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Why won’t our AFL players sing the national anthem before the start of a game? With Advance Australia Fair celebrating its 28th anniversary today, it’s a timely question.
And with ANZAC Day looming and another round of games where our teams line-up and stand there, staring blankly at goodness knows what while our national anthem is played, perhaps they need a gentle reminder that some members of their adoring public find this practice offensive.
At various times during the season, our teams line up like kids at a school assembly while the Australian national anthem is played in a rousing fashion to an entire stadium.
The only problem is, most of the players (and coaches) never sing.
Are they embarrassed to sing? Surely that can’t be true because there’s always plenty of singing by everyone and anyone who can get in on the act in the rooms after a win.
Is it that our gladiators are so focussed on the job at hand that they don’t want to sing? If that’s the case – too bad.
It doesn’t cut it. Singing your country’s national anthem is a sign of respect.
Do they not know the words? If not, then all AFL clubs should make it their mission to teach them the words. After all, when school kids can memorise the words, surely a bunch of big burly footy players can do it too.
It doesn’t matter if you think the song itself is rubbish. No one has ever been overly fond of the fact that “our home is girt by sea,” but there you have it.
The song itself was written in 1898 and maybe a lot of things were ‘girt’ back in those days.
The Herald Sun reported recently that “endless anthem openings hit a bum note” and that the AFL’s obsession with playing the national anthem before every Round 1 game was nothing short of “over the top.”
Nonetheless, the anthem was played so the onus is on all of us – especially those the paying public have gone to see – to participate in its singing.
No I don’t want to turn every AFL game into a hand on heart, American-style exercise in patriotism, but I do think all Aussies need to stop, listen and participate when our national song is played.
Some indigenous players may choose the moment to make a political statement by not participating, and that is perhaps the only instance that could be interpreted as acceptable.
For those who are not making a statement, standing and looking uncomfortable next to your team mates for a minute or so when you should be participating in a display of national pride, makes it all that much worse.
Do they think that we, their adoring public and paying AFL ticket buyers might laugh at them? It would simply never happen.
Anyone who has ever seen the way the Wallabies sing Advance Australia Fair would never laugh, snigger or even crack a wry smile.
Sure, the Wallabies are playing for Australia and the anthem is in effect their club song, but most AFL players are Aussies or adopted Aussies too.
No, we’re not asking for a sparkling rendition of the second verse (because let’s face it, most of us don’t know the words to verse two) but for heaven’s sake you could at least move your lips and pretend that you’re singing.
Whatever the excuse, it doesn’t matter. No excuse can be acceptable enough to allow the AFL players to get away with this affront.
The AFL should make it mandatory for all players to participate vocally in this simple practice and players from all teams, this ANZAC Day round, why don’t you reconsider your blank stares and sing one for the diggers.
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