Western Bulldogs likely to feature in Good Friday game after AFL Commission approves the push

THE Western Bulldogs have roared into favouritism as a Good Friday participant after their epic Grand Final charge.

THE Western Bulldogs have roared into favouritism as a Good Friday participant after their epic Grand Final charge.

The league will play Good Friday football for the first time next year in a twilight spot after receiving AFL Commission approval.

North Melbourne is also in a strong position to win a Good Friday berth after lobbying for the slot for decades.

The AFL said on Wednesday it had not ruled out rotating the two teams involved every year, with the fixture out in late October.

But with the Dogs suddenly everyone’s favourite side and having made a strong submission their claims would be hard to overlook.

Dogs chief executive Gary Kent said on Wednesday the club had put in what it believed was a “compelling” submission.

“We thought it was a terrific joint proposal with St Kilda about what we would do with the Royal Children’s Hospital,” he said.

The Bulldogs have become favourites to play on Good Friday after their Grand Final win. Picture: Michael Klein

“It would also connect with the local football community in terms of fundraising but also making it a real community day.

“We thought it was compelling from that perspective. This is not a cash grab, this is more consistent with what Good Friday is all about.

“If you look at our ratings in the last four weeks of the year they were excellent and we are very exciting to watch and getting a lot of eyeballs watching our games.”

Carlton has told the Herald Sun it is still lobbying hard to be included, with St Kilda putting in their joint submission along with the Bulldogs.

ANALYSIS: THE BULLDOGS BELIEVED IN THEIR MODEL, WON FLAG THEIR WAY

The Dogs, which played three Friday night games this year, all of a sudden have the power to demand marquee fixturing slots.

A twilight game in Melbourne seems the most likely, with the contest integrated into Channel Seven’s Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.

The view within the AFL is that North Melbourne has been so persistent in its lobbying it would be incredibly unlucky to miss out.

AFL fixturing boss Travis Auld told the Herald Sun the league had a difficult decision given the clamouring to play in the historic game.

North Melbourne has long lobbied to play a game on Good Friday. Picture: Sarah Reed

“Basically we know now we have the support of the Commission if we decide we want to go ahead with it. Now it’s about getting the right mix of teams and the balance of the fixture,’’ he said.

“There is plenty of interest in it so we have still got to determine which market to play it in, but we are not short of interest from teams playing in that slot.

“We have to take into account other requests clubs might have, where the game will be played and what venue.

“We have to take into account the level of interest of clubs and the relevance to the day and the length of time the club has been interested in it.”

Adelaide chairman Rob Chapman this year also pushed for the Crows to be given a slice of Good Friday football, with a rotating schedule possible.

“What is possible is you rotate which teams play on Good Friday if you continue it on,’’ Auld said.

“It is something that could be flexible. We don’t know if that is something we will do. If we decide we do it in Victoria we need to complement the appeal. It is an iconic part of the day and it’s very important to our partners.”