The Annual ANZAC DAY Thread

[lionbear]

Re: Anzac Day - Time For A GF Rematch?

which would be last years Anzac day match



I like your system

Glad to know your clubs about that one day in April, not that last Saturday in September (or first in October).

 

[lionbear]

Personally, as much as the game itself has not interested me for 5 years, I certainly wont be protesting for a change, but if the AFL announced a change, I would support it.

The one thing I will say, I have noticed interest in this game over the last 3 years for people outside of Essendon and Collingwood has diminished significantly, I remember 10 years ago football fans in general wanting to get there hands on tickets to this match. The last couple of years, people I certainly talk to don't even mention wanting to go. There is no research onto this, it is just a general feeling from talking to football followers in general.

The pre match and what the two clubs for Anzac Day is highly recognised and rightly so, but the game itself doesn't get the same hype I remember it to get 5 years ago.
​

 

[tugga]

Annoyed me this morning to hear James Hird's view in that he wanted the AFL to grant the two sides an extra sub each.
Sorry James, but your two clubs demand this fixture each year and you need to deal with the consequences. Yes it's a Wednesday game and a short turnaround, but deal with it.
You will be getting an extended break for your next fixture, which I am sure you won't be volunteering to hand back your sub will you?
Having said that, while it annoyed me, I don't necessarily blame him for wanting the best he can get for his football club that he is paid to coach.

I may watch the game if I am around, but may not. Took my 11-year-old to her first dawn service in my area this morning and may go out for lunch. Anzac Day for me does not involve this fixture whatsoever.
Good luck to the Pies and Dons fans though and I genuinely hope they enjoy the game. But for me, it's just another game of footy that doesn't involve my side.

 

[memberforever]

I won't be watching these two clubs gain extra exposure on TV and push their memberships even higher.

 

[theboxmike]

That's it guys fight the man

 

[dogsbody]

....for me, it's just another game of footy that doesn't involve my side.

I'll bet Rob Dalton isn't as relaxed about it.

 

[Nardz]

Of course they would. I used to watch it as it was the only game and it was a public holiday. No other footy was played. I didn't card who was playing.

you're kidding yourself if you think 90,000 people would watch st.kilda vs melbourne, western bulldogs or kangaroos

 

[Blues098]

Keep it between Essendon and Collingwood.

It wouldn't be as exciting right now if it were Geelong vs Collingwood playing today or Collingwood vs St Kilda last year. Not even Carlton vs Essendon/Collingwood would be as big, unless it was started in 1995. They made this game the biggest behind the grand final. That is what people don't understand. The reason why other clubs want this shared is because of their work. Why should they hand it over to anyone else? A Hawthorn vs Geelong/Collingwood ANZAC day game would never create this much interest. I can guarantee you that if you get rid of even one of these teams, the interest of this game would drop.

I hate both sides so much, but cannot ignore that they made this game big. It would be injustice for another team to take it from them. Essendon vs Carlton/Richmond/Hawthorn or Collingwood vs Carlton/ Richmond/Hawthorn etc can all sell out the game, but it just wouldn't be the same as an Essendon vs Collingwood game on ANZAC day. So no need to change the tradition.

 

[red+black]

I LOL at the sooks saying they're not interested and won't watch because their club isn't playing. Get over yourselves. Richmond and Carlton play the first game of each season. I'm always pumped for that and watch it with anticipation. Hawthorn and Geelong on Easter Monday, massively pumped.

The AFL, the sport, Essendon and Collingwood will all survive just fine if a handful of people are rather petty about one game on the calendar.

 

[THRILLHO]

First time in quite awhile that the game promises to be interesting. Usually tune in for the pregame stuff, to have a bit of a chortle at Mick, Bucks, Maxwell and the Channel 10 crew comparing football to fighting in the trenches and a genuine interest in the Last Post, then switch it off and go have a game of golf. But this year, crap weather, holed up on the couch with a sprained ankle and the two sides will provide a genuinely interesting contest, so I'm gonna watch.

Plus, it's the first time Seven has had the Anzac game since before the rights deal with Nine and Ten so it promises to be extra SCHPECIAL. Predicting Bruce to go into raptures not seen since Jetta's goal on Sunday.

Happy for Collingwood and Essendon to keep it, wish they would give up on the "woe-is-us we played four days ago and footy is REALLY hard" crap though. Try taking the good with the bad ffs. Plus, it's overly due that Fremantle play a night game on Anzac day (and not just on the days where it falls on traditional footy days).

 

[AndyLucimitis]

Re: Anzac Day - Time For A GF Rematch?

Surely it is time to use this day to have the rematch for the biggest match from the season before? Gives the two best teams the opportunity to again benefit from playing on the big stage where it can be said they would be playing for more than 4 points certainly. The winners will be trying to prove they are the best, while the losers will be seeking redemption.

This is far more related to the ANZAC spirit than seeing two clubs use the day to benefit from what some argue is a thinly veiled marketing exercise to raise revenue for their clubs while giving a questionably small amount to the RSL.

So is this the time for the AFL to move on and stage the Grand Final rematch on this special date rather than merely allowing the same clubs to expolit it year after year?

...amd if they share the gate then thats an extra financial reward for making the Grand Final.

If they decide it's not Coll vs Ess then it has to be the Grand Final rematch.

 

[AndyLucimitis]

I doubt it wouldn't be a sellout with any two Vic clubs. To say you've put so much work into it so you should keep it is just wrong. Do you think any other club would just do nothing if they where guaranteed the game?

Yeh - I'm still trying to work out what all this 'work' is ???


What, do Essendon and Collingwood players and supporters come down and personally clean the stands or something ???

Is having James Hird and Nathan Buckley turn up for their annual 'serious-face' photo all the extra work ??


Collingwood and Essendon have 100K odd members between them - the AFL fixture the game on ANZAC Day (with no other games) and the members turn up to watch so you get 80-90K.

Big deal - what's this big sacrifice that Collingwood and Essendon are supposedly making ?

 

[Beasley]

I find the most infuriating part of this exclusive game is the hullabaloo made about the Anzac Medal Winner.

FFS, it can only be won by players from two teams.

Why doesn't the AFL just schedule an full round of matches on or around ANZAC Day and award the medal in each game.

At the moment all we hear about is how many Anzac Medals did "pretty boy" win.

 

[Roby]

Is it ANZAC day today? I just thought the day was a holiday so we can see Essendon and Collingwood play with a big crowd.

 

[Killer eagle]

So is it a channel 7 or fox broadcast?

 

[HugeJohnson]

Schedule a match in New Zealand?

 

[tugga]

I LOL at the sooks saying they're not interested and won't watch because their club isn't playing. Get over yourselves. Richmond and Carlton play the first game of each season. I'm always pumped for that and watch it with anticipation. Hawthorn and Geelong on Easter Monday, massively pumped.

The AFL, the sport, Essendon and Collingwood will all survive just fine if a handful of people are rather petty about one game on the calendar.

Good luck to you and enjoy the game.

 

[Username_lost]

To All You Softsacs Whining About Today's Game And Boycotting It For Softness,

Eat it.

What a cracker~!

 

[lionbear]

To All You Softsacs Whining About Today's Game And Boycotting It For Softness,

Eat it.

What a cracker~!

Yeah, because Essendon and Collingwood are the only one's who know how to play a close game.

It was a great game, 11 months until our next Anzac day debate

 

[red+black]

Schedule a match in New Zealand?

St Kilda are looking at it next year. No idea against who. It's a Thursday next year.

You'd imagine they'd be looking at playing in Auckland. Under lights maybe?

 

[JackoSpades]

Sorry Ladies,

The Pies and Bombers have made the day what it is. If North or Sydney or the Lions(just some of the main teams supoporters who whinge every year) played at the beggining this game would mean nothing, and we would have 20 thousand attending instead of 90 thousand.

The pies already give your clubs handouts when you play us because the majority of fans attending are pies fans.
Why should you come along, take, and destroy a great traditional day and game of football that the Pies and Bombers have made.

Yes you can be delusional and assume your teams would make the day just as big, but sorry, would not happen, will not happen, so put your skirts back on either enjoy the day or go show your respect to the ANZACs in another way.

sad...

 

[Lance Uppercut]

The legend grows...

 

[DTRAIN87]

Sorry Ladies,

The Pies and Bombers have made the day what it is. If North or Sydney or the Lions(just some of the main teams supoporters who whinge every year) played at the beggining this game would mean nothing, and we would have 20 thousand attending instead of 90 thousand.

The pies already give your clubs handouts when you play us because the majority of fans attending are pies fans.
Why should you come along, take, and destroy a great traditional day and game of football that the Pies and Bombers have made.

Yes you can be delusional and assume your teams would make the day just as big, but sorry, would not happen, will not happen, so put your skirts back on either enjoy the day or go show your respect to the ANZACs in another way.

sad...

LOL what was pathetic was the Collingwood supporters carrying on as if they won the flag or something? Even bought out that crap chant that landed egg on their faces last year. Most overrated game in the year. Also what's not so say had a Hawthorn vs Geelong game been started on ANZAC day in 1995 that it too would have made the day . This is Collingwood supporter arrogance at its finest and reeks the childish behaviour of the club and the president that it is all about them and noone else.

 

[Ryder_Hooker]

LOL what was pathetic was the Collingwood supporters carrying on as if they won the flag or something? Even bought out that crap chant that landed egg on their faces last year. Most overrated game in the year. Also what's not so say had a Hawthorn vs Geelong game been started on ANZAC day in 1995 that it too would have made the day . This is Collingwood supporter arrogance at its finest and reeks the childish behaviour of the club and the president that it is all about them and noone else.

Cry us a river mate. Haters gunna hate.

 

[DTRAIN87]

Cry us a river mate. Haters gunna hate.

Not crying, just pointing out the facts. QB does alright for a special game even though Melbourne have been perennially shit for the past 30 years with a few good patches. Maybe they should move Richmond Carlton to Anzac day after all it pulls a good crowd too.

The fact is that the game's importance is overrated by Collingwood and Essendon supporters.