Geelong-Essendon clash to remain at Etihad Stadium Friday night's blockbuster between Geelong and Essendon will remain at Etihad Stadium. THE AFL has ruled out moving Friday night's Geelong-Essendon blockbuster from Etihad Stadium to the MCG. There had been calls to relocate the top-of-the-ladder clash between the last two undefeated teams across town, but stadium contracts, ticketing and corporate commitment make it virtually impossible to shift matches in today's climate. "We have fixture agreements with each of our venues, which guarantees them a number of games, and obviously once games are locked in with reserve ticket sales, we commit to the venue," AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said. In 2010, AFL boss Andrew Demetriou admitted that changing venues mid-season was too difficult. In 2009, Geelong chief executive Brian Cook said people shouldn't waste time talking about stadium switches after that season's Round 14 game between undefeated pair Geelong and St Kilda was kept at Etihad. I think we need to say now that the days of moving games have disappeared. It is too hard . . . there's myriad issues. There's no point increasing people's expectations any more," Cook said. Geelong starts a $1.60 favourite, a Bombers win pays $2.30 in head-to-head markets.