Take ANZAC Day away from Essendon

Well said Eddie!

Your comments are as bad as your article. Made for a great laugh though so thankyou

The thing about the ANZAC Day clash is that it's become a tradition, a habit if you like, for supporters. For some it's the only game they manage to get to together during the year. This has become a tradition precisely because its the same two clubs involved. Like the Queen's Birthday game (which was a tradition even earlier than the ANZAC Day clash). Supporters look forward to it year after year. It's grown in reputation because of the frequent classic encounters those clubs have produced, no matter where they were on the ladder it seems. To change it so that participating clubs varied from year to year would diminish the aura of the game, it would detract from the specialness of it all, it would weaken it's appeal. The only credible substitute might have been a game between Australia and New Zealand, if that had been possible. But it's not (yet at least). No one with influence is seriously suggesting that the event be changed of course, because anything other than a Collingwood-Essendon clash would damage what has become a very valuable product for the AFL.

Floyd i may check that out.

The classic Australian movie Wake In Fright does for Two Up what Midnight Express did for the Turkish tourism industry in the '70s, & 80's. But back to footy, Essendon must reckon this whole marketing thing is a doddle. They not only have the ANZAC Day earner, but now, as well, the Dreamtime game against Richmond which drew 83k last year.

I probably went a bit AWOL there myself Wookie. The bottom line for me is, play football on ANZAC Day by all means. Just don't limit it to the same two Victorian teams every year. In other words, it shouldn't be treated as a purely marketing or TV ratings exercise. It isn't right. I could go on.

There is no turning back for the AFL, perhaps the GAA have the right idea with its amatuer status, but in reality that will never happen, all we need is a balance, ANZAC day football is OK IMO, just need a fair return for the RSL, a fair return for the AFL. And personally a return to the punters spinning up more heads at the two up games i frequent would be good on ANZAC day.

True, might be an idea to do it if, as you say, falls on the weekend. Otherwise, when it falls on a weekday, I think it is best to play only one game, as it currently is.

Yes there is an element of neutral followers who will turn up to the game, but the vast majority of attendees come from members of the two clubs, since very few tickets are ever released to the general public. This isnt Grand Final day we're talking about. IF the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda were in the best form of their lives you'd get ,aybe 60,000 at most. They simply do not have the support to do otherwise and you will not get 40,000 neutrals to the MCG for a game featuring them. There arent 16 other clubs selling 20,000 tickets of their own to the match, there arent the AFL corporates that come in for Grand Final day and your carrying on like there is.

VFL games were played when ANZAC Day fell on a Saturday starting from 1960 - at a time when all 6 matches were played on a Saturday. They were previously not allowed to play on them by Act of Parliament in Victoria. IF Essendon were to be banned - an unlikely scenario - then another match would be parachuted in for the round. Theres no real blockbuster matches in Melbourne outstanding for round 5 either - Carlton are scheduled to play Adelaide at the MCG, Bulldogs are supposed to play Geelong at Etihad and Hawthorn are meant to play North Melbourne at the MCG. Neither of these three matches will draw in a massive fashion.

it sure isnt "i hate eddiie and collingwood so everything he does is wrong" either

I dont think we've lost sight about what the real issue at all. People still flock to the Shrines of Remembrance, attend dawn services in massive - and at least in Adelaide - ever increasing numbers. The Parades are well supported by the general population and to top it off both of the countries biggest sporting codes pay their respects as well. Both of my grandfathers fought in France in World War 2,, my uncle fought in Vietnam and Borneo, my father served in Rwanda. Not one of them would miss a shot at going to the footy if they were still alive.

Sheedy proposed the match as it stands, and Essendon, Collingwood, the AFL AND the RSL backed it. Its been an annual success for over 20 years despite Essendon and Collingwood spending some time near the bottom and each only winning one flag. The two clubs built it into what it is, developed and promoted it, and - speaking as a lifelong carlton supporter - they've earnt the right to keep it that way.

Nice one Brewski. I think we lose sight of what this whole thing is about. My Grandfather was at Gallipoli, and France, he barely spoke of it for the next 65 years. He marched on ANZAC Day, for quite a while. Red Cliffs Vic was the biggest soldier settlement in Australia. Still, he returned. Many others didn't. We worry about footy?!!

Nobody said anzac day is a tribute to ess and coll, and thats frankly a pretty narrow minded comment proving an inability to understand the reason this game exists and is so successful. The right to play on any day doesn't exist and nor should it. Its completely irrelevant to why this game is played. Its a fitting tribute to the anzacs by the afl AND a game between two clubs that created the fixture in it's current format.Lets say all 18 teams play on anzac day. Kind of takes away from the spectacle, in the same way that changing teams would. This is why the afl hasn't changed it. In your own words its the second biggest day (game) of the year, so changing it would be stupid. Your saying the game should be shared purely because its an important holiday, the facts are its a successful tribute because of what it is. No team has a right to play on anzac day, but the teams that made the day what it is to the afl community get the chance to continue tradition. I don't expect you to understand that though, because apparently thats not fair on everone else?

Nobody said anzac day is a tribute to ess and coll, and thats frankly a pretty narrow minded comment. The right to play on any day doesn't exist and nor should it. Its completely irrelevant to why this game is played. Its a fitting tribute to the anzacs by the afl AND a game between two clubs that created the idea in it's current format. No team has a right to play on any day and I cant see how essendon and collingwood having a traditional game on a tributory holiday has anything to do with this. Lets say all 18 teams play on anzac day. Kind of takes away from the spectacle, in the same way that changing teams each year would. This id why the afl hasn't changed it. In your own words its the second biggest game of the year so why would they change it? Your missing the point completely. Rights and fairness having nothing to do with why this game continues to exist.

Freo has a Len Hall tribute game, and IMO that seems to be right, but that would mean locking in Freo to play it, people would no doubt have a problem with that. Perhaps it should be moved to Albany, and anyone who has seen the photo of the many ( 38 i think) Australian troopships leaving for Gallipoli from King George sound would agree its a fantastic photo, Albany was the last time many Australians would step foot on Australian soil. http://www.historicalbany.com.au/anzacs.htm