Skilled Stadium, but with the surface being re-laid and not ready, we had to find a suitable alternative,” Geelong’s general manager of football operations Neil Balme said.

“We are going to West Sydney the week before the NAB Cup starts, and decided that we should investigate whether we could play up there. Gipps Park road oval fills most of our requirements and the size of the ground is similar to Skilled Stadium.”

The ground is 184 metres x 152 metres and while not up to AFL standards it is expected to be suitable for the Cats needs ahead of the NAB Cup.

Geelong is also expected to train at the ground on 10 and 11 February. All AFL clubs conduct camps during the pre-season with the view of growing the game or taking the game to regional areas that would not otherwise be able to see AFL players and teams at close quarters.