The commercialisation of Anzac Day is nothing new. But almost 100 years after the Anzacs landed on the Gallipoli peninsular, the moral implications of exploiting a day that forms such an intrinsic part of Australia’s historical narrative is at an all-time high.
Most notably, Woolworths came under fire for their misguided “fresh in our memory” campaign that trivialised the plight of the Anzac soldiers with the supermarket chain’s own slogan of being “The fresh food people”.
The AFL is guilty of this same exploitation, albeit to a lesser extent.
This year, five games have been scheduled on Anzac Day – that’s two more than last year – which will certainly help raise the AFL’s coffers.
But at what cost?
Anzac Day is not universally accepted as a day that defines the history of Australia. Some question whether we should relish in the belligerence of war, while others construct the Anzac experience as inherently parochial – we seldom hear stories of Indigenous soldiers, of women, or of any marginal group.
But that’s not the problem I have with the AFL’s commercialisation of Anzac Day.
In fact, I love the theatre that surrounds the traditional – if you can call a game played since 1995 traditional – Essendon versus Collingwood clash.
It’s incredibly moving to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with 90,000-plus people and be able to hear a pin drop during that minute of silence before the game. It’s incredibly poignant to hear the bugle, bow your head, and remember the sacrifice so many young men and women have made and continue to make.
Sport is so powerful in that respect. It has the ability to transcend, to move, to foster that sense of unity among a crowd of total strangers. And sport is inextricably linked with Australia’s culture so, in many ways, playing football on Anzac Day doesn’t seem so strange or exploitative.
But what doesn’t sit right with me is the analogy so many people draw between the 22 players from Essendon and Collingwood and the Anzac soldiers.
Playing football does not equate to waging a war.
Yes, a football game is physical, bruising and played against an adversary, but the consequences of failure are trivial in comparison to torture, post-traumatic stress disorder and death.
Yes, going back with the flight of the ball is often perceived as brave, but can we really equate such acts on a football field over the course of two hours with acts of bravery in war?
The theatre of football lends itself to these hyperbolic analogies, but they undermine the suffering experienced by countless soldiers in theatres of war.
After Collingwood lost by a mere five points to Essendon in 2009, then-coach Mick Malthouse lamented that his side had let the Anzacs down.
Let them down? How Mick? As far as I’m aware, soldiers and veterans don’t look to Essendon and Collingwood for gratification of a job well done.
What’s more, it’s questionable whether the Essendon and Collingwood players feel compelled to win to honour the memory of the men and women who have served in war. It borders on cringe-worthy to think of a player accepting the Anzac Medal – awarded to the best player afield – and equating their team’s performance with the spirit of the Anzac soldiers.
And it is cringe-worthy that a medal is awarded to the best player of the day. Is this somehow meant to mirror the medals veterans and soldiers wear during Anzac Day ceremonies? Medals awarded for real acts of bravery, such as saving someone’s life?
I know the hairs on the back of my neck will stand up when I hear The Last Post play just before 2:40 on Saturday afternoon at the MCG. It’s the sport tragic in me.
But I also know that I’ll feel inherently conflicted when the ball bounces and Essendon and Collingwood go in to battle. Because it’s not a real battle. It’s a game of football.
Just ask the veterans marching on Anzac Day.
AL
Guest
Perry Bridge - I respect your views and in some odd way we both have a deep respect for the ANZAC. And this is exactly it, the ANZAC the man who for whatever reason gave of themselves for others, not sportsmen who are paid to play a game. A game, whatever it is, main purpose is to make money. Nothing wrong with that. However even the slightest comparison is not good and takes away the respect that should be with the men who served and gave their life. The men who went to war made a self-less decision, For whatever made them make that decision it was not for money or fame. Lets remember these self-less actions, the pain of families who lost loved ones and the absolute horror that hate and war produce that rattled many men who where never the same. And lets remember they were not all football players. Ditto on the cruise liners. And let thank them for a society free democratic one that allows differing opinions. I know that to this day the village in Greece from where my father comes from still remember the Allies many of whom where ANZACS.
Gyfox
Guest
Just watching the ANZAC ceremony at the MCG on TV in Adelaide. Different to usual - & impressive. Hope this becomes an annual fixture.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Al - the 'rubbish' you speak of so dismissively is entirely disrespectful of - in no small part - what many felt they were fighting to protect. (rightly or wrongly). Grant Rugby League was still in it's infancy - but Aust Football even just via the then VFL, let alone SA, WA, Tas etc main leagues and even the VFA - there were many who went to war and too many who were killed/injured. It is only right that the clubs in particular should remember them - and the AFL and NRL or any other umbrella body - pay their respects also. In a case of Anzac day falling on a weekend - and in Victoria we've been denied a public holiday in lieu - it's hard to avoid multiple games on the day. One thing on that front though is why should the only game a national league plays always be in Melbourne (the AFL example) - I see now reason why there can't be localised events and so more than one game across the country. The main thing there is that the AFL for example doesn't trod on the toes of the SANFL or WAFL etc if they have some traditional event. Commercialisation - well that's fully booked cruise liners heading for the Dardanelles like an invasion force. That's the Herald Sun trying to sell extra papers. That's Anzac bickie tins. And in your opinion the AFL and NRL. Some of what is seen as 'commercialisation' is actually run in partnership with the RSL and helps raise funds and in particular awareness - and in AFL circles at least, love or hate the fact that it's always Ess v Coll - this match HAS worked as I'm sure the late Bruce Ruxton would've hoped.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Yeah they play the Len Hall game (which has been going as long as the Collingwood-Essendon game) as close to ANZAC Day as possible, but generally only get allowed on days closer to the weekend.
joe b
Guest
I think Freo only play if ANZAC day falls on a Friday to Monday.
Daws
Guest
Well said.
Mark
Guest
Agreed. That was in quite poor taste Franko.
AL
Guest
If I see one more afl or nrl player at the war memorial wearing their team gearzy or with an aussie soldier. I will vomit, trying to establish a link between the sports person and the ANZAC is disrespectful. One game in each code is fair enough, multipule games, making money off the glorious dead. And this rubbish about afl and nrl players went to war so they have a right. Does that also mean we should have a water polo match or any other sport and they too would have had men going off the war and many not returning to the pain of their families.
MikeTV
Guest
The author refers to "the AFL’s commercialization of Anzac Day". How have they commercialized ANZAC Day. I agree that Christmas has become commercialized meaning that children started forgetting the true meaning and instead became obsessed with gifts. But watching the footy on ANZAC Day is not disrespectful. Will the AFL sell more tickets and make more money this weekend - No. Will people forget the true meaning of ANZAC day simply because they watch the footy on the same day - No. Do any of the players demand to be treated as heroes or revered like our fallen soldiers - No. So what is the problem ?
Mark
Guest
I'm not sure you understand the word nationalism, Emric
pjm
Roar Rookie
Why would they throw everything into defending Istanbul?
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Well that was what Churchill said but would it have worked? History shows that people take pretty unkindly to being invaded. Even if the allies won the peninsula Turkey would have defended Istanbul all the harder.
AR
Guest
Hard to argue with that.
AR
Guest
Very nicely put Perry. And the Changi Brownlow is a great read - highly recommend.
AR
Guest
"As for the “if it’s ok with the ‘diggers’ its ok with me” argument, it’s a bit like saying snoop dogg calls black people n***ers therefore it is ok with me." Franko, that's pretty offensive. If a veteran takes part in a parade around the MCG, who the hell am I to say that he shouldn't do so? Who the hell am I to say that he's being tacky, or merely a bit player in an AFL cash grab?
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
We commemorate the start of Australians fight in a war. What Anzac day has become is the made up part.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
That's it Perry - every city now wants to host an ANZAC Day game - for obvious reasons. As the nation's capital, I'm hoping the GWS game on ANZAC day becomes an annual thing.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
hope so
Council
Guest
You really need to do some research before opening your mouth with such foolishness. The Gallipoli Landings came within an inch of being successful, had they been, Turkey would of dropped out of the war, putting the Germans in an untenable position and shortening the war. Saving lives in the mean time.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Franko - well, there's probably a fair part of - and we see it with the West Aust request for a game - is the desire to have such an 'event' on locally. We've seen in the NRL that the short term recent 'tradition' of Storm v Warriors in Melbourne is now Storm v Manly as the Warriors are back home in NZ where they wanted to do something locally. The main thing one might be concerned with would be if a game in NZ was being beamed into Aust east coast homes before 1pm. ('cos we can't worry about WA as that just makes it too hard!!).