The Western Bulldogs will play North Melbourne on Good Friday in what will be the Kangaroos' only Friday game of 2020.

Despite a stronger performance after Rhyce Shaw's appointment as caretaker, the Roos have paid the price for missing the finals and the Friday night pioneers will not play in that time slot at all during 2020, with the Good Friday game played during the day at Marvel Stadium.

The Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne competed in the AFL's first Good Friday clash in 2017. Credit:Pat Scala

While Essendon played North Melbourne on Good Friday last year, the AFL have opted to make the Bulldogs the away team again, the Dogs having played in the first Good Friday game when it was established as a fixture in 2017.

The AFL's view is that Essendon are already involved in a number of major games on the calendar, headed the annual Anzac Day clash with Collingwood and Dreamtime match against Richmond.