The ANZAC Day clash

From MedBib.com - Medicine & Nature

The Anzac Day clash is an annual Australian rules football match between Australian Football League teams Essendon and Collingwood, held on ANZAC Day (April, 25) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).[1]

Contents

History and Background

Further information: The VFL during the World Wars
Further information: VFL/AFL players who died in active service

During many wars, Australian rules football matches have been played overseas in places like northern Africa and Vietnam as a celebration of Australian culture and as a bonding exercise between soldiers.[2][3][4] The first VFL matches played on Anzac Day occurred in 1960; until the mid-1990s it was usual for two matches to be played on the public holiday.[5]

The modern version of the Anzac Day clash was proposed by then Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy, with the match first played in 1995. This game is often considered the biggest match of the AFL season outside of the finals, sometimes drawing bigger crowds than all but the Grand Final, and often selling out in advance.[6][7] In recent years, other clubs have lobbied for the game to be shared amongst all clubs, not just Collingwood and Essendon.[8][9] Since their inception in 1995, Fremantle has held the Len Hall Tribute Game, named in honour of Western Australia's last Gallipoli veteran, but not always on Anzac Day. [10] Melbourne has proposed to hold an Anzac Day match in Canberra in 2009.[11] In the National Rugby League, the Sydney Roosters and St. George Illawarra Dragons have played on Anzac Day since 2002, but generally without the increase in crowd numbers compared to other games.[12]

Game day

Before the match, a special ANZAC Day service is held at the MCG. This ceremony includes the recognition of Australian War Veterans as well as a Flag Ceremony, including the Last Post and Australian National Anthem.[1]

For many people this may their closest involvement with ANZAC Day remembrance services. Sydney based journalist and former Australian rugby national representative player Peter FitzSimons commented in the Sydney Morning Herald of the 2008 game that he had:

...rarely seen something so impressive in the world of sport. As they played the Last Post and the national anthem, the 100,000-strong crowd [sic] uttered not a peep, whispered not a murmur. The atmosphere was electric and the general mood in the air one of reverence for the diggers and anticipation of the game to come...Somewhere, someone has done a superb job organising that landmark day in Australian sport.[13]

Network Ten currently have the broadcasting rights to the ANZAC Day match. Previously, the Nine Network (2002-2006) and the Seven Network (1995-2001) had the broadcasting rights to the match. Network Ten is likely to have the rights until at least 2010, during which year ANZAC Day falls on a Sunday, which is when the Seven Network is allowed to broadcast its' second assigned match throughout a given round.

ANZAC Medal

A best-on-ground player has been named for each of the Anzac Day clashes. Since 2000 the player in the match considered to best exemplify the ANZAC Spirit - skill, courage, self-sacrifice, teamwork and fair play - has been awarded the AFL ANZAC Medal.[6] This medal has been won three times by retired Essendon star James Hird, the most of any player.

Match results

Year-by-Year Results[14]
Year Winner Collingwood Score Essendon Score Attendance ANZAC Medallist
1995 Draw 17.9.111 16.15.111 94,825 Saverio Rocca (Collingwood)*
1996 Collingwood 17.15.117 16.9.105 87,549 Mark Mercuri (Essendon)*
1997 Collingwood 14.15.99 10.10.70 83,271 Damian Monkhorst (Collingwood)*
1998 Collingwood 15.18.108 12.16.88 81,542 Stephen Patterson (Collingwood)*
1999 Essendon 15.10.100 15.18.108 73,118 Matthew Lloyd (Essendon)*
2000 Essendon 15.10.100 21.14.140 88,390 James Hird (Essendon)
2001 Essendon 14.11.95 15.13.103 83,905 Chris Tarrant (Collingwood)
2002 Collingwood 9.12.66 4.9.33 84,894 Mark McGough (Collingwood)
2003 Essendon 12.9.81 23.9.147 62,589* James Hird (Essendon)
2004 Essendon 11.13.79 17.10.112 57,294* James Hird (Essendon)
2005 Essendon 10.9.69 11.17.83 70,033* Andrew Lovett (Essendon)
2006 Collingwood 15.16.106 12.17.89 91,234 Ben Johnson (Collingwood)
2007 Collingwood 12.23.95 11.13.79 90,508 Heath Shaw (Collingwood)
2008 Collingwood 23.16.154 12.9.81 88,999 Paul Medhurst (Collingwood)

(* Capacity of ground reduced due to redevelopment for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games)

(Note: * signifies 'Best-on-ground' - no official ANZAC Medal awarded until 2000)

References

  1. ^ a b "Anzac Day – paying respect". AFL (April 25, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
  2. ^ Australian War Memorial H13624
  3. ^ Australian War Memorial P00851.009
  4. ^ Australian War Memorial MEB0068
  5. ^ Rodgers, Stephen & Browne, Ashley (1996): Every Game Ever Played: VFL/AFL results 1897–1995. Penguin-Viking, Melbourne. ISBN 0 670 90794 4. p 441.
  6. ^ a b "Celebrating the Anzac Day clash". Essendon FC (April 21, 2004). Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
  7. ^ "AFL's Anzac clash sold out". ABC News Online (11 April, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
  8. ^ Pascoe, Robert (May 2007). "The AFL's ANZAC Day Match". CCL Review (Melbourne, Victoria: Victoria University) 1 (1), http://www.cclreview.org.au/updoc/1179276639_Pascoe%20AnzacDayMatch%20070504.pdf. Retrieved on 21 September 2008. 
  9. ^ Lane, Tim (27 April 2008). "Anzac Day, an occasion to be shared". The Age. Retrieved on 2008-09-21.
  10. ^ "Match Day Info". AFL.com.au (24 April 2008). Retrieved on 2008-09-21.
  11. ^ Stevens, Mark (22 August 2008). "Dee's Anzac Day proposal", Foxsports. Retrieved on 21 September 2008. 
  12. ^ Smith, Warren; Dragons and Roosters should forfeit Anzac Day; 29 April 2008
  13. ^ "Tah'd with a new brush - Footy at its purest". Sydney Morning Herald (May 3, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
  14. ^ "AFL Tables", Australian Sporting Statistics. Retrieved on 26 April 2008.