St Kilda will replace the Western Bulldogs in the Good Friday match in 2018

THE Dogs are out and the Saints are in. St Kilda will replace the Western Bulldogs in next year’s Good Friday match, taking on North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.

St Kilda and North Melbourne will play on Good Friday. Picture: AAP Images

ST KILDA will replace the Western Bulldogs in next year’s Good Friday match.

The AFL will confirm in Tuesday’s 2018 fixture release that North Melbourne will host St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Friday 30 March.

The switch is a huge boost for the Saints as they look to increase their presence in marquee matches. The club was initially disappointed to miss out on the first Good Friday match last year.

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While the AFL could alternate teams in Good Friday matches on a year-to-year bases, the Saints will look to make the marquee match a huge success in an attempt to make it theirs.

Last year’s Good Friday match was won by the Bulldogs by three points in front of a crowd of 42,814.

St Kilda and North Melbourne players wrestle last year. Picture: AAP Images

The industry wide view is that North Melbourne deserves the rights to the Good Friday game after working tirelessly to play a football match on the public holiday.

The match is also a significant fundraiser for the Good Friday Appeal which benefits the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.

The Saints are desperate to make finals in 2018 and kick off the season against Brisbane at Etihad Stadium before taking on the Kangaroos in Round 2.

They also hold two trump cards in next month’s draft with Alan Richardson’s men looking to pick two future stars with selections seven and eight.

The Saints are also looking to replace list chief and commercial boss Ameet Bains. He will continue to fulfil the role for the next month.