North Melbourne deserve the chance to have the first crack at hosting a Good Friday AFL game in 2015, but they need to make it work.

Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert, whose club play in the blockbuster clash each Anzac Day against Essendon at the MCG, says such events don’t work on TV without a good crowd atmosphere at the game.

“The Kangaroos are in the front running for this and in some ways they deserve the opportunity,” Pert told ABC radio on Saturday.

“But you’ve got to get the crowds if you want to make it a rivalry game.

“The Kangaroos need to get the big supporter numbers if they want to be a key player.

“It doesn’t have the atmosphere and energy to these games if you don’t get the big crowds.”

North Melbourne chairman James Brayshaw is confident the Kangaroos will be involved in Good Friday football in 2015, as league officials ponder new fixturing.

The departure of AFL chief Andrew Demetriou this year is expected to pave the way for change.

“I understand why lots of other clubs are trying to jump the queue because it’s a pretty enticing day,” Brayshaw said on Friday.

“But we’d like to think, for 20 years, we’ve been beating the door down … so we should be at the front of the queue.”

Brayshaw agrees with Pert that pulling a big crowd is crucial. He says a North-Carlton fixture would be a good fit.

“They (Carlton) are a big team,” Brayshaw said.

“To make a blockbuster work, you need to have a big

team involved.”

Demetriou has been among those expressing concern over the need to give the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal due prominence, rather than schedule a game on that day.

Brayshaw says the timing of the match will be crucial. A twilight match is one option.