The annual calls of injustice at Collingwood and Essendon having a duopoly on the staging of a football match on ANZAC day, the most significant day on the Australian calendar, is beyond boring now.
A larger number of voices, many associated with clubs and many recognised as having significant opinion on the game, are disgruntled that two powerful Victorian clubs should share the day amongst all comers in the league or at least share the profits, and are missing a few valid arguments.
The suggestion by Leigh Matthews and Chris Scott, to at least share the profits from the game, in recent days is a farcical request.
Colingwood and Essendon would draw 80 plus thousand if they were to meet on another day anyway.
Would they be required to share the profits then?
Furthermore, Scott suggested – as they do in the SANFL – that it should be the previous season’s grand finalist’ competing in the biggest home and away game of the year.
Great idea if it is two Victorian teams, but with a national competition, would the MCG be sold out if it was Brisbane versus Port Adelaide or West Coast versus Sydney – grand finalists from the past decade – playing on 25 April?
Would these teams want to sacrifice a home game just to play at the MCG in April?
The AFL already has a ground rationalization fund, a special distribution fund and equalization fund when it comes to money generated from crowd numbers at larger drawing games.
Would Scott welcome sharing the profits of the very profitable Skilled Stadium where Geelong has up to seven home games a year there, with other less fortunate clubs?
I am almost keen for the AFL to schedule North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs on ANZAC day next year.
Let’s celebrate a crowd of 70,000 turning up. Profits will be smaller but they will be split between two clubs who need it.
Then, the year after that, play a different set of teams again.
See if the crowd numbers dissipate further.
The tradition – albeit a short 17 years – of Essendon and Collingwood on ANZAC day is built around the lock-out of 20,000 fans in 1995, the fact that so many wanted to come to this game, that it was a pulsating draw, that the crowd averages more than 80,000 regardless of where the teams are on the ladder.
We are forever trying to change things in this country to be politically correct, making sure change traditions or rituals for fear of excluding the smallest minority.
In this case, the minority are 15 other clubs, and they are all compensated by the AFL anyway.
Let’s hope the AFL actually follow the mantra, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” for a few more years yet.
Although, stand by for this to be all talked about again next year. It’s becoming a tradition.
Richard
Roar Guru
I agree. It happened again on Monday. That minutes silence in a stadium filled with 90,000 people is a most moving experience. It is an ultimate show of respect, absolute silence, which brings a lump to the throat every time. The most amazing thing.
Rob McLean
Guest
My grandfather served in Korea and even played a game of Aussie rules there. Admittedly he is a Collingwood supporter but he loves the concept. Lives in Queensland too. Like many, he seems to think it is handled well, despite some of the words of previous years.
clipper
Guest
I would be interested to hear from a 'digger' who has attended the event - preferably of a neutral (footy) persuasion, to see what they think of it all.
The Cattery
Guest
JVGO we all agree there has been a general shift in attitude throughout the community, and it's not too far fetched to suggest that the AFL ANZAC Day clash has assisted in a small way. If you don't believe me, you need only look at the preponderance of articles over the past week, written by supporters of the other football codes, exploring what more they can do on the day - all of them reference the AFL.
Rob McLean
Guest
Seriously, you are reading way too much into my comment. I couldn't give a stuff about the petty jealousies between states. It might be worth noting I'm a South Australian and clearly have no claims to being part of the evil Victorian empire. I never said it was solely responsible for the rehabilitation of Australia, in the southern states, let alone the northern states. It has played a part. Please read my comments in context, not as an empire builder/defender.
Redb
Roar Guru
Great comment, absolutely spot on. Read this comment it is correct.
"It’s hard not to be a little bit moved by the sight of 90,000 people standing together in absolute silence." That is nothing short of eerie when you see it happen! (You could have heard the proverbial "pin" drop.)
amazonfan if I appear bitter I apologize but every year the same garbage comes up and it appears to emanate from the same quarter. I do not blame the other clubs for wanting to be a part of it (they would be fools if they didn't) but the simple fact remains that it was offered to them in the beginning and the only two clubs who were prepared to give it a go were Collingwood and Essendon. End of story!
Andrew Leonard
Roar Pro
db swannie - I think its fair to say that this comment could be solely attributed to the local market in Melbourne. Having been to the first ANZAC day game between Essendon and Collingwood in 1995 and many more in between, the level of understanding and respect in the crowd has grown enormously. In years gone by during the last post and minute's silence calls of "Carn the Bombers/Pies" could be heard around the stadium. This didn't happpen once on Monday. It raises the hairs and gives goose bumps the emotion in the stadium when you think about those that have risked and given their lives to protect what we have now in this great country. Like it or not, locally at least there is increased awareness, appreciation, and respect by many thousands of people towards the ANZAC's than there might have been previously. This, was discussed and agreed upon in the Triple M commentary box on Monday. All agreed that whether we like it or not, its partly due to a game of football setting a increased standing of the importance of the day to those that previously had not connection to it. Not everyone in Australia has or had a connection to our diggers, and many of who don't, do have connection to football and a link has been made.
Andrew Leonard
Roar Pro
Sheek - your suggestion is what the debate comes down to. Whilst its novel and great to share the game around, the problem is would we gaurantee full house signs on these combinations of games. As Richard states below, Melbourne hosts Collingwood exclusively on a public holiday (Queen's Birthday) every year for average crowds in recent times in the 60-70K region. The other problem with your suggestion is TV. Therefore a maximum of only 3 games could be played in one day. On your final point - A large slice of the money made on ANZAC day goes to the RSL as per the orriginal deal setup by Sheedy, Essendon, Collingwood and the AFL.
JVGO
Guest
The Anzac day tradition has been rehabilitated in the northern states without the help of an AFL match. I think the rehabilitation of the Anzac tradition is a broader cultural historical thing in Australia and it has nothing to do with any code of football.
Andrew Leonard
Roar Pro
Freo have hosted an evening ANZAC day game whenever it has been close to or over the weekend. Last year it was Friday night and Freo hosted an evening game. I am completely happy with this and think its great for Perth fans as well.
Redb
Roar Guru
Lots of views it seems from people who don't attend the game. You have no idea.
Reason
Guest
Lots of commentators on this article seem to be adding "NZ" in to the Australian Army Corps acronym. As an AFL fan I am unfamiliar with these additional letters added by some when referring to the AAC day clash at the G.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
I don't have a problem with Collingwood and Essendon playing on ANZAC day, but I think it's incredibly debatable to talk about it as if they own it or to say that because they came up with it, they get to keep it. North Melbourne originated Friday night football, however they are rarely part of it these days. So, as such, I don't think it's about 'stealing another teams successful idea.' The idea doesn't belong to Collingwood or Essendon, and if the AFL decides to replace them with two other teams, that is their right to do so.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
You sure are bitter and vindictive. "Now that it is a big game they want it. Tough!" and "Let the whingers, who didn’t want it before, suffer every time it’s held." Anyway, you are right about one thing. No team owns ANZAC day.
The Cattery
Guest
But slowly, as you come to understand our way of life, as you come more into contact with our culture, I'm sure we can develop a greater understanding of our peoples, based on mutual respect. Do not fear us, we come in peace.
db swannie
Guest
So these poor heathens in the Northern states had no idea about what ANZAC DAY stood for till they seen the good & wonderful AFL game on ANZAC DAY.. Fair dinkum .. I Live up north & AD has always had good turnouts..especially young people,so how you can try to claim some part of that as the AFL"s doing is beyond me.. I am dead set serious here..To many people up north Victoria is like a foreign country...very very different people down there.
Rob McLean
Guest
db, hopefully you remove the red mist from your eyes and read my comment again. I wrote after that statement that, "I’m not saying these clubs have completely been responsible for this, as there are other factors". However, this match has certainly played a part in rehabilitating the day's image by educating and reminding us of what it is all about. The 90,000 people at the game, plus the vast tv audience (some of whom are in the northern states), would see interviews with Diggers, partake in a minute's silence and hear that stirring last post. That's a lot of people learning about Anzac Day and its significance and reinforcing the importance of the day to those already well versed in its traditions.
The Cattery
Guest
As some posters have pointed out, for a couple of decades, from around the mid 60s to the late 80s, public interest in ANZAC Day was on the wane. That has since recovered significantly, not due to the AFL, but there's no doubt that the AFL has had a small part to play. For the record, they got ratings of 1,054,000, including 102k in Sydney and 101k in Brisbane, so there is definitely nationwide interest in the concept, and it's easy to see why Australians would be attracted to the concept. It's hard not to be a little bit moved by the sight of 90,000 people standing together in absolute silence.