North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs
Friday, April 29, 7.50pm
Etihad Stadium
TICKETS: Click here

North Melbourne knows a near sell-out crowd for its clash with the Western Bulldogs is crucial to making a case for Good Friday football.

Carlton remains the Kangaroos’ most likely opponent for the new Easter timeslot which is expected to begin in 2017.

"I think it'll be a great illustration of us pulling a big crowd on a Friday night and justifying Good Friday," Kangaroos chief executive Carl Dilena told AFL.com.au.

"Whether it's a dress rehearsal I don't know, there's a few clubs that have thrown their hat into the ring for Good Friday to partner with us.

"We had some really positive discussions with Carlton in the past, and they're keen to continue those, so it's whatever makes sense."

Whether it is the Blues, Bulldogs or another club, the Kangaroos are confident they will get first dibs on what has until now been a footy free day.

"We've been lobbying for years and years on it, JB's (James Brayshaw) been very strong on it with Gill McLachlan," Dilena said.

"I think we're well placed - we've had our name up there for a long time so we'd expect that we'd be the first club chosen for that slot.

Everything is in place for the ladder leaders to draw a good crowd on Friday night against its Docklands co-tenant.

Dilena gives full credit to Brad Scott for steering the club to its undefeated start to the season.

"Any coach cops criticism along the way, but Brad has stayed true to his values and his beliefs," he said.

"He's really shaped this side, if you think about what he inherited when he came to the club, and what he's built it to now, it's in a great position.

"The group's really hardened up, after a couple of preliminary finals.

"You need to go through that, you need to have the disappointment of losing finals, of playing in tough games to set yourself up for a real crack at it."