A devoted Christian, Demetriou has forever declared Good Friday a non-option for a scheduled AFL game throughout his 11-year reign.
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That's despite most AFL fans, who many say they are starved of entertainment on the religious holiday, calling for a marquee match to be scheduled.
The league's deputy chief – and the frontrunner to succeed Demetriou – Gillon McLachlan is a supporter of Good Friday footy and last October declared the idea was "being given careful consideration" ahead of 2015.
"If we're saying it's a 50-50 [chance] for the year after next, that's probably a good sign of momentum," McLachlan told reporters last year.
With primary opponent Demetriou now on the way out, the AFL Commission is almost certain to vote in favour of the concept for next year.
A match on Good Friday would likely involve fundraising for a charity such as the Good Friday Appeal.
Clubs are largely in favour of following the NRL and playing on the public holiday, with North Melbourne, Gold Coast and the Western Bulldogs most enthusiastic.
Gold Coast believes it has a particularly compelling case to pioneer the concept for the AFL in rugby league heartland given the spike in Queensland tourism during the Easter period.
But cash-strapped St Kilda – despite having a crucifix in its club logo and being nicknamed the Saints – has made few noises about its interest in being involved.
This year's Easter fixture involves football over four days, as has been in the case in recent seasons.
Brisbane Lions will host Richmond on the Thursday night and Geelong and Hawthorn will clash on Monday at the MCG.
There will be four games on Easter Saturday and three on Easter Sunday.
The NRL has scheduled two games on Good Friday since 2007 with growing success.
Last year's match between Canterbury and South Sydney, with a 4pm start, attracted a record-breaking crowd of 51,686 at ANZ Stadium.