GOOD Friday football is almost certain to kick-off the 2015 season, according to Carlton chief Greg Swann.
 
The Blues' chief executive believes Carlton and North Melbourne will be granted their wish to open next season with what is expected to be a blockbuster twilight clash.
 
"Lock it in," Swann told Triple M on Saturday.
 
The Blues and Roos have been campaigning to play football on Good Friday for several years.
 
The clubs want to play the match in a twilight timeslot so players and staff can then head to the Royal Childrens' Hospital's Good Friday Appeal to hand over a cheque from money raised at the match.
 
"We've done a lot of work on this over the journey. We've been pushing up – certainly us and North – for a number of years," Swann said.
 
"We nearly got it up two, maybe three, years ago and then Andy (AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou) sort of put the kibosh on it.

"So if it's going to happen, we've done a lot of work on it and we think it should be ours."

The AFL season is set to start later next season due to the Cricket World Cup being played in Australia and New Zealand.
 
It means Carlton and North could kick-off proceedings from Good Friday on April 3.
 
"We understand there's a bit of an issue next year because of the late start," Swann said.
 
"Easter's early, so Good Friday…we'll put our hand up to play if we can."
 
Asked if the match could jeopardise Carlton's traditional season-opener against Richmond, Swann replied: "Well, we didn't get it this year, either.
 
"We think we can get that back. But our view is you give up the first Good Friday you will never get it back."
 
Meanwhile, Swann stated a potential contract extension for Carlton coach Mick Malthouse won't be looked at until the end of this season.

Malthouse is in the second year of a three-year deal at Visy Park.