AFL fixtures boss Travis Auld is hopeful North Melbourne’s home Good Friday fixture against Western Bulldogs will attract a crowd of around 30,000 fans.
Roos coach David Noble launched a staunch defence of the club hosting the now annual event, calling on the AFL to once again return the match to a standalone event in 2022 after Adelaide’s home clash against Gold Coast was scheduled on the same day this year.
Auld said the drop off in crowds at North Melbourne games in recent season was as much to do about form as it is about fans not showing up for their one and only marquee event fixture for the year.
“We've had a debate for a number of years before we agreed to fixture a game on Good Friday,” he said on Sportsday.
“North Melbourne has been pushing it for quite a number of years and I know their crowds have dropped off and I think that’s as much to do with their form as much as the slot.
“There’s other things that make it important and successful for North Melbourne and that’s the Royal Children’s Hospital (Good Friday Appeal), they value what the game brings.
“If you talk to North Melbourne, they’d like to see more people there and part of that is on-field.
“I’m not sure exactly based on things changing a bit this year, but you’d hope you’ll get 25 or 30,000 people for the game.”
The AFL schedule beyond Round 6 is still unknown, with the times and dates of the matches undermined as a result of the League opting to keep a flexible fixture amid the current COVID environment.
Auld confirmed that fans should expect to see the next block of fixtures released next week.
“It’s pleasing to see Brisbane come out of a lockdown (on Thursday) and that makes it easier for the Lions AFL and AFLW teams,” he said on the back of Queensland’s COVID outbreak this week.
“The Victorian Government has now rated Brisbane as (an) orange zone and not red (meaning travel is permitted), the short answer is that makes sense things easier.
“In terms of releasing the fixture, we thought we may release the next couple of weeks this week but in the events in Queensland, we’ll push that to the middle of next week now.”