Good Friday Superclash
The Good Friday SuperClash is an annual Australian Football League (AFL) match played on Good Friday, traditionally between the North Melbourne Football Club and the Carlton Football Club. The fixture is held at Docklands Stadium (commercially Marvel Stadium) in Melbourne and is played in support of the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, combining elite sport with a significant charitable cause.[1]
History
The AFL had historically refrained from scheduling matches on Good Friday out of respect for its religious significance. However, after years of public interest and lobbying—particularly by North Melbourne, the league approved the first Good Friday match in 2017, which featured North Melbourne against the Western Bulldogs.[2]
From 2017 to 2022, the fixture saw mixed results in terms of competitiveness and crowd engagement. In 2023, the AFL rebranded the game as the Good Friday SuperClash, replacing the Western Bulldogs with Carlton to boost attendance, viewership, and commercial appeal. The rebrand aimed to establish the game as a marquee event on the AFL calendar.[3]
Match results
| # | Year | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Score | Winner | Venue | Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017 | North Melbourne | 12.14 (86) | Western Bulldogs | 12.17 (89) | Western Bulldogs | Docklands Stadium | 43,000 |
| 2 | 2018 | North Melbourne | 13.17 (95) | St Kilda | 5.13 (43) | North Melbourne | ||
| 3 | 2019 | North Melbourne | 7.16 (58) | Essendon | 17.14 (116) | Essendon | 42,838 | |
| 2020 | No match played due to the Covid-19 pandemic | |||||||
| 4 | 2021 | North Melbourne | 5.9 (39) | Western Bulldogs | 25.17 (167) | Western Bulldogs | Docklands Stadium | 28,483 |
| 5 | 2022 | North Melbourne | 11.5 (71) | Western Bulldogs | 21.13 (139) | Western Bulldogs | 30,000 | |
| 6 | 2023 | North Melbourne | 11.18 (84) | Carlton | 16.11 (107) | Carlton | 49,062 | |
| 7 | 2024 | North Melbourne | 12.9 (81) | Carlton | 21.11 (137) | Carlton | 47,565 | |
| 8 | 2025 | North Melbourne | 11.5 (71) | Carlton | 24.9 (153) | Carlton | 46,373 | |
SuperClash Superhero Medal
The SuperClash Superhero Medal was introduced in 2025 and is awarded to the player judged best on ground in the match. The name of the medal reflects the match's association with the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, often themed around superheroes to celebrate the bravery of the young patients. The first recipient of the medal was George Hewett (Carlton) in the 2025 match, after a standout midfield performance in their 82-point win over North Melbourne.[4]
| Year | Medal Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | George Hewett | Carlton |
Charity
The Good Friday SuperClash is closely associated with the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, a long-standing charitable initiative in Victoria aimed at raising funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne. The hospital is one of Australia's leading providers of pediatric healthcare, and the Good Friday Appeal has become a significant fundraising effort for the hospital, helping to support its mission to provide world-class care to sick and injured children. Since the inception of the Good Friday SuperClash in 2017, the match has played a vital role in raising both awareness and funds for the appeal.[5]
The AFL, North Melbourne Football Club, Carlton Football Club, and their supporters actively contribute to the fundraising campaign through a variety of initiatives. These include in-stadium donation drives, charity auctions, and public fundraising events in the lead-up to and during the match. $5 is donated from every ticket sold at the match. Players, coaches, and club officials participate in fundraising activities, including hospital visits and telethon events, to engage the broader community and encourage donations. Special programs, such as "Superheroes on the Field," are also part of the event, with young patients from the Royal Children’s Hospital, often dressed in superhero costumes, joining the players on the field as a symbol of their strength and bravery. These symbolic moments serve to highlight the emotional connection between the AFL community and the children receiving treatment at the hospital.
The charitable focus of the Good Friday SuperClash extends beyond the match itself, with the event serving as a platform to amplify the stories of the children at RCH. The match is broadcast nationally, providing widespread visibility for the Good Friday Appeal and its fundraising efforts. The collaboration between the AFL and the hospital has seen the event grow in both popularity and impact, with significant contributions made to the ongoing development of the hospital’s services. As of recent years, the Good Friday SuperClash has become a hallmark of the AFL calendar, not only for its sporting spectacle but for its contribution to one of Australia’s most important charitable causes. The event highlights the role of sport in fostering community engagement and providing support for vital healthcare initiatives.
See also
References
- ^ "Official AFL Website of the North Melbourne Football Club". nmfc.com.au. Retrieved 2025-04-25.
- ^ "First AFL Good Friday match to feature clash between North Melbourne, Bulldogs". ABC News. 2016-10-25. Retrieved 2025-04-25.
- ^ "2018 Fixture revealed". westernbulldogs.com.au. 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2025-04-25.
- ^ "SuperClash medal introduced, former spearhead returns for half-time kick". nmfc.com.au. 2025-04-16. Retrieved 2025-04-25.
- ^ "SuperClash 2025". Good Friday Appeal. Retrieved 2025-04-25.