After a three-decade-long campaign, North’s wish for Good Friday football has finally been granted after the AFL confirmed the ground-breaking match on Tuesday afternoon.

The game, to be hosted by the Roos at Etihad Stadium on April 14, will also feature the Bulldogs and kicks off at 4.20pm.

“We’re absolutely thrilled by the announcement,” North Managing Director & CEO Carl Dilena told NMFC.com.au.

“It’s a tribute to this club’s track record of innovation and a credit to all the great North people like Bob Ansett, Ron Casey and Greg Miller, who initially proposed this game in the late 80s and early 90s.”

Dilena said he’d already contacted the Bulldogs to start discussions about the game and how it would tie into the Good Friday Appeal.

“While we have a game to win, there’s also going to be a lot of cohesion between the clubs and the AFL as we work with the Appeal organisers and Channel 7, to ensure there’s a good synergy between the two major events.

“There are a lot of great things we can do together to achieve some great outcomes and we will sit down in due course to discuss those with all the key stakeholders.

“We’ve always had a great relationship with the Royal Children’s Hospital, as virtual neighbours, and look forward to helping make this day even greater.”