The AFL is encouraging all footy fans to celebrate the annual lodging of a request for a priority pick by the Melbourne Football Club.

“It’s such as special day on the calendar,” said AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan.

“I’ve no idea if they’ll get one, but it signals that spring is almost here and the Finals are about to start.”

Demons coach Paul Roos said the tradition was one of the main reasons he signed on at Melbourne.

“It was an honour lodging it today, just a real sense of being part of history,” he said.

“Even though the submission was just a copy of the weekend’s game and a picture of Cameron Schwab, it’s the tradition that’s so special.”

Former Melbourne player Garry Lyon said he felt he’d done more than his fair share to make ‘Melbourne Lodge a Priority Pick Day’ an annual tradition.

“Before I got involved, most people didn’t celebrate it and to my knowledge it didn’t even happen every year,” the former Demon Captain said.

“Now you can almost guarantee you’ll be celebrating it with your grandkids in fifty years.”

Gillon McLachlan said Melbourne Lodge a Priority Pick Day had overtaken ‘Richmond Fires a Coach Day’ as the preeminent annual club event.

“Essendon Self Report Day looked like it was going to challenge, but I think it’s not so much a day, but a two to three year festival instead, maybe longer.”

“Carlton Cheat the Salary Cap Day and St Kilda Goes to Court Day should also get a mention as wonderful days.”