The AFL today confirmed North Melbourne would host the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium in the inaugural Good Friday Match, as part of 2017 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.
The Round 4 clash on April 14, the first-ever AFL game to be played on Good Friday, will begin at 4.20pm with the full fixture for the 2017 season to be released later this week.
As part of the decision to hold a Good Friday match, the AFL has entered into discussions with the organisers of the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal regarding how the game could add awareness and momentum to the key fundraising event.
AFL General Manager, Clubs and AFL Operations, Travis Auld said the AFL had determined that the competing teams to play on Good Friday may be alternated, with different club match-ups and other venues outside of Victoria to be considered for all future matches beyond 2017.
“The AFL acknowledges the requests from a number of clubs to play on Good Friday and we will consider the appropriate match-up and venue on a year-to-year basis,” he said.
“The AFL has scheduled the match in late afternoon to ensure it did not conflict with the major Good Friday afternoon religious services but we accept that some football fans remain opposed to scheduling a match on Good Friday,” Mr Auld said.
As background, the AFL Commission made the decision in 2014 that the AFL Executive could schedule a match on Good Friday during the Easter period, after previously electing not to play on the day. The AFL did not schedule a match for the 2015 or 2016 seasons, but had notified the two competing clubs of its decision this week.
“The decision to now schedule a match was made on the basis that our society has changed in recent decades and the majority of football fans, who are our ultimate decision-makers, share the view of our clubs who have expressed their wish to play on this day,” Mr Auld said.
The AFL has begun discussions with its broadcast partners to determine the best way of supporting and adding to the coverage of the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
