Why is such a big deal made of the ANZAC game?

[Elite Finger Twirler]

Why change a winning formula?

If this game struggled to attract 50,000, then yes, change it. But why would you change it when its successful?

It would be stupid.

Smart businesses don't mess with a winning product.

Just proved my original point. Cheers pal.

 

[gavaniacono]

Historical appropriation and marketing jizz dressed up as patriotism

 

[hawks787]

What happens next year with it falling on a Saturday?

 

[Billy ray]

What happens next year with it falling on a Saturday?

Will be a 210 start so there can be a second game on the day from perth. Fri night will be rich v melb.
4 / 5 games on sunday. One monday night perhaps

 

[Cleavy]

What happens next year with it falling on a Saturday?

Split round? More likely ANZAC games on in different states.

 

[gavaniacono]

What happens next year with it falling on a Saturday?

Synagogues will be empty.

 

[RedVest4]

Hasn’t all the pre game talk been brilliant.

Now all of the players are about to “go into battle”.

 

[Old Man Rooey]

RedVest4 I have a thread for you on the Bay where you can air your grievances.

Seriously though, it's a big deal because there's history between the clubs which includes some connection to the ANZAC history. I guess these two sides were chosen to represent the day for the AFL because they have this history and more importantly can bring in huge crowds.

It's up to all clubs to create their own marquee occasions. Part of that is marketing, another is the clubs buying into the occasion and helping it to grow. Yeah, on it's own Anzac Day is pretty monumental, and all 25 times both clubs have met hasn't always been a classic game.

Nevertheless, I can't really see a reason why not any other club can't follow Essendon and Collingwoods' lead with a bit of imagination. But, it doesn't happen overnight.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Why do they bother having a criteria for the ANZAC medal... and then completely ignore it and simply give it to best on ground

Self-sacrifice, courage etc

It’s disrespectful to simply give it to best on ground

 

[Bayer_]

Only on the most superficial level. Reading eyewitness accounts of the Somme shows that the reality of WWI was nothing like footy.

That aside, it's a game with a great finals atmosphere which is fun to watch

Correct. While there are certainly parallels between war and sport (strategies, playing your role, doing things for your comrades), the fundamental nature of risking your life, becoming physically and mentally scarred, and often dying, all for a duty to your country, is completely different to being paid a fortune to chase a piece of leather.

 

[Messenger]

I love watching Essendon v Collingwood on Anzac Day only because the players treat it like actual warfare and when they get interviewed afterwards they talk about how they were in the trenches with their teammates out on the field for a couple of hours.

“It was just like dodging the German machine gun nest and getting trench foot. Just happy to get the four points”.

 

[JimDocker]

Nah, the AFL jumped on the bandwagon many years after Anzac day was revived and popularised. To me they're just jumping on the coat tails. The popularity of Remembrance increased from the 70s and then exploded in popularity over next two decades from events such as the 75th anniversary Govt pilgrimage to Gallipoli, funding for shrines/events and revitalised annual rituals for all wars.

Garbage. According to Department of Veteran's Affairs Website

"During the 1960s and 1970s, the number of people attending the ceremonies fell as Australians questioned the relevance of Anzac Day. However, in the 1990s there was a resurgence of interest in Anzac Day, with attendances, particularly by young people, increasing across Australia and with many making the pilgrimage to the Gallipoli Peninsula to attend the Dawn Service."

That certainly matches my memory of it to.

 

[loki04]

It’s a great fixture and I look forward to it. It’s only behind the Dreamtime Game for the biggest H&A game for the season.

Lul

 

[ThatsjustDappa]

Garbage. According to Department of Veteran's Affairs Website

"During the 1960s and 1970s, the number of people attending the ceremonies fell as Australians questioned the relevance of Anzac Day. However, in the 1990s there was a resurgence of interest in Anzac Day, with attendances, particularly by young people, increasing across Australia and with many making the pilgrimage to the Gallipoli Peninsula to attend the Dawn Service."

That certainly matches my memory of it to.

Huh? Pretty much what i said but hey lets split hairs

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

2 biggest Melbourne clubs. I guess it's the closest thing Victorians have to a real derby.

Yep it's been a ripping display watching the Eagles win the last 8 games in a row against Freo...

The anticipation and suspense !!!

 

[JimDocker]

Huh? Pretty much what i said but hey lets split hairs

Not splitting hairs.

What you said was "increased from the 70s and exploded in popularity over the next 2 decades" which means there was no lull in support between the 70s and the 90s.

I am saying from the 70s to the 90s, interest dwindled exponentially.

We are saying totally different things !

 

[nahnah]

It’s an interesting point.
Finals are easy to remember, Grand Finals more so. Norm Smith medallist’s etc.
Yet it’s really difficult to remember an Anzac Day game. People know about Zaharakis ‘09 and the drawn game in ‘95. That to me says the game isn’t actually interesting.
Let’s compare that to Geelong v Hawthorn. So so many more games people remember.

other than a grand final where the hawks were kicking behinds for Geelong from 30 metres out and a Hawkins goal after the siren to win a game I cant say I can remember that many

 

[Reg Grundy35]

i love how our annual blockbuster shits the minnows.

 

[Navy Cream]

I love it when the Storm beat NZ.

 

[PiesUserName]

I’m all for marquee games - Geelong gets Easter Monday for example. However, the ANZAC game should just be another marquee game, not its own Grand Final.

It is just another marquee game. You're right, Geelong have Easter Monday and Collingwood and Essendon get ANZAC day....just another marquee game. It's not their fault it is bigger than every other marquee game.

 

[FRUMPY]

I don’t get the fuss really, it is treated as the second biggest game of the year behind the GF, yet it is only a regular season home and away game.

There is an enormous load of promotional w@nk in the lead up to it as if the players are going into battle... They aren’t, it’s a football game worth 4 competition points.

The ANZAC medal is treated to be as prestigious as winning a Norm Smith, which is also ridiculous - it’s the best player in a game between Essendon and Collingwood.

The better option would be to only have ANZAC round.

I’m all for marquee games - Geelong gets Easter Monday for example. However, the ANZAC game should just be another marquee game, not its own Grand Final.

Yeah I do laugh about the 'Anzac day medallist' and how it is listed on players achievements, as if it's more important than being adjudged best on ground in any other home and away game. He'll how many 3 vote games have ablett and judd won? Means exactly the same thing.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[R Chee Manning]

The reason why I like the ANZAC clash is because I remember in 1995 how it took everyone by surprise... still the biggest crowd to this day and apparently there were 20,000 people still left outside...

Probably the biggest 'walk-up' of all time.

 

[Eshay187]

I think some of those football players out there on Wednesday were braver than some troops.

 

[R Chee Manning]

I think some of those football players out there on Wednesday were braver than some troops.

Without a doubt.

 

[HairyO]

Not splitting hairs.

What you said was "increased from the 70s and exploded in popularity over the next 2 decades" which means there was no lull in support between the 70s and the 90s.

I am saying from the 70s to the 90s, interest dwindled exponentially.

We are saying totally different things !

Id say the 1960s/70s drop off may have had a little bit to do with a rather unpopular war which saw massive protests at anything militarily related. And which had ill feeling even well in to the 1980s.

Outside of the AFL, PM Howard was a massive part of the increased observance of ANZAC Day.

Sorry to interject some common sense.