Victorian Football League Granted Permission To Host Football On Good Friday In '14

The Victorian Football League "will host Good Friday football" in '14, with Australian Football League side Essendon "drawn to play former affiliate Bendigo Gold at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo on April 18," according to Brent Diamond of THE AGE. After "several false starts, Bendigo has been granted the opportunity to host Good Friday night football by the local council and AFL Victoria to help increase its exposure" as it attempts to remain viable in the competition. The season will be "make or break for the Gold after only convincing AFL Victoria at the end of last season that it will continue to see out the remaining year" of its license. Despite the fundraising venture late in the year, there "still remains doubt surrounding the viability of Bendigo, along with Coburg, which reverts back to its old name, the Lions, after splitting from Richmond" (THE AGE, 12/10).