AFL behind the times on Good Friday

 
Michael DiFabrizio Columnist

By , 8 Apr 2009 Michael DiFabrizio is a Roar Expert

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Jimmy Bartel of Geelong & Chance Baateman of Hawthorn in action during the 2008 Toyota AFL Grand Final between the Geelong Cats and the Hawthorn Hawks at the MCG. GSP images

Jimmy Bartel of Geelong & Chance Baateman of Hawthorn in action during the 2008 Toyota AFL Grand Final between the Geelong Cats and the Hawthorn Hawks at the MCG. GSP images

Look north of the border this Good Friday and you’ll find two NRL matches being staged, just like any other Friday night. Look to Auckland and Perth, and you’ll see a couple of Super 14 matches, too. Look to the AFL, however, and you won’t get a thing.

The league’s steadfast opposition to Good Friday footy has continued for another year.

It’s an odd thing, too.

Not only do the other competitions in Australia continue as per normal, there will also be fifteen – yes, fifteen! – Major League Baseball games on the day this year. The NBA has scheduled thirteen games.

You’ll find that a large number of footy fans can’t get their head around why the AFL shuts up shop for the day. So why is this such an issue?

Opposition to the idea generally stems from one of two sources.

The first is church leaders, who are vocally opposed to the idea because they believe it ignores the religious significance of the day.

This shouldn’t really be an issue in a secular society, particularly considering the AFL rolls on in spite of other religion’s holidays. And, of course, as mentioned earlier, most other sports stick to their usual fixture regardless, so why should footy be any different?

The AFL feels, however, that this belief is held by a big enough proportion of its supporter base that it can’t be ignored.

And that’s where Geelong president Frank Costa comes in.

You see, Costa is a practicing Christian – his autobiography was entitled Family, Faith and Footy – and his club has reportedly approached the league in the past about staging a game on Good Friday with St Kilda.

Costa said in the Herald Sun a while back that he’s a supporter of the concept only “if the game was after the day’s devotions and after 3pm, which is about the time of the crucifixion.”

Which is fair enough, especially coming from a man who would know all too well the arguments on both sides. If such a game were to finally eventuate, it would be crazy to bounce the ball earlier than 5pm.

The other main objection is from those who believe that the footy will take away from the Royal Children’s Hospital and its Good Friday Appeal, a major event in the minds of a lot of Victorians.

It’s a valid concern, but it’s one that’s easily overcome.

In fact, a footy game on Good Friday may just end up being to the Appeal’s benefit.

One need look no further than February’s bushfire relief match to see the role a game of footy can play in fundraising efforts. The AFL raised $1.2 million through that game for the Red Cross’ bushfire appeal.

The most recent plan handed to the AFL by clubs over Good Friday – Hawthorn and Carlton’s proposal in 2007 – indicated that having links to the Appeal was integral and the match would be used as a way to drive funds.

It can’t be denied that there are reciprocal benefits for both the AFL and the Royal Children’s Hospital in such a game.

Ultimately, it’s the AFL commission that determines whether the league will change its stance or not. Until their view changes, the current set-up will remain.

However, you get the feeling it mustn’t be a matter of if, but when.

Follow Michael on twitter @mdifabrizio
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