The significance of Good Friday will be lost if football was played according to St Francis of Assisi Parish Priest Fr Anthony Girolami.
Playing football on Good Friday “goes against the whole sentiment of the day”, regardless of whether it is played at night or not, according to Fr Anthony.
He further suggests that we should remove the “holiness” of Good Friday if football is to be played because people are not willing to respect its significance and alternatively return to a regular working day.
Furthermore Fr Anthony states that there is an underlying social issue to use footy as a “distraction” from day to day lives and make it the sole objective in people’s lives.
As said by Fr Anthony, Good Friday is a day the church is in mourning. “Who goes to the Football when someone in their family dies? Well it would be a pretty cold-hearted person.”
Northern Football League Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kevin Crompton believes there is a place for Good Friday Football and he wouldn’t want to take away the meaning from this religious day.
“Good Friday is a special day and there are a lot of people committed to their faith. We wouldn’t want to feel as if we interrupt that” Crompton said.
Crompton continues to suggest that Good Friday Night football can work, “If the timing was right, it would be something we would look at.” Having Easter fall during the season, Crompton couldn’t see why Good Friday wouldn’t work as there will be footy played on the long weekend.
Fr Anthony would be angry if the Northern Football League were to play footy on Good Friday believing they would be “taking what is a day of holiness and turning it into a holiday”.
“Football is like this all powerful bully who is very petulant and becomes quite [annoyed] when they don’t get what they want.”
Crompton stresses that there is a “huge” amount of effort on behalf of players, coaches and volunteers on match day and wouldn’t want to interfere with their regular practices on Good Friday.
Furthermore Crompton suggests that a Good Friday night game would be a good option as it would not directly interfere with morning church services. The league has “good lighting” at a number of its grounds “that’s up to standards,” which enables the event to be run at night according to Crompton.
Crompton proposes that the league would potentially trial a tribute match on Good Friday that would acknowledge the significance of the work at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Additionally having a guest appearance by Whittlesea Football Club’s number one ticket holder and Channel Seven personality Melissa Doyle to support the occasion would be considered.
Crompton suggested that the league would look to have celebrities down at the game to raise funds for the Royal Children’s hospital appeal. However, Fr Anthony suggests “that’s their sweetener”.
Fr Anthony says that if the football League really wanted to support the Royal Children’s hospital they would give a donation from their weekly gate receipts.
Whilst AFL teams push to play Good Friday football, the Goulburn Valley League held a match at a regional ground in Victoria, which drew 4500 people.
Former Melbourne forward Russell Robertson who played in the regional game told The Age that the games attendance sends a strong message to the AFL because, “they [the crowd] love it. People love footy on Good Friday”.
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou has refused to schedule AFL games on Good Friday.
Rory O'Sullivan
Roar Pro
I bend to disagree. You only have to look at the Melbourne storms game on good friday due a much larger than average crowd as there was no AFL on. I think the AFL could gain a massive crowd by having a game on good friday and why not we have games on every other holiday of the year. If saying it is disrespectful what about playing on Anzac day disrespectful to the ANZAC S i don't think so .
Carringbush
Guest
It's only a matter of time, especially with an extra two teams coming in. Anzac Day, while not completely untouchable years ago, is now the biggest match outside the finals. They just have to market it right, probably with a nod to the Royal Children's Hospital Appeal, otherwise it will just become another Friday night game. If it does come to fruitition, the AFL will have to choose the participants carefully if it is to be an annual game between the same two sides. Despite what other clubs coverting the Anzac spot say, just because it's Anzac Day, doesn't mean that the punters will turn out in force for just anyone.
BigAl
Guest
Because God smiles on the AFL
Billo Boy
Guest
How about Easter Sunday and Maunday Thursday? No concerns there?
Richard
Roar Guru
Yeah pity they did that. I wanted to see the Storm v Dragons game, but no way would I go on Good Friday. Hope they don't do that again.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Well Melbourne wasn't the exception as the Storm played in Melbourne on the day. It's AFL that is the exception. Don't really understand why.
Billo Boy
Guest
"he respects the cultural traditions and values of the broader society." Can't be the "broader society" given that the NRL and Super 14 have played games on Good Friday and that the rest of the western world doesn't hold the same view either. No AFL on Good Friday just means that Melbourne is an exception and that it has been left behind.
Richard
Roar Guru
I like the fact that we have Good Friday set aside as a special day to do and reflect upon special things, away from the invasive nature of every day commercial life. I salute Andrew Demetriou as a man who is demonstrating that, although he leads a major commercial enterprise, he respects the cultural traditions and values of the broader society. We don't need AFL on Good Friday. Keen fan that I am, if we did have it I certainly wouldn't go.
Billo Boy
Guest
Is there anywhere else in the Western world apart from the AFL domain that the top sport is banned on Good Friday? For example, English football games have been a traditional feast on Good Friday for 100 years. Time you caught up.