The ANZAC Day clash

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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

[edit] History

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] In 1975 the then VFL first celebrated Anzac Day with a match of Australian rules football between Essendon and Carlton in front of a large crowd of 77,770 at VFL Park, Waverley, with Essendon coming out winners.[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 2008 a second ANZAC Day match was held in Western Australia at Subiaco Oval, featuring Fremantle vs reigning Premiers Geelong. Geelong came out victorious by one point in front of a crowd of 38,022.[8]

[edit] 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.[9]

[edit] 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.

[edit] Match results

Year-by-Year Results[10]
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)

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

[edit] See also

[edit] 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. ^ Club History. Essendon FC. Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
  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. ^ Cats by a point. Official Website of the Australian Football League (25 April, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
  9. ^ Tah'd with a new brush - Footy at its purest. Sydney Morning Herald (May 3, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
  10. ^ "AFL Tables", Australian Sporting Statistics. Retrieved on 2008-04-26. 
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