Essendon Football Club has highlighted a potential Easter Thursday clash with traditional rival Carlton as a key priority for next year’s fixture.

The club has listed the possible match as one of three priority requests to create a new standalone event that could become an iconic part of the home and away fixture in the future.

CEO Xavier Campbell said the game can reinvigorate what has always been a passionate rivalry between the two clubs.

“We see a great opportunity to bring the Essendon and Carlton rivalry back to life on the big stage and create a standalone event in a time slot that is not currently being utilised,” Campbell said.

“The Good Friday eve timeslot is the night before a public holiday, it is supported by both clubs and the MCC and we are very confident we could build it into an iconic match.”

Campbell also hopes the game could provide a great opportunity for the clubs to kick off and contribute to the Good Friday Appeal, a partnership that could continue as the fixture develops into the league’s newest blockbuster occasion.

“The match could also provide an additional opportunity to partner with the Royal Children’s Hospital’s Good Friday Appeal – perhaps even launch the event if they believed there might be value in that”

“We are two of the biggest clubs in the AFL – we have both had our challenges but I am confident we are both building again.

“Together we boast one of the fiercest and oldest rivalries in the game and we believe the Good Friday eve match can become the next big blockbuster on the AFL calendar”

Keep up to date on essendonfc.com.au for more insight in the coming days into the club’s official fixture submission.