Carlton and Hawthorn are lobbying the AFL to play a match on Good Friday from next year in a bold move to bring blockbuster
football to the day. Carlton chief executive Greg Swann and Hawthorn counterpart Ian Robson proposed the game when they met AFL boss Andrew Demetriou on April 21. They were told to return this month with a formal proposal likely to include responses from the Royal Children’s Hospital and Channel 7, which broadcasts a day-long telethon. Swann and Robson confirmed they were seeking the right to play on Good Friday. “We just see it as a great opportunity for the AFL to showcase a game. We are very mindful of the religious views that we need to address and we think we can overcome that,” Swann said. “We want to work with the Royal Children’s Hospital on this, and hopefully make the appeal an even bigger and more successful event.” North Melbourne have requested the right to host a Good Friday match for most of the past 12 seasons.
The NRL and Super 14 competitions have held matches on Good Friday in recent years.