The Western Bulldogs say they’re “very disappointed” to be the taken off the 2023 Good Friday fixture after the AFL over the weekend released the draw.
It saw the Dogs get replaced by Carlton on Good Friday despite playing North Melbourne on the annual public holiday fixture in the last two years.
The Dogs have blown out North in the last two Good Friday games – that drew crowds of 28,00 and 32,000 respectively – with News Corp reporting the league hopes the rising Blues and rebuilding Roos will create more interest in the game and pull in a bigger attendance.
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Dogs CEO Ameet Bains was unimpressed the club wouldn’t feature in the Friday, April 7 contest next season after its commitment to building up the fixture, but remains hopeful it could yet return to the stage in the coming years.
“The club is very disappointed that we won’t feature in the Good Friday game in 2023, a fixture our entire club has taken great pride in bringing to life, particularly through the strong relationships we’ve built with the Royal Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House,” Bains said.
“Good Friday is a game we request to take part in every season, and we will continue to push for our involvement into the future. We think it’s fair and reasonable that each year our fans get to experience a consistent annual blockbuster clash, like many other clubs fans do.”
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The Bulldogs have been handed one of the toughest fixtures in the league – ranked the second-hardest by foxfooty.com.au – including six interstate trips despite not leaving Victoria over the first month of the campaign.
They play Geelong, Fremantle, Richmond, Hawthorn, GWS and Port Adelaide twice as they look to climb into the top four after underwhelming with an eighth place – and first-round finals exit – last season.
The Dogs also host two games in Ballarat (Adelaide in Round 20 and GWS in Round 20) and 12 Marvel Stadium games in total including three away matches.
It comes after questions were asked of whether North Melbourne deserved to continue playing on Good Friday after being smashed in the last two games.
The arrival of new coach Alastair Clarkson certainly adds more intrigue to the Arden Street-based club though as it looks to bounce back from consecutive wooden spoon finishes.
