This may be hard for those who have never been to the MCG on ANZAC Day to comprehend, but there is nothing like standing among 90,000 other people, in one of the great arenas of sport, in complete silence.
Absolute silence. You can hear a pin drop.
The bugle plays, the flags are lowered, and the stands cease to sway with the chatter and noise of enlivened football fans.
The teams are lined up and the silence is a mix of paying tribute to those who gave their lives in the ultimate sacrifice and our anticipation of the contest that is to come.
The ANZAC Day game is a highlight of the Australian sporting calendar, not just for fans of Essendon or Collingwood or AFL fans for that matter. Rather, it is a day that highlights how we, who call ourselves Australians, live in a culture where we play, watch, laugh and cry at our sporting heroes together.
What is it that we have that other sporting nations and cultures don’t have?
We have a level of respect and maturity.
What makes our sporting culture so great isn’t just our performances on the field, but they way we behave off the field.
Football fans in this country are not segregated. We do not have to sit at opposing ends of the ground. We do not have to wait two hours for the opposition fans to leave the area.
No. We enjoy our sport among friends.
I’ve always gone to the ANZAC Day game with a group of friends, of whom half support Collingwood and the other half support Essendon.
We have a beer, or three. We have a laugh. We celebrate and we commiserate together.
Most importantly, we are not the only ‘mixed group’ at the game.
I know this happens week in and week out at any AFL game in the country, but it is the ANZAC Day game that always makes me stop and reflect on this important point in our nation’s sporting culture.
Today, we remember those who gave their lives for our freedom. We think about all of the elements that have gone into the making of our society and the things that make us Australians.
To some, it may seem strange that we value a game of football on such a day, but today’s game is an extension of the formation of our identity and is in fact, an important part of it.
Today we remember the dead, think of those serving in current wars and celebrate our freedom and our maturity as a society that allows us to love and hate a football team, while still loving each other.
Enjoy today’s game and go Bombers!
AdamS
Roar Guru
There rivalry was economic. The teams were founded in/by two competing shipyards.
Long John Silver
Guest
Me, I like football, That is not the point, the point is that a whole nation and a huge part of what it means to be ANZAC is being forgotten by not having New Zealand included in a large and meaningful way. Wii, The ANZAC test is only referred to as the ANZAC test by the fans and the media, due to legal reasons (I can't remember the specifics) the ANZAC test is not officially known as the ANZAC test and is not allowed to be played on ANZAC day. So yeah stupid laws is the reason why the ANZAC test is not played on ANZAC day, or even actually called the ANZAC test (officially it's called the Australia New Zealand test).
Australian Rules
Guest
And I don't remember West Ham 'ever invading'' Milwall either.
Wii
Guest
I'm a kiwi and I tend to agree. What I do find amusing is how in league there is the ANZAC test. When if ever was the last time this test was actually played on ANZAC day?
me, I like football
Guest
I've never understood why NZ side has to be involved to be considered ANZAC. You neglect more people by not including Queensland than NZ. Australia did't fight NZ in WW1
Long John Silver
Guest
Don't get me wrong I love watching the ANZAC day game, but how in any way does a game between two Melbourne suburbs hold or represent the ANZAC spirit at all. To my knowledge no Kiwis took part in either of the games held today (I could be wrong about that) and holding the St Kilda vs Swans game in Wellington was gimmicky to say the least. I don't know, I just think think it is wrong to call either of the games held today ANZAC games since no New Zealand based teams participated (obviously) and I also find it kind of offensive. Anyway back onto what this article actually talks about, you say 'The ANZAC Day game is a highlight of the Australian sporting calendar, not just for fans of Essendon or Collingwood or AFL fans for that matter." I completely disagree with this. I live in Canberra, an area which is a rugby heartland, it doesn't matter what sort of rugby you are playing it is loved here and to put it quite simply most people from around here do not care about the AFL's ANZAC Day game, some probably could not even tell you which teams were playing in it. I would imagine and in my experience, if the attitude towards the ANZAC day game is like this in Canberra then it would be worse in most parts of Sydney and almost unheard of in Brisbane. Of course to a certain degree it is a matter perspective, but even then on the whole I do not think the ANZAC day game would get a look in the top 10 Australian sporting highlights most years. Anyway I enjoyed your article.
AdamS
Roar Guru
European derbies have rivalries that go back to actual blood feuds or wars centuries or millennia old. I don't recall Richmond ever invading Collingwood or Carlton.
mick
Guest
I do not know if you are trying make comparisons with sport to war & ANZAC Day. Are you saying no other country or sport has had a moments / minutes silence before a game before? You say "We have a level of respect & maturity", I am touring Asia at the moment & respect & maturity is on a lower level in Australia. On a side note I was in a bar at 4am this morning in Bangkok watching a game from Europe with at least 20 other nationalities & no problems, go out 4am in oz & the riot squad has to be deployed, respect & maturity is a convenient line for people not in the know. If you want to pay your respects to the troops that fought for Australia you should get down to a dawn service & not use sport as a vehicle, have your moments silence then bounce the ball.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Stratton
Guest
I know they can't kick em out (just like they're arguing on SEN right now) but today's ANZAC game is going to feel like Collingwood v Lance Armstrong.
Dave Webb
Roar Pro
I agree that the game at the MCG is a spectacle. I also think that it's time the tradition grew. http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/04/25/anzac-day-a-growing-tradition/
Kate Smart
Expert
TCCBS, Thanks for your comment. Let's hope this whole debacle is sorted out quickly and then we can all concentrate back on the game.
Kate Smart
Expert
Hi Kristy, Thanks for this. You should definitely get to the MCG on ANZAC Day, even if you follow the Crows!!!. It really is an awesome day. It's also a day for footy fans, not corporate sponsors like, say the Grand Final, so the real fans are out.
Kate Smart
Expert
MV Dave, Anything like this is absolutely awful and just furthers my point that our sporting culture of not being segregated is not an automatic right, it is something we all need to work toward. Let's hope everyone has a great day at the MCG today.
Kate Smart
Expert
Hi Kasey, I was expecting this comment. No, of course I am not suggesting that fights don't happen. The point of the article is that we should celebrate not having to be segregated, as others have to be. I lived in the UK for quite a while and what struck me most over there was how they were unable to watch sport with any sense of it it just being a game. I knew people who just could not comprehend how to support your team passionately whilst sitting with your mates who follow another team. I always use to tease my English friends that their problem was they won so few things, they didn't know how to win or lose. Most of my English friends use to laugh with me on this one. Sorry to all the English folk reading this. Anyway, my point still stands that we should consider ourselves lucky that we are not segregated but in saying that we need to work hard to ensure we never do get segregated.
Krsty Copley
Guest
A nice piece Kate. i ttotally agree that it is truly Australian to 'celebrate' such an important day with a footy match. The same goes for the tradition of two up. Who else but a bunch of Aussies would cry over a fallen mate then have a bet on which way the toss of a coin will fall!!! I've never been to the MCG on Anzac Day but its certainly on my to do list ... And I'm a Crows supporter!
Norm
Guest
MV Dave back on cue. And Kasey posting an anti-AFL comment. Why do you guys bother?
The Curious Case of Benjamin Stratton
Guest
"We think about all of the elements that have gone into the making of our society and the things that make us Australians." Dont you mean "We think about all of the illegal supplements that have gone into the Essendon players of our society and the things that make them perform well" ?
MV Dave
Guest
Too right Kasey...that father of the Melbourne player hospitalised after being bashed unconscious at the MCG by Collingwood thugs not too long ago could testify to that. Of course being Stralya he was probably just imagining it happened...
Kasey
Guest
are you suggesting that fights don't happen at AFL games?
jus de couchon
Guest
Its little different here in the UK. Its only soccer people who mistake hatred for passion.