Crows unlikely to kick off on Good Friday

New AFL boss Gillon Mclachlan is leaning towards Sydney for the AFL's first Good Friday match. Picture: David Caird. Source: News Corp Australia

ADELAIDE'S hope of opening next year's AFL premiership season - to coincide with the Crows' 25th season in the national league - is more likely to unfold on Maundy Thursday than Good Friday.

New AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan on Friday favoured Sydney for the AFL's first Good Friday fixture - and dismissed early speculation the Swans' opponent would be Port Adelaide.

Rather, McLachlan favours the Good Friday match-up becoming a potentially long-standing Sydney-Melbourne rivalry for the Ron Barassi Cup, in honour of the Hall of Fame "Legend" who served both the Swans and Demons.

"I think Sydney, 4.40pm on a Good Friday ... would be a pretty appealing game," McLachlan said yesterday.

"Melbourne are improving and what people want to watch is a good game. If Melbourne continue to improve and are playing good footy that would be a great game.

"If we're going to do this let's make it a great event and Melbourne-Sydney as an example is hugely symbolic and playing for the Ron Barassi Cup, that's a great idea."

This leaves Adelaide to pitch for the AFL season-opener on Thursday, April 2 - as a throwback to how the Crows opened the 1991 season against Hawthorn at Football Park, albeit with a Friday night game.

The Power would then start the 2015 home-and-away series away from Adelaide Oval, either on Easter Saturday or Sunday either in Perth, Melbourne or Queensland.

Adelaide chairman Rob Chapman last night maintained the Crows could make a strong case to the AFL for Good Friday football, particularly with Adelaide Oval being available earlier than other venues that are locked for the cricket one-day World Cup next year.

Adelaide will show no mercy when they clash with Essendon on Saturday, as both teams try to re-ignite their finals hopes.

Adelaide Oval is free of cricket from March 20 after a World Cup quarter-final. The SCG is tied to the cricket for a World Cup semi-final until March 26, although the AFL could opt for ANZ Stadium at Homebush.

"We believe we have plenty of support for our bid to host a match on either Maundy Thursday night or Good Friday," Chapman told The Advertiser.

"We feel we are well placed to get one of either timeslots."

Adelaide may pitch for a Good Friday double-header - with the Crows hosting a night game that follows the Sydney-Melbourne twilight match in Sydney. But the league's official telecaster, Channel Seven, may not favour two games in its premier Friday Night Football program.

Adelaide wants to own Thursday night football as its signature timeslot at the Oval, in particular before public holidays and during school holidays. A Maundy Thursday season-opener fits perfectly to this plan.

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