With a change of CEO at the AFL it was always likely that Good Friday footy would be played.
Andrew Demetriou always opposed it, but his successor Gillon McLachlan, who officially took over earlier this month, has seemed to be more in favour of playing AFL on the holiest and most religious day of the year.
It’s happening now and although there is and will continue to be opposition to this move, it’s set to become an important part of the AFL.
A number of clubs will be angling for this match and hope to make it their own and that’s the way it should be. Just like Anzac Day, the Geelong and Hawthorn clash on Easter Monday and Dreamtime at the G between Essendon and Richmond.
This column recently proposed that two of the lower profile Melbourne clubs like the Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne get the nod.
However, with the Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal going hand in hand with Good Friday, it would also be appropriate for the AFL to honour this outstanding cause by staging the annual battle between North Melbourne and Carlton. They are the two sides located closest to the hospital.
There’s no doubt the majority of the Melbourne teams will be targeting headquarters to be part of this match, but do we really need an AFL match between late March and September on every public holiday?
The Easter weekend is a packed enough as it is, with matches on Thursday night, Saturday, Sunday and Easter Monday.
A rest on Good Friday makes sense and, as well as celebrating numerous religious festivities and embracing the hospital appeal, it gives local footy a chance to shine.
Country and suburban leagues schedule matches on this day every year and while AFL has not been played, these competitions have benefitted financially.
Kyneton and Gisborne in the Bendigo Football League in North West Victoria is an example of having made this contest their own and have attracted excellent crowds.
There is no doubt that will be compromised by the introduction of an AFL match on Good Friday.
Local footy has already suffered badly over the years with pay television keeping people at home to watch the AFL.
These competitions deserve their own day to shine, but won’t have that now. The game will always draw good crowds, regardless of the two teams, but it will only be a novelty factor in the early days. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Good Friday football was just another cash cow for the AFL.
Those that follow the game avidly generally love it, even though it’s not as good to watch now. But it would have been nice to have a rest on Good Friday.
Tuesday and Wednesday on normal working weeks are still AFL football free days, but for how long?
Marc
Guest
Surely to keep the religous flavour around the day It has to be the Saints versus the Demons!!!!!!!
John Hamilton
Guest
To be fair to the author, Goof Friday does seem to be the most celebrated religious holiday (more so than Christmas)
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
I used that one ages ago AR. Sorry.
Alfredo
Guest
Religion won't be a factor will it?.. Thought main clubs contending are North, Dogs, Blues, Suns, Swans Out of those who are your 2 teams?
The Truth
Guest
Probably the Protestant clubs perhaps, which are Hawthorn, Melbourne, Sydney and Essendon. North, Collingwood, Carlton, Fitzroy (Brisbane) and Richmond are traditionally Catholic clubs, so technically they are out.
Alfredo
Guest
which 2 teams are the front runners to host Good Friday game?.. Will it be likely scheduled in 2015?
Cat
Roar Guru
in the days when all the shops are closed, there was no internet, no VCR/TiVO/DVD collections, the weather was crap and you were lucky if there was 3 channels you got on TV and all of them interrupting regular programing with holiday stuff, yes holidays *could* be massively boring days.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
So unless you can read a paper and listen to upbeat music on the radio it's a boring day?!?! My point still stands guys.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
Or they could be renamed...
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
So get in first with the booking...;)
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
If that's the case then the Easter public holidays should be removed. While you're at it, I presume you'll want to remove Christmas Day as a public holiday too? And how much support do you think you'll get for that proposal?
Paul
Guest
I just don't think we agree on anything Dan.
mds1970
Roar Guru
There was an A-League soccer game played at Etihad on Good Friday this year. And I'm sure beer was sold and consumed in copious quantities.
Gyfox
Guest
Dear Dan, Let me bring you up to speed. Good Friday is NOT "the holiest & most religious day of the year". For Christians it is Easter Day. Good Friday is part of the 3 holy days that precede it & each of them is equally important. In fact the AFL already schedules games on Maundy Thursday & Easter Eve - in the evenings when Christians of all persuasions have important Services to attend. So people like me already have to choose between footy & our religious obligations. However, the majority of Australians are not in church on any of those days, & despite Good Friday being a public holiday, it is not a holy day for Jews, Muslins, Hindus et al. Surely we are past pretending that Australia is a Christian nation? The real point is that soccer & NRL have played games on Good Friday - why should the AFL be the only code that does not play? Not to mention the Royal Sydney Show, which has overshadowed any religious purpose of the holiday for decades. I am sure that pope paul v11 agrees that the AFL is not more Christian than the other codes!
Jason K
Guest
I was going to oppose your point of view about Good Friday until I read where you pointed out that the small regional clubs benefit from no AFL on GF.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Need? no. Will it be a good thing for the AFL? if handled correctly.
joe b
Guest
Are there alcohol restrictions on Good Friday in Melbourne? Pubs and offies are closed in perth...if same in Melbourne, will there be alcohol at the footy ground? Etihad won't like that.
Shmick
Guest
Thank you Big Al for illustrating the difference between things an individual can control and those an individual can't control.
Shmick
Guest
Heritage & tradition? I didn't realise Jesus was so avidly against marngrook.
AR
Guest
Um, I think we're making the same point.