The religious holiday will once again be football-free next year, but League deputy CEO Gillon McLachlan said at Thursday morning's fixture announcement it was a "50-50" prospect of being introduced for the following season.

 

The Kangaroos have long campaigned to play on Good Friday, dating back to the 1990s.

 

In more recent years, the club has pushed for a twilight fixture against Carlton at Etihad Stadium, with profits to go towards the annual Royal Children's Hospital appeal.

 

Chairman James Brayshaw did not hesitate to state North Melbourne's case when told of McLachlan's comments on Thursday afternoon.

 

"Carlton and North are right next to the children's hospital, so the idea was to play a twilight game on Good Friday, and the winning coach and captain would then go into the telethon at night and hand over $100,000," he said.

 

"I thought that was a really good idea three or four years ago, I still think it's a really good idea now, and I think two inner-city Melbourne clubs on this amazing day would make a lot of sense.

 

"Hopefully the AFL will think the same way."

 

Brayshaw said the proposed game would attract 45,000 to 50,000 fans, and a large TV audience.

 

"If you came up with the idea and have done an enormous work on it, it's got to place you somewhere near the front of the queue," he said.

 

Senior Kangaroos figures are less enthusiastic about the proposal for an all-star game on the eve of the season.

 

On Thursday morning, McLachlan said the showcase pre-season match, which has been discussed largely on the back of a push from the AFL Players Association, would not go ahead without full industry support.

 

North Melbourne football manager Geoff Walsh said the risk of injury was a major concern for clubs.

 

"The difficulties with it will be the obvious ones – the clubs will have a lot of trepidation about the health and safety and welfare of their players," Walsh said.

 

"Allegedly the players support it, so they will carry a significant voice, but the issue will be, if Gillon is saying it needs 100 per cent industry support, it may struggle."

 

Kangaroos coach Brad Scott shared Walsh's view.

 

"My perspective is – and this is not necessarily North Melbourne's view – I'm happy for our players to play in it, as long as they don't get injured," he said.

 

"At least if they get injured in one of our practice games, they're under our control.

 

"So that's the great fear.

 

"You're releasing your players to go off and play in a different concept, where they're exposed for various reasons under a different regime."

 

Twitter: @AFL_MarkM