Good post for discussion. Personally I'm against the idea of Essendon and Collingwood 'owning' this day. As many have pointed out it's a day for all Australians not just those 2 clubs. It also p*sses me off big time that Essendon and Collingwood earn the right to wear the ANZAC emblem on their guernseys and play for the ANZAC Cup & win an ANZAC medal as the best player on ground or whatever it is. All clubs should have the opportunity to play for this. And why is it that on the ANZAC weekend round all clubs don't wear the ANZAC emblem given most if not all of the club have had players who have served with the Australian defense forces.
Perhaps it should be the 2 grand finalists or the top 2 Victorian teams playing each other? I'm not sure but it does need to change. These clubs get to target sponsors and potential players on the basis they get to play the ANZAC game on the biggest day of the year with no competition. Talk about a massive disadvantage to the other 14, soon to be 15 clubs. Maybe it's the day State of Origin should be played or if at sometime in the future as the competition grows and 2 conferences are created, a representative team from each conference plays each other.
Perhaps it should be the 2 grand finalists or the top 2 Victorian teams playing each other? I'm not sure but it does need to change. These clubs get to target sponsors and potential players on the basis they get to play the ANZAC game on the biggest day of the year with no competition. Talk about a massive disadvantage to the other 14, soon to be 15 clubs. Maybe it's the day State of Origin should be played or if at sometime in the future as the competition grows and 2 conferences are created, a representative team from each conference plays each other.
). Standing and paying silent respect to the fallen and those who fought. Wasn't a big crowd, but I remember other ANZAC Day clashes we were involved in. The crowd were involved at the start. Playing the Last Post and other activities on other days of the weekend isn't the same.
