By Adrian Musolino
April 26th 2009 @ 7:58am
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The AFL must reconsider the ANZAC day fixture
Essendon's Brent Stanton and Collingwood's Brent Macaffer dive for a loose ball during the AFL ANZAC Day Round 05 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Collingwood Magpies at the MCG. Slattery Images
The Collingwood versus Essendon ANZAC day fixture has, in the space of over a decade, become one of the AFL’s great traditions and this season’s rendition delivered an epic contest. But that shouldn’t overshadow the debate about whether the fixture should be shared amongst other teams.
The debate has long raged, whether these two clubs have the right to own the fixture and other clubs have publicly stated their displeasure at missing out on the occasion.
The success of the match up, born out of the foresight of former Essendon coaching great Kevin Sheedy, owes much to the rivalry between the two clubs that preceded the ANZAC day fixture and the great work the clubs and the code have done to turn the day into such an occasion, a worthy tribute.
But the myth that only Collingwood and Essendon could attract a sell out crowd or are worthy of the occasion needs to be examined.
We don’t know the extent to which the success of the fixture can be attributed to the Essendon and Collingwood rivalry or whether it has more to do with the setting, the MCG on ANZAC day.
Is the ANZAC day fixture at the MCG entrenched on its own accord or is it the Collingwood Essendon match up?
Other teams can also attract a great crowd with such a setting, in 1975 Carlton and Essendon attracted 77,770 to Waverley on ANZAC day.
There is more than just the issue of fairness as the occasion is at the mercy of the form of the two sides.
The AFL has two choices.
Firstly keep the traditional fixture between the two and cash in on the guaranteed high ratings and crowd.
Keeping the fixture will only foster the criticism from the other teams however.
Secondly, by accepting the current draw is far from fair for all and that it favours certain clubs, by forgoing the current fixture and opening it up to other teams the AFL will show it is willing to address the imbalances and criticism it receives.
Why should the humbling experience Collingwood and Essendon players, fans and coaches feel on ANZAC day be reserved for them only?
The setting and occasion of the day can surely survive without the two teams.
Make no mistake the Collingwood V Essendon match up has been enormously successful.
But ANZAC day doesn’t belong exclusively to the two sides as the significance of the day is not unique to them only.
Perhaps ANZAC day could be reserved for the Grand Final teams of the previous season, rewarding clubs for their success and ensuring the match up has that extra spice, a rematch at the same ground marking it out as an even more important fixture.
Every club is therefore in the running to earn an ANZAC day match.
Traditions and occasions are all well and good but the issue of fairness cannot be ignored and the rest of the clubs are missing out on being part of one of the most important dates on our sporting and cultural calendar.
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(17)
Diana Kossatz said | April 26th 2009 @ 9:19am | Report comment
That is not Brent Stanton in your pic.
ANZAC Supporter said | April 26th 2009 @ 9:38am | Report comment
Mick Malthouse is mislead in his thinking that Collingwood “Has let down the Anzacs” because they have only let down the people they have always let down and that is their supporters. Anzac Day is not about Collingwood or any other football team but the brave sacrifice that young men made in the defence of what they believed was the right thing to do for “King and Country”. To use Collingwood’s bad performance in their match in this way is disrespectful and dilutes the Anzac spirit.
sheek said | April 26th 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Yeah, why should they have exclusivity. Maybe go back to a kind of “match of the ay” concept, whereby two of the top teams are scheduled.
For example, you could have had 2008 grand finalists Geelong & Hawthorn play the Anzac day match. Or two other top 4-6 sides expected to shine this year (with the knowledge the draw is made the year before). St.Kilda are on the rise as another example.
Kevin said | April 26th 2009 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
Why try and mend something which isn’t broken. We have a great day and a great crowd who enjoys the occasion. Theoretical articles dont alter reality. Leave Anzac day alone.
megatron said | April 26th 2009 @ 12:25pm | Report comment
Agree. Not fair for the same two to have the day exclusively. How many blockbusters do Collingwood get!
Jon said | April 26th 2009 @ 4:42pm | Report comment
Disagree.
The size of the crowd is extremely important to generate the emotion required to do the event (which is all about respect and remembrance) justice. Having a policy of the previous year’s grand finalists playing is flawed because one team very well may be from interstate, and the MCG will not be filled, even on ANZAC Day, during the H&A season without two Victorian teams (at least in the foreseeable future). Let alone when the weather’s not looking good (85K turned up yesterday even though storms were forecast).
To absolutely ensure the crowd size you need the powerhouse clubs playing (Ess/Carl/Coll). Letting only Carlton in will not stop enough of the criticism to justify breaking with the Ess v Coll tradition. (Especially considering that those teams, and their supporters, worked to make the event what it is.)
And if the values transcend Ess/Coll, why does it automatically follow that other teams can move in on the game? The event must be arranged to honour the values, and this article simply asserts (besides providing a 1975 crowd figure) that changing the current event won’t compromise that honour. The values are honoured every year as it is, and the respect and remembrance is unquestionable — nothing in this article suggests that a change is either required or an acceptably low risk.
sheek said | April 26th 2009 @ 4:56pm | Report comment
Kevin,
This is not about altering Anzac Day, or Collingwood vs Essendon matches. This is about sharing the day with other clubs.
It’s not about ONLY Collingwood & Essendon.
michael said | April 26th 2009 @ 5:35pm | Report comment
I don’t follow either club. But I love watching these two teams play. LEAVE IT AS IT IS. I don’t think anyone can doubt that the 2009 ANZAC day game was one of the best games seen in ages. These two clubs don’t own the rights to this day, they deserve it.
Alex Moore said | April 26th 2009 @ 6:26pm | Report comment
The situation is comparable with the Thanksgiving Day NFL fixtures. There is a traditional rivals match (Green Bay and Detroit if my memory serves me right), but also other teams are given prime time fixtures on the day so there are 3 games on the day (Green Bay v Lions 1st followed by the other two fxtures which kick off at the same time.)
While this is too hard a scenario to do in the AFL (we don’t have a 32 team comp to start with), the precedent is there that no two teams should own a fixture!
I think the GF rematch is a great idea.
It should be at the MCG though, regardless.
It’s Slattery in the photo by the way.
Jake Tomlin said | April 26th 2009 @ 7:02pm | Report comment
its not only essendon and collingwood that have rights to the Anzac day match there are four other games on that day and they all have the last post and the minute silence and its not only Anzac day its the whole weekend the other teams are jealous because 90000 turn up to the essendon collingwood game why change tradition and put other teams on for that one game anyway i mean theyve changed tradition by making all these stupid rules like the you cant even touch your oppenants back and no rushed behinds its just getting stupider and stupider theres no need to make it even more stupid by changing one game of the season
Michael C said | April 26th 2009 @ 8:10pm | Report comment
Alex Moore – yep, the irony was that a “Slattery Mediagroup” image didn’t know Henry Slattery, anyway, on topic :
I was dirty on it once upon a time, but, now, it has become a tradition that is showing that it CAN outlive Sheeds, Hirdy and Bucks!!!
The fact the game is sold out 5-6 weeks in advance and people will quite likely be making their plans for next year already….well, I guess let it stay as is. Fairness doesn’t always matter.
For now the bigger question is around Melb vs Coll on QB Monday – - for a couple of reasons,
because, Coll and Ess supporters and clubs have shown the capacity to accept and cope with and make great Anzac Day irrespective of the day upon which it falls and how long/short a break they have leading into it, and in those ‘off’ years where Anzac Day is a Tues or Wed for example, it impacts the month leading into the match or leading out it as to the break between matches to keep them at a relatively even keel. (cynically, the AFL would hate for a North Melb for example to be scheduled in a year where they might have to give them an extra Friday night game to fit it all in!!).
QB Monday though, is always on the Monday – and unfortunately Melbourne has been not quite living up to the billing (although, a resurgent Melbourne at the MCG before the MCC members vs Collingwood would be pretty good)….I guess, question is, should it be Collingwood, or, QB Monday, how about Melbourne vs Sydney at the ‘G? Carlton v Richmond has Round 1 sewn up for now.
Mark E said | April 26th 2009 @ 10:24pm | Report comment
They thought it up…if other clubs want something significant, start it themselves.
But I would like to see an Anzac Day medal given out for the best players for each match that weekend.
Fremantle have always put on an excellent Anzac Day Presentation.
ian said | April 27th 2009 @ 12:11am | Report comment
All teams regardless of being Victorian or interstate based should be given the opportunity to play on Anzac Day. In SA, the previous years grand finalists play and it has been this way for at least the last 45 years that I know of.
The day should not be about getting the biggest crowd but remembering the contributions of those who have served our country and it is a National day and supposedly a national sport so give all 16 teams the opportunity to be a part of the day.
Redb said | April 27th 2009 @ 8:07am | Report comment
There can only be two.
Essendon and Collingwood own this day. To suggest any other teams would even come close to generating the same spirit and interest just illustrates ignorance and jealousy.
Great days are forged not made, the first game was an epic draw in front of 95,000 – James Hird champion of Essendon, Nathan Buckley champion of Collingwood – it was pure sporting magic.
Within 5 years you will probably see these blokes line up again against each other as coaches.
Redb
Millster said | April 27th 2009 @ 10:00am | Report comment
For once I’m with RedB and also say leave it.
No its not fair.
But apart from the timing of the game it is just a season fixture in a big long comp. If it provides a bit more hype and circus and marketing opportunity for the AFL, which it does damn well, then good on them. And as someone said above, better to have 2 big Melbourne clubs play this as it means tons of people will turn up and have something to do on their public holiday down there.
As long as the season ends up fair (and that is a separate problem I have with AFL fixturing) then one game doesn’t fuss me and this particular fixture has build up well as a good bit of hype for the code in the early part of the season.
Millster said | April 27th 2009 @ 10:03am | Report comment
Sorry – as a PS – I hadn’t read Ian’s post. Mate, its not that serious. Its 2 clubs playing a fixture on a public holiday. Yes it gets wrapped up in the ANZAC thing because thats convenient and good marketing. But lets not draw too big a bridge between solemn rememberence of military contributions and a day out at the footy.
Note that as per my post above I’m not writing this in criticism of the game. I think its a good fixture. All I’m saying is that its what you do in the afternoon, after you’ve gone to the memorial or march… after you’ve had a REAL ANZAC moment of reflection.
Pippinu said | April 28th 2009 @ 9:08am | Report comment
Ess and Coll have earned it – at the end of the day – the whole comp benefits from it.