Swans want stand-alone Good Friday fixture

[BillyRayCypress]

They could have a lookalike comp at halftime, like the capper one at the 30 year anniversary.

LRT as the leper
Jessie as Mary magdelaine
Andrejs as The donkey in the barn

The list is endless

[ScottH]

Vlad said last year on ABC radio it wouldn't happen because of the impact it would have on the RCH appeal, as well as the Church thing.

I know the thought is to have the game in Sydney, but imagine how much money they could raise by having tin rattlers at the gates??

[Untamed Snark]

I am in favour of the idea generally of playing on Good Friday. (By way of a declaration I am mildly religious, but always attend Mass at Easter time). The resistance by the AFL to change appears to reflect a typically conservative Victorian mindset. Bit like the resistance to change the Grand Final from Saturday afternoon.

However, with all due respect to Doctor, 3 o'clock would be the worst possible time from a religious point of view. My view is a 4.40pm start would represent the best fit.

Why?

[CureTheSane]

A game will be played on Good Friday soon enough - may as well be us.
You'll find taht more people consider AFL their religion than anything else.
Happy to play anyobe except Collingwood. Don't care if they will bring in more $$$, they have too many big days already.
Don't really care for the Good Friday appeals - to me they're just a way for a good deal of the majority to give a bit of cash and feel good about themselves.
Unfortunately, it all goes to one charity, which I think is wrong - it should be rotated through otehr worthy charities.

[stellation]

I stand corrected but I thought Friday night was the Channel 7 live game. Problem here is they have the Victorian institution called "The Good Friday RCH Telethon", that goes until midnight.

Ch7 would have to forego that game and allow it to be exclusively on Fox Footy.

I wonder if that is in the TV rights agreement.

I imagine if they ran part of a telethon from the ground, brought up the number during the game etc. they'd probably get a few more viewers than normal and it might boost the coffers.

[liz]

In an age where C7 have a number of digital channels I don't see why a charity telethon should stand in the way of C7 also broadcasting an AFL game. They can just show it on Mate, which they already use to broadcast AFL in the evening spots in NSW and Queensland.

[jono2707]

From what I understand tin rattlers generally receive disappointing donations at footy games - you'd think everyone would put in a dollar or two but that doesn't seem to be the case.

I wasn't even aware of there being a telethon in Melbourne on Good Friday. If that's an issue, there are plenty of non-Melbourne teams in the AFL - Swans v Eagles would be a good matchup for example. Or Swans v Lions. As Liz said, there are plenty of digital channels to broadcast on, and with this national competition, there's not really any need to pander to Melbournites all the time......

[Plugger46]

I'm sure you meant "so you have no issues...."

There isn't a fuss every year when it isn't on, it is more likely to be the other wau around.

For those on here who don't know, I am a Minister of Religion, so you would expect me to object to there being an AFL game on Good Friday. But in the end, what I want or not won't be taken into account.

I was saying that I'm not religious and I don't care that there is no footy on.

[royboy42]

I'm a bit surprised that Sheedy the ideas man, hasn't already jumped on this to make it an annual Swans/GWS on Good Friday. Maybe it would become like Ess/Coll on Anzac Day.

But it ain't gonna happen while D is in control of the AFL anyway.

Bit if it does , please, please not a 440pm start...they're a time destroyer..the game takes a chunk from both afternoon and evening...I much prefer 210 or 710, that way, you have either an afternoon or evening to fulfil some of the other pleasures in life.

[Swansongster]

I suspect that this will get up eventually.

The AFL hierarchy may well wait until GWS get stronger and allocate a "First State Derby" to this date. I can see the day when Swans v Giants will be a blockbuster (locally at the very least).

They could swap the home team each year so both share in the bottom line blockbuster benefits. Meanwhile, those reluctant Victorian interests can be suitably placated by the match not involving a Vic team. I suspect it would still rate highly across the nation with no other games on the day.

It would have to be a night game for TV interest to be maximised. I mean what else is there to do on Good Friday evening other than watch the umpteenth re-run of "King of Kings".

I support the move. Friday night. GWS v Sydney.

[jono2707]

I had thought about GWS as well but if these matches become a derby-blockbuster type event, as those 'experts' on Sydney at AFL House seem to think will happen, then there's no need to specially program such a blockbuster on a special date. I personally don't see the people of Sydney getting that excited about a Swans GWS game anyway, so I would prefer we played an out of town team on Good Friday if the concept ever gets up.

[Cheer Squad]

I personally don't see the people of Sydney getting that excited about a Swans GWS game anyway, so I would prefer we played an out of town team on Good Friday if the concept ever gets up.

It would be better if our Sydney membership get excited and attend our next match with the Giants. They drew 38,203 to that first derby back in March, so that's the mark we have to beat. We'll find out in about a week's time.

And given how much the Giants have improved since then, it should be an intriguing encounter.

[Red]

A game will be played on Good Friday soon enough - may as well be us.

Agree, but I always thought a Saints v. Demons clash would be more appropriate.

[jono2707]

Agree, but I always thought a Saints v. Demons clash would be more appropriate.

We have a winner......

[royboy42]

Agree, but I always thought a Saints v. Demons clash would be more appropriate.

I defer to a higher Being.