As Anzac Day approaches, this week’s round of AFL and rugby league matches assume greater significance as they trade upon the heightened sense of occasion.
What once would have been considered disrespectful has quickly become tradition. It’s hardly surprising. Sport and war, unfortunately, have a lasting and sometimes dangerous relationship.
As George Orwell once wrote, “football is war, minus the shooting”.
Tomorrow, millions of sports fans around the nation will tune in to the traditional Anzac Day fixture between Collingwood and Essendon at the MCG.
And for the first time the Sydney Swans will play St Kilda in New Zealand, followed by the Len Hall Tribute match between Fremantle and Richmond on Friday.
At best, the Anzac Day clash is an opportunity for togetherness on an important national holiday, a chance to remember and memorialise those working men and women who died needlessly in battles from Lone Pine to Khe Sanh and Kabul.
The lap of honour for the Diggers before the bounce is a nice touch, as is the minute silence and the rendition of the Last Post.
At worst, however, the event gives a platform for the chest-beaters and the flag-wavers, and becomes an outlet for machoistic nationalism and a glorification of war.
It is painful to listen to commentators label James Hird a ‘general’, and praise the ‘sacrifices’ of ‘brave’ footballers. It’s a not-so-subtle and highly inappropriate nod to the Anzac legend.
We can do without the Victoria Cross-type Anzac Day medal, given to the player who best embodies ‘the Anzac spirit’. That kind of ritual unnecessarily militarises football.
Worse still, the AFL trades upon Anzac Day as a way of boosting the image of the game.
In 2011, Kevin Sheedy complained about Collingwood and Essendon monopolising one of the AFL’s biggest earners.
Ludicrously, Sheedy claimed it “would be an insult to the Australian Defence Force” to not have the games held in every state.
As the brainchild of the event during his time as coach of Essendon, Sheedy now conveniently feels the spirit of ANZAC should extend to his new club in Western Sydney. Nice try, Kevin.
Such hyperbole only reinforces the suspicion that sporting bodies are only interested in their own turf and the bottom dollar, not respect for the ANZACs.
Senior columnist for The Australian Patrick Smith puts it well, “the afternoon’s bugler may as well be a busker.”
But it’s not just the AFL that trades upon the Anzacs. In rugby league, there will be an Anzac Day double-header in Sydney and Melbourne featuring the Sydney Roosters, St. George Dragons, Melbourne Storm and the New Zealand Warriors.
In previous years, we’ve seen ridiculous ‘camouflage’ jerseys worn by Manly Sea Eagles and Sydney Roosters. And it looks like they’ll reemerge this week when the Roosters play St. George.
This kind of casual militarism blurs the lines between sport and war and, more importantly, blurs the boundaries between respect and exploitation.
While there have been no concrete attempts to establish an Anzac Day clash in football, the FFA have previously announced their intention to introduce an annual Anzac Day clash between Turkey and Australia.
In truth, there has always been tremendous potential for such an event. The fact that, unlike the other codes, football could include Turkey into the fold makes the prospect somewhat more appealing.
It might provide a tonic to what Major-General Jim Nolan once triumphantly but misguidedly labelled “Australian exceptionalism.”
Indeed, Anzac Day should be about more than just our own.
However, I suspect any such event would lead football commentators to get caught up in the business of Anzac, and the occasion would quickly descend into a platform for muscular nationalism.
No right thinking fan wants the efforts of Tim Cahill, or Nick Maxwell, or Cameron Smith to be conflated with that of dead soldiers and generals.
But at present, they are. The AFL’s marathon telecast milks the spirit of Anzac for all it’s worth.
During his time at Collingwood, Mick Malthouse was known to show his players videos about the Anzacs in battle, before engaging them in “a discussion about fighting spirit and sacrifice” in order for the players “to know the true significance of the contest.”
Similarly, Fairfax journalist Richard Hinds once labelled Wayne Bennett and Mick Malthouse “two old warhorses with a military bearing.”
No. Malthouse and Bennett are terrific football coaches, and their players are tremendous athletes who provide us all with great entertainment on our day off.
But this kind of hero-worship and militaristic bleating trivialises the efforts and sacrifices of those who have died in war.
The parody is extended further as the very same commentators who make these kind of grandiose statements promise us they realise war and sport are very different. Their doublespeak is perplexing and insulting.
Of course, many fans love the grand final type atmosphere these matches generate, and the traditions that have already been created. Fair enough.
Yet Anzac Day footy will lose none of its significance if we give that kind of silly war-talk a rest.
If we are going to revel in the privileges our soldiers apparently died for, we might want to recognise the responsibilities that come with them.
David Teller
Guest
Yes, ANZAC Day has been hijacked and commercialised by the AFL. The awarding of an ANZAC Medal to a best player makes me sick! For years now I have seen Essendon and Collingwood footy boys draped in the national flag stand alongside ANZAC type props and that turns my stomach too. More recently we see that South African beer company promoting their CUB products via the vile Raise A Glass promo. ANZAC was and believe it or not, still is a prescribed name under legislation but now it is more like a Showgrounds trade brand. One of Malthouse's players once said that Malthouse reads the really big ANZAC books while on the plane and thus knows the whole story. I shake my head in disgust! Australians have developed a one-sided, biased and jingoistic stance on the overstated so-called ANZAC spirit and legend. Did only Australians and New Zealanders have close mates in their ranks of the cannon fodder unfortunates? ANZAC by the way is not uniquely Australian. Our grubby trade in the commercial spin-offs is an insult to New Zealand, the other co-owner! NZ have not been engaged in Iraq nor Afghanistan yet our troops there are ANZACS. Sensible Australians should cringe in embarrassment. The silence of the RSL on the ANZAC footy and beer business is disappointing - they are impotent defenders of ANZAC Day.
me, I like football
Guest
I think the term is "smell the fear"
me, I like football
Guest
Aren't Howard's battlers suppose to be in Western Sydney, Sounds like soccer supporters to me.
me, I like football
Guest
Why?
me, I like football
Guest
DQ. Both nations? You mean Turkey as well as Australia?
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
no, the clause it was under was moved to S.0 in 2012, but using non approved substances was already banned before that.
micka
Guest
Wasn't the obesity drug in question only made against the wada and asada rules, in the last few days? I don't imagine steak is on the "approved" list either. Doesn't make anyone who eats it for protein and iron a supplement cheat. If it's not against the law, it's not against the law. At most you could say essendon were reckless, even if they were taking these supplements but unless the supplement is actually banned, then how the heck is it against the rules?
micka
Guest
Love it Wookie - A man with time and a search function is a dangerous thing. Especially for people projecting their insecurities on to people who have no such judgement.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Its far more complicated than that if Dank actually had a letter from ASADA authorising the use of the substances in question as the Heraldsun claimed yesterday.
Australian Rules
Guest
When the thrust of your article suggests the AFL are commercially exploiting ANZAC Day...yet you don't mention the substantial donation the AFL gives the RSL from the gate takings...forgive me if I think your only presenting one side of the story. But no matter...enjoy the game.
Bondy
Guest
I've just been in my intray reading all these posts,fair dinkum, 10 yr olds carry on with more maturity than us here,just ones blind devotion to ones sport that makes people go so funny and strange,i'd suggest nobody here is even under the age of 22 . Struth. Enjoy your footy today lads.
Joe Gorman
Expert
your welcome to disagree, even if it is with a point I never made.
Norm
Guest
Having looked at the video Boomshanka posted, I am at a loss to understand what is "tacky" about the AFL ceremony (unless it's the twitching of the Essendon player's legs). In fact the minute's silence by 90,000 is awesome - & certainly in keeping with Anzac commemorations. As someone whose father served in WW2 & whose great uncle was killed in Flanders on Anzac day 1918, I know that they would welcome this game at the MCG as an appropriate celebration not only of Anzac day, but of our Aussie culture & community. Furthermore, every serving & retired military person I know loves the MCG game & its place on Anzac day. I presume Boomshanka hasn't been to war in the military, for otherwise he would be less pious about Anzac day & more embracing of the Australian game, which pre-dates even the Boer War. Perhaps he & others who criticise the AFL are just jealous that in Peter Weir's Gallipoli Aussie soldiers were playing Aussie Rules in front of the pyramids?
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
because i had some time on my hands I ran google through the Roar looking for references to Sokkah in articles. the first four pages of references revealed something utterly hilarious. Most references to Sokkah on the Roar - Kasey (23) - MV Dave (21) - Daylight - more daylight - bunch of people on (4) The overwhelming majority of the references in threads are on the Association Football board ffs! but yeah go ahead and blame us for the attitude.
Boomshanka
Guest
Wookie I've no problem with playing a game, of whatever code on ANZAC day, Good Friday or even Christmas day. Good on the SANFL and others. I've no issue with playing a game today. What I do have a problem with and its probably a living in Melbourne thing is the constant misinformation that sacrifice and tradition should be consumed through the AFL fog. Even the player of the day at the MCG gets "an ANZAC medal" for goodness sake. Yesterday the Captain of St Kilda was on a news conference in New Zealand using the words "tradition" in the context of the AFL game over there. Historic maybe, but tradition - It's tacky. As to the flags, every cenotaph I've seen on the day, in both Australia and New Zealand has at least three flags flying (British, Australia and New Zealand) with some having more. As for the flag raising ceremony at the MCG, it is insensitively narrowed to paying respect to Australian forces only. The AFL wouldn't get away with this nonsense in Wellington, nor would any RSL / RSA club across Australia and New Zealand, but for the MCG, this is apparently OK.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
"What’s participially tacky about the AFL extravaganza is the game purports to be about ANZAC as if it’s unAustralian or something, not to be sinking a cold VB, flying the flag whilst watching the feed from the MCG" Id love to see a quote that reflects that. Anywhere. That statement is absolute rubbish. The SANFL has had ANZAC Day clashes since the 50s without copping the same brush. The NRL stages ANZAC Day matches - two of them! - but thats ok apparently. The Association lads are thinking about playing on the day and thats cool...but god forbid the nasty boys from the South should play on the same day. Maybe its the name? But do you crap on the same way about the Anzac Test in rubgy league, its still a sporting match but hey because it involves New Zealand theres some sort of moral high ground? A game is a game. If it helps people remember the sacrifices of those who went before, so much the better. For the most part Australia and New Zealand hold seperate ceremonies and have done since the War. Last I checked, the MCG was in Australia.
Boomshanka
Guest
Clipper FYI: There are two AFL games today probably making both codes equally tacky on purely game count. What's participially tacky about the AFL extravaganza is the game purports to be about ANZAC as if it's unAustralian or something, not to be sinking a cold VB, flying the flag whilst watching the feed from the MCG. In Wellington, someone or some committee have decided to plaster a great big "Lest we Forget" on the turf. Seems New Zealand's contribution to the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli (which is what the day is to remember) was long forgotten by the Victorian code. Good luck - I'm all for the AFL taking the game to Wellington, but not having the good people of Wellington underwriting it (as the various councils in western Sydney have). The build up at the MCG, as shown in the video above, also supports Emric statement here when he says that the AFL shows no respect for the people and the country of New Zealand. It never has and never will. Head to the AAMI Park Warriors v Storm encounter if you want to see a more respectful ceremony for the day which involves two countries, with both slouch and lemon squeezer hats in attendance.
pope paul v11
Guest
Too kind Wook. Football, as they call it is the LCD,the common tongue and only beautiful in it's simplicity.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Again Id like to point out the use of "sokkah" in this thread has not been by any AFL biased poster in this section. In fact the only people that continually use the term here are folks of the Association persuasion.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Impressive accomplishment to have completely stuffed up the memory of a generation or two as to where we've actually fought.