THE IDEA of playing football on Good Friday is "gathering momentum" with the AFL looking at the possibility of introducing the concept in 2015.
The 2014 fixture was released on Thursday with the religious holiday again ignored when it came to scheduling games.
But deputy CEO Gillon McLachlan said the idea was "being given careful consideration" ahead of 2015 and the Commission had discussed it extensively while next year's fixture was being finalised.
"If we're saying it's a 50-50 [chance] for the year after next, that's probably a good sign of momentum," McLachlan said on Thursday.
"It's probably even money. We had a good look at it."
Clubs are largely in favour of following the NRL and playing on the public holiday, with North Melbourne, Gold Coast and the Western Bulldogs most enthusiastic.
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Next year's Easter fixture involves football over four days, as has been in the case in recent seasons.
The Brisbane Lions will host Richmond on the Thursday night and Geelong and Hawthorn will clash on Monday at the MCG.
There will be four games on Easter Saturday and three on Easter Sunday.
McLachlan said the League wanted to ensure it was entirely prepared before introducing Good Friday football and would have "proper respectful consultation" with stakeholders over the day of religious significance.
He also admitted there would be scheduling issues over who played in the marquee slot if it was approved.
"There are a lot of clubs who think they'd like to be playing, there's issues around timing," he said.
"Part of the challenge will be that there will be a dozen clubs who think they were the first guys to put their hands up to play on Good Friday.
"I don't know what we'll do; maybe have a wrestle off between the presidents or CEOs.
"I think that if we were going to do it, we need a long lead time and we don't think we really had that this year."
Over the years, AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou has declared Good Friday a non-option for a scheduled AFL game.
However, McLachlan said he believed the League boss was relaxing his stance.
"I don't know if he's always been completely against it," McLachlan said.
"He's mellowing. He's softening. He's like good wine.
"I don't know that Andrew has ever been dead against it, all I know is there was a good discussion at the Commission level and it hasn't been ruled out."
