I understand it’s about to change, but I still can’t quite get my head around the fact that the AFL has, so far, declined to play games on Good Friday.
Yes, the AFL. The code which otherwise cannot bear to let a square centimetre of the sporting landscape go unpopulated, will be the last football code in this country to schedule a game on the key Christian holiday.
On ABC Grandstand last weekend I asked for listener feedback on the issue. I was surprised that there is still a small but strident core of opposition to games of any code being played on the day held sacred by many.
Having had a nice convent schooling myself – “Bless me father, for I have seen naked men in dressing rooms…” – I’m well aware of the significance of the day to the Christian faithful. But having lived a lot in areas of Sydney with large east Asian and Arab populations, I’m also well aware that it’s a business-as-usual day for many Australians.
And anyway, for as long as I can remember Good Friday has been a crazy-busy day at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney. If there are complaints about the general public gorging on Pluto Pups, wagering on laughing clowns, riding ferris wheels and eating fairy floss on this solemn day, I haven’t heard them.
So why not schedule sporting events?
There’s nothing to stop believers attending a service in the morning and a football match in the afternoon. And, if you truly believe that a football match on Good Friday is disrespectful, well no-one is going to make you attend.
Granted, South Sydney playing Highway to Hell as the players took the field for the second half last Friday at ANZ Stadium might’ve been testing the boundaries a little more than necessary, but divine retribution was delivered in the form of a Trent Hodkinson field-goal late in the game.
God, like the obstruction rule, moves in mysterious ways.
Given my relaxed attitude to Good Friday football, you will perhaps be surprised at what I do have a problem with – and I fully expect to be flying in in the face of many flag-waving fans when I say this – but for many years I’ve felt a tad squeamish about the way football, especially the NRL and AFL, deal with Anzac Day.
In terms of scheduling I’ve got no issue at all. Same logic applies as Good Friday: there’s nothing to stop fans attending dawn services and marches early in the day and then rocking up to the footy in the afternoon or evening.
What makes me feel squeamish is the way commemoration of Anzac Day has been incorporated into game day.
I can’t escape the feeling that paying tribute to the men and women who’ve served Australia in war zones is used opportunistically as pre-match entertainment, and the Anzac message is co-opted as a marketing and publicity tool to help hype up Anzac Day games.
War and sport are poles apart, and playing up the parallels between the two is not helpful or realistic. It makes light of war and affords a seriousness and importance to sport that is way out of perspective.
I’m sure there are ex-servicemen and currently serving military personnel who love their football and appreciate the recognition given them in connection to Anzac Day fixtures. It’s a great idea to give them free admission and maybe fundraise for Legacy or similar causes at those games.
But don’t use pre-match ceremonies that summon the emotion and patriotism of wartime sacrifice to artificially inject drama and meaning into a football match. And don’t sell tickets under the purview of ‘a chance to pay tribute to those who have served’.
I’ve been to dawn service at the Cenotaph in Martin Place and that’s the appropriate place to recognise those who suffered in war. It takes some effort to get there before dawn and it’s an event that is dedicated to one purpose.
A quick tribute wheeled out in front of you while you’re standing with a beer in one hand and a tub of chips in the other as you wait for a couple of premiership points to go on the line is cheap and all too convenient.
I know there are players and coaches who genuinely find stories of combat and war inspirational and who embrace the Anzac spirit and history in the lead up to Anzac Day fixtures.
I’m equally sure there are players and coaches who find their Christian religious beliefs a source of inspiration, but thankfully no-one has used the opportunity of Good Friday football to stage a pre-match crucifixion extravaganza to add some drama and feeling to a holiday blockbuster.
Play holiday football by all means, holidays are meant to be enjoyed. But let’s not conflate the true meaning of the day with entertainment that’s scheduled to take advantage of a bit of extra leisure time.
Tad
Roar Rookie
Yep 2 WAFL games as well.
Tad
Roar Rookie
Good crowd at Metricon for the Suns on the GC, possibly a couple of hundred GWS fans at most. A new club in the heartland of RL.
Noble Rot
Guest
I don't know why Bondy brought the Suns attendance into this discussion about ANZAC commemorations. Anti-AFL people will never win the crowd argument. Suns get 11,500 - pretty good when they are playing GWS. Titans crowds aren't much better - & they only got 20,000 against the Broncos. NRL crowds are woeful this year. Yesterday's 3 NRL games got just 13,000, 11,500 & 11,000. Aleague got more than that at Parammata. And that all fades by comparison to AFL - the 4th highest ave attendance in the world! BTW - I think Bondy is confused between the present & the future ;-)
Bondy
Guest
Illustrate to me me where I accused you of anything directly towards you as an individual ? . Listen, at Metricon Stadium yesterday there were five people three dogs and a six year old kid flying a kite , you can dish it out but you cant fu^^’n take it though can you. By the way I don't take drugs nor drink I don't need Dutch courage to speak my mind and also I don't change my username here every week like some of you cowards do
Anthony
Guest
SANFL Anzac Day game at Adel Oval attracted over 10,000. Grand Final replay, as it was 50 years ago.
Anthony
Guest
And you accuse me of being off topic, Bondy? Hypocrite. 11,500 at Metricon just 2,000 less than at Cronulla. Think NRL has the crowd problem!
Bondy
Guest
Did you see the crowd at Metricon Stadium toady, Uh ?. Son if that's the future of Aussie Rules on the East Coast of Australia your in deep fu^^'n s^^t .
Tad
Roar Rookie
Debbie does not agree, it is too much. The Len Hall tribute match has some history, obviously about Len Hall a Freo boy, WW1 veteran and was still alive during the first matches aged about 100, going back to the early 2000's.
Ken
Guest
Yep anecdotally it's still called the ANZAC test but that's not the fault of officials. It was only officially known as that for a couple of seasons back in the 90's. As Banana man said, they stopped calling it that and moved it a couple of weeks later on request of the RSL. The thing is people don't like being told what to call things. It's why the SFS is still the SFS
Gyfox
Guest
Strange, conor - I was in Heidelberg, Germany, 2 years ago & Good Friday was a holiday. In the USA it is not a holiday. Many churches have their Service in the evening, after everyone has finished work. But I am not aware of major sport being played then.
Gyfox
Guest
Another thing I realised at the MCG yesterday about the Anzac ceremonies. The cavalcade not only honours people who have served their country - but it gives us names & histories that we are unaware of. Similarly the AFL Record had stories of people we would not be aware of. As does the Len Hall tribute by Fremantle & the Peter Badcoe medal by Port Adelaide. I am certainly a more aware & thankful Australian.
One Born Every Minute
Guest
No, Not really. When look at the numbers no code has the majority of the support of the people of Australia. Its always funny when code zealots claim the "Majority" of Australian support their code, when in fact no code exceeds 5-6 million players/Fans out of a population of 20+ million. Even with the all codes combined I'll be surprised if the number broke into double figures. The culture/arts scene in Australia is not as small as most think, and a lot of people just don't like sport. The myth of all Australians (or Victorians in this instance) following sports religiously is just that, a myth.
conor
Guest
Good Friday is not a public holiday in Catholic countries such as France and Italy (nor in half-Catholic countries such as Germany and Switzerland) and sport is played as normal in those countries on Good Friday evening.
Pickett
Guest
Well, Ms Spillane, judging by the crowds in the league and AFL (not to mention the tv ratings) it looks like the people have spoken and the verdict is a resounding yes to footy on Anzac day.
Misto
Guest
The main service is at 3PM poor research
Pot Stirrer
Guest
What aload of self rightous politicaly correct grand standing to get yourself noticed rubbish. it should be people like you using Anzac Day to try and get your self noticed. The armed forces are right behind the concept and it helps the new generation understand the importance of Anzac day that wouldnt other wise pay attention. FYI most people living in Australia did not have an ancestor fight in the war and wouldnt understand or comprehend the meaning of Anzac day with out the NRL and AFL paying due respects. Our soldiers come from working class backround and love thier footy and appreciate the only real recognition outside the March and church services that most dont attend. It is far worse for the unpatriotic to use Anzac day to take ot shots. Your a disgrace imo spillane and so is anyone else that agrees with you. What makes any of you and your type think you know better than our politicians and community leaders who support our premier sporting codes making a tribute to our fallen and retirned service men and women. Shame on you all
Bondy
Guest
I thought we were on Anzac Day commemorating those who've fallen for us ,not worrying how much media space one sport gets over another or how many will attend any given sporting event. Leave it there.
KB
Guest
Sport changes lives, countries, histories and economies..you wrote it and I agree with that. War is not a good thing. Sport is a good thing.Competition between local teams. states, countries can carry the "spirit" of war without men ,women and children having to die. The war between the Germans and Russians for example,on the Eastern front was not dissimilar to sport. Both sides kept changing sides when the other gained or lost ascendancy. The sides with the most food or blankets were a destination, they played some soccer...it was freezing. I was born in Paddington in 1951 and have been following RL since I was six years old, I'm territorial, people still are today.I still hate Souths supporters like the Syrians hate the Israelis.
Gyfox
Guest
I seas not saying that at all, Bondy. Just commenting that AFL dominates the media ahead of the other codes on Anzac Day. I guess that's bound to happen when you get 95,000 at the MCG.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
I think afternoon footy, any code, is a nice reminder of the freedoms we can enjoy because of the efforts of our soldiers (must point out I do not agree with a few of these wars).