BFNL operations manager Scott Carey said clubs had expressed interest in playing on Good Friday in their fixture wish lists.

He said while the requests were yet to be looked at in detail, they would certainly come under consideration.

Reigning premier Bacchus Marsh, Melton South and Ballarat have all put their hands up to play on Friday, April 14 – a week before the first full round of the BFNL home and away season.

Carey said there was no reason why games could not be scheduled ahead of the official opening round to accommodate a Good Friday request.

Darley and Melton South met in a standalone season opener this year – a week before all other teams played their first games.

Carey said Bacchus Marsh had flagged the idea of making Good Friday a special event with the unfurling of its first BFNL premiership pennant at Maddingley Park.

Ballarat president Darren Fraser said the Swans were keen to explore the opportunity, with the possibility of a night game at Alfredton Reserve.

He said the club would be happy to form a reciprocal arrangement with another Ballarat-based club, allowing the opposing team to host a Good Friday rematch the following season.

Fraser believes there is room for more than one Good Friday fixture – one in the west and another in the eastern end of the league. 

The BFNL had four matches on Good Friday in 2011, including twilight and night games.

Carey said he hoped to have the first draft of next year’s senior fixture completed and with clubs next week and the fixture finalised before the end of the year.

The BFNL is planning to avoid a direct clash with the AFL home and away clash between Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide in Ballarat on Saturday, August 19.

Carey said while there would be home and away games on that day, he envisaged those being at the eastern end of the league. 

Sunday matches are another option.

He said there would be close liaison with clubs in scheduling of that weekend in the lead up to finals.