Bendigo Advertiser |ONE of the key instigators of Good Friday football in Bendigo says the initiative was never intended to offend when it was introduced 11 years ago.
Mick McKern pushed for Good Friday football to be introduced in 2004 when he was involved with Bendigo Football-Netball League club Eaglehawk, citing it as a "great chance to promote Bendigo football".
The Hawks and Kangaroo Flat played the BFNL's first Good Friday game in round one of the 2004 season, and the day has become a key part of the league's fixture since.
City of Greater Bendigo councillor Helen Leach has this week moved to open debate on Good Friday football, describing it as "disgraceful", but Mr McKern says it's all about choice.
"Sporting clubs and organisations need to think of different ways to keep ahead of the game, so that was one of the main reasons we pushed for it," Mr McKern said on Thursday.
