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.

"We got a little bit of opposition to it... some of the local leaders around town didn't think it was the best idea, but our opinion all along was no-one is saying you have to come to it, you have a choice.

"We just wanted to try something different, the league backed us and it has turned out to be a success."

Mr McKern recalls the gate for the inaugural Good Friday game at Canterbury Park was about five times the size of a usual Eaglehawk-Kangaroo Flat home and away match, adding the club had changed its canteen menu that day by making more "non-meat" products available.

"We never meant to offend anyone with the Good Friday idea," Mr McKern said.

"We did it because we thought it was a good idea and a good promotion for football."

The BFNL will this year play all five of its round one games on Good Friday, while the Bendigo Pioneers will also play North Ballarat in the TAC Cup on the day.

Meanwhile, a Bendigo Advertiser poll asking should football be played on Good Friday in the region has received 70 per cent in favour of the concept.