Carlton is tipped to hold onto the prized Good Friday timeslot after almost 50,000 fans turned up at Marvel Stadium to see the Blues defeat North Melbourne by 23 points.
After suffering heavy back-to-back Good Friday defeats to the Western Bulldogs, the decision was made for North Melbourne to face Carlton for the annual charity match.
And the fixture move paid off with a record crowd of 49,062 and more than $11.5 million already raised for the Good Friday Appeal.
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Michael Voss said Carlton was determined to hold onto the Good Friday match after their victory.
“It took us away from footy for a while,” he said.
“To be able to provide that little bit of joy today was pretty cool.
“We were able to get the four points today but that really wasn’t it was all about. It was about raising money, much needed money.
“We’re really pleased we’re part of this event.
Carlton Blues press conference | 09:59
“We will put up our hand all the time (to play in the Good Friday game).
“It’s hats off to North Melbourne. I thought they really presented the game fantastically well.
“The fact that they come in numbers, for Carlton fans and supporters to be able to come in numbers as well and be able to pack out the stadium and give it the focus it needed, it was a sort of different feeling turning up today and playing, and just have such great gratitude and perspective on where we sit.
“The build up for the day and the timeslot it had, the fact it sits on its own as a real showcase game just puts a real spotlight on what we’re here to do.
“Every now and then you get to be a difference maker.
“We understood North really want to showcase this event and want to put their hand up to keep it as their own, as they should.”
Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph described Friday’s match as an “unmitigating success” given the sell out crowd.
“It felt like it was the dawn of Good Friday football really pushing into the future,” he said.
“49,062 – it’s not only the best Good Friday crowd, it’s the best between any two teams at Marvel Stadium in the last decade.”
Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains had been unhappy with the decision to shift his side from the Good Friday timeslot against North Melbourne after the one-sided nature of their two contests.
“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,” he said back in December.
In the two clashes against the Western Bulldogs, the Roos drew crowds of 32,162 and 28,483 in 2022 and 2021.
Ralph and Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon both agree the Dogs will have a tough task clawing the match back from Carlton after Friday’s result.
“Ameet Bains, the Dogs’ CEO was just so shattered to lose it last year. He said we want to reclaim it,” Ralph said.
“But having spoken to Brian Cook, the Carlton chief executive, he says we want to build it into something special.
“(North Melbourne footy boss) Todd Viney says we want to put our stake into the ground. We want to own this marquee contest as the developing side that should improve as the years go on.
“I think we have our two teams for the foreseeable future.”
Lyon agreed the success of Friday’s match would be hard for the AFL to ignore moving forward.
“Ameet Bains understandably wants it back – I don’t think he’s getting it,” he said.
“On the back of that sort of a crowd and turn-up.”
North Melbourne press conference | 13:36
Carlton’s captain Patrick Cripps spoke about the impact the Good Friday clash had on the side, as players remained determined to put smiles on children’s faces.
“It’s our first time playing on Good Friday,” he told Fox Footy.
“To put smiles on kids faces, that’s what its all about.
“We spoke about the privilege of playing today.”
