The Brisbane Lions want a blockbuster at the Gabba - such as a match against Collingwood - to make up for losing the Easter Thursday clash. Picture: Darren England. Source: The Courier-Mail
THE Brisbane Lions have demanded the AFL schedule a prime-time blockbuster at the Gabba next year as compensation for the club losing its traditional Easter Thursday fixture.
An early Easter in 2013 means the Lions cannot host a match on March 28, the night before Good Friday, as the ground would have only just been released by cricket and would not be ready for football.
The Sheffield Shield final is scheduled for Friday, March 22 to Tuesday, March 26 and all major cricket grounds in Australia are booked as a precaution.
Round 1 of the AFL season will be spread over two weekends, with Adelaide hosting Essendon (March 22) and Fremantle taking on West Coast (March 23) at AFL-only venues.
The second half of round 1 will be run over the following long weekend, with Carlton playing Richmond on Easter Thursday at the MCG, the Sydney derby at Homebush on Easter Saturday and Geelong taking on Hawthorn at the MCG on Easter Monday.
Games can be played at the MCG that weekend due to the ground's drop-in pitches.
The Gabba's pitch area will need time and work to be softened for football.
The Lions have hosted Collingwood, Carlton and St Kilda at the Gabba on Easter Thursday recently in nationally-televised matches drawing bumper crowds.
The Lions will be away in round 1 while the Gold Coast will start their season at home over Easter to give southeast Queensland one game in the opening round of the year.
Lions CEO Malcolm Holmes said the club had strongly expressed to the AFL that it needed a big ticket game against a powerhouse Victorian team to fill the void.
"It (Easter Thursday) has traditionally been our biggest game of the year but the ground is unavailable so we have requested a stand-alone fixture against a high-drawing Victorian team to replace it," he said.
"We've made it clear to the AFL just how important that fixture is for us to help grow the game. We are working with them to find a date.
"Blockbusters are important to all AFL clubs and we are no different. We'd like to have as many high-profile Victorian teams play up here as possible."
The Lions hosted Carlton, Collingwood and Geelong this year but poor weather and indifferent form cost the club at the turnstiles.
A Friday night clash with Collingwood is most likely to appease the Lions.
The AFL and the 18 clubs are still working through draft fixtures and finalising details before the full draw is released later this month.
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