What do we have to do to keep Good Friday Footy?

[Bornadog]

Re: What do we have to do to keep Good Friday Footy?

AFL refuses to guarantee North Melbourne and Western Bulldogs will play on Good Friday next year


AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has refused to guarantee North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs will feature in next year’s Good Friday clash.


The two clubs will take part in a stand-alone game today at Etihad Stadium, in what will be the first AFL match played on Good Friday.


Asked if the AFL would review the scheduling of the two teams if the match wasn’t a sellout, McLachlan said, “I think you would.”


However, the league boss was confident the remaining tickets would be snapped up.


“I think it is going to be sold out. The ticketing has been very strong but there are still some tickets available,” he said on 3AW.


“We would love everyone to come and have a great day. Hopefully it is a big part of the (Royal Children’s Hospital) Appeal and hopefully of the day.”


Earlier this week, North Melbourne great Brent Harvey threw his support behind the Kangaroos and Bulldogs holding onto the day long into the future.


Harvey even suggested that within a few years the match could outgrow Etihad Stadium and need to be moved to the MCG.


“I think it’s got potential to go a long way,” Harvey said.


“A lot of clubs have their own games — Queen’s Birthday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day — so it’d be good to have something and the Kangaroos have worked so hard.”


McLachlan said a decision on next year’s match would be made at a later date.


“I think you always have a look at everything. We will do that after this. We will focus today on making it a great day.”


The AFL will make a donation to the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, which will be announced during the game.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: What do we have to do to keep Good Friday Footy?

Gil wanted a sell out (50,000) and there's about 42,000 and it's a shithouse game. I hope this game gets better quick, or Eddie & Co will be calling Gil at 3/4 time with a good shot for next year.

[Sedat]

Re: What do we have to do to keep Good Friday Footy?

I love my club but the choice of two teams for Good Friday, purely from an aesthetic perspective, is strange. Both games last year were putrid affairs - 9 goals to 6 first time and 9 goals to 7 the next in pristine conditions. If you are building an event from scratch, those numbers don't make for encouraging reading, and today is simply an extension of that trend.

[GVGjr]

Re: What do we have to do to keep Good Friday Footy?

Gil wanted a sell out (50,000) and there's about 42,000 and it's a shithouse game. I hope this game gets better quick, or Eddie & Co will be calling Gil at 3/4 time with a good shot for next year.

42K is a good enough crowd, the standard so far isn't worthy of of such an honor.

Lets hope for a major lift in performance for the 2nd half

[chef]

Re: What do we have to do to keep Good Friday Footy?

We wont be involved next season.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: What do we have to do to keep Good Friday Footy?

We wont be involved next season.

Just when we get a blockbuster game, we dish this up.

[GVGjr]

Re: What do we have to do to keep Good Friday Footy?

We wont be involved next season.

Why do you believe that Chef?

[chef]

Re: What do we have to do to keep Good Friday Footy?

Why do you believe that Chef?

Because theres half a dozen other teams wanting a piece and by the sounds of Gil it wont be the same teams every year.

Plus the crowd isnt great.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: What do we have to do to keep Good Friday Footy?

Maybe the close finish wallpapers the gaping cracks of this game. Please give it to us again.

[comrade]

Re: What do we have to do to keep Good Friday Footy?

Would be absolutely stupid to decide who plays based on if it may or may not be a good game.

Crowd was fine, game was close & I assume the TV audience was huge.

[AndrewP6]

Re: What do we have to do to keep Good Friday Footy?

Maybe the close finish wallpapers the gaping cracks of this game. Please give it to us again.

This. The close finish disguised the fact it was a rubbish game for 2 and a bit quarters. I'd be very surprised if we got it again.

[SonofScray]

Re: What do we have to do to keep Good Friday Footy?

As if every ANZAC Day game has been a an absolute barn burner. The calls along the lines of "if it is a good game & gets a good crowd, they should keep it" are ridiculous, just another way of trying to shit on us. There are no conditions on Queens Birthday fixture and that has been a horror show for years.

[jeemak]

Re: What do we have to do to keep Good Friday Footy?

This. The close finish disguised the fact it was a rubbish game for 2 and a bit quarters. I'd be very surprised if we got it again.

Of course if the AFL was consistent it wouldn't award other key games (round one to RICH vs CARL for example of Queens Birthday Weekend) exclusively to other clubs.

Almost 43K, a great second half and a close game is a pretty good outcome.

[Sedat]

Re: What do we have to do to keep Good Friday Footy?

This. The close finish disguised the fact it was a rubbish game for 2 and a bit quarters. I'd be very surprised if we got it again.

I thought the first half was awful, but credit to the teams because the 2nd half was a fantastic spectacle. I think both teams deserve another crack at it.

[kruder]

Re: What do we have to do to keep Good Friday Footy?

Was a poor event just felt like another regular home and away game to be honest. North said they had been pushing for years for the opportunity yet both clubs dropped the ball IMO. The z grade entertainment before the game and at half time really didn't do the day any justice.