YouIdiot
25 Apr 2010, 00:37
This ANZAC day match rubbish is really annoying me.
The most important point is that the ANZAC day match isn't an AFL tradition, it is a Collingwood v Essendon tradition.
So many elements of what add to the intensity of this day will be completely lost if it is ‘gifted’ to two other sides, meaning it just becomes whoever v whoever on ANZAC day, not the ‘ANZAC day match’.
If it is rotated, the running tally of victories will mean nothing as sides will be lucky to play in the game more than once every couple of seasons. Winning the cup therefore will not mean the same thing to the players and the club as it does to those who as it stands have won 7.5 a piece and are definitely counting! The spectators know when a game means a bit more to the clubs, too, and ever since the first draw it has been that way with this game. You can't just manufacture that.
But what are we really talking about here? Two other games are played on ANZAC day as well! So Collingwood and Essendon playing on ANZAC day doesn't actually stop it from happening else where. The other sides could easily rotate through two other games. So, the complaint is... Collingwood and Essendon do ANZAC day too well and as such their game will unofficially be the 'main' ANZAC game, which is unfair to the others?
Or is it that Collingwood v Essendon is held during the day and the others may be later? Don't clubs bitch about not getting enough night matches given their popularity? Play anyone you like at 2pm ANZAC day, Pies v Bombers ANZAC day would still be what it is if played at 7pm, as it is a Pies v Bombers tradition.
Given we have established Collingwood playing Essendon on ANZAC day doesn't prevent other sides playing the same day, and that the time of day would matter little to either sides ability to generate genuine rivalry and an epic audience, is the issue the fact the game would be played on the MCG? Where else do these two ever play each other? And for the chosen sides that do get to replace the pies and bombers in the future, does playing it at the MCG make it any more of a tribute to our fallen soldiers? If two other Victorian sides want to play at prime time, surely they could play at the Docklands? But that wouldn't do, as I feel the agenda is less about getting two other sides on the park and more about getting Collingwood and Essendon off it....
And what about the interstate sides? If it is about fairness, and not ego or spoiled childism, the MCG isn't always going to be the choice venue – pull your heads out of your asses, Victoria! It isn't VNZAC day!
And why aren’t those complaining about this supposed injustice also up in arms about the Queens Birthday game, or dream time at the ‘G? What is the difference?
For goodness sakes, other sides do play on ANZAC day. I fail to see how playing at 2:40pm on the MCG is anymore meaningful or respectful than playing anywhere else at any other time. IT ISN’T!
There are only two logical summaries of the collective complaint I can come up with…
1. Like a spoiled child, somebody else’s toy is always better than your own.
2. Collingwood and Essendon do too good a job of the day and prevent the other matches being considered the 'main' ANZAC day match...
…and it is this egotistical, always something to complain about, don't want to see others succeed, commercially driven motive that is the main reason none of these filthy scavenging clubs should be given the chance to put on a pseudo ANZAC day match in place of something that has been built by two clubs and couldn't possibly be replicated on all fronts, pardon the pun.
/end rant (and sober edits)
The most important point is that the ANZAC day match isn't an AFL tradition, it is a Collingwood v Essendon tradition.
So many elements of what add to the intensity of this day will be completely lost if it is ‘gifted’ to two other sides, meaning it just becomes whoever v whoever on ANZAC day, not the ‘ANZAC day match’.
If it is rotated, the running tally of victories will mean nothing as sides will be lucky to play in the game more than once every couple of seasons. Winning the cup therefore will not mean the same thing to the players and the club as it does to those who as it stands have won 7.5 a piece and are definitely counting! The spectators know when a game means a bit more to the clubs, too, and ever since the first draw it has been that way with this game. You can't just manufacture that.
But what are we really talking about here? Two other games are played on ANZAC day as well! So Collingwood and Essendon playing on ANZAC day doesn't actually stop it from happening else where. The other sides could easily rotate through two other games. So, the complaint is... Collingwood and Essendon do ANZAC day too well and as such their game will unofficially be the 'main' ANZAC game, which is unfair to the others?
Or is it that Collingwood v Essendon is held during the day and the others may be later? Don't clubs bitch about not getting enough night matches given their popularity? Play anyone you like at 2pm ANZAC day, Pies v Bombers ANZAC day would still be what it is if played at 7pm, as it is a Pies v Bombers tradition.
Given we have established Collingwood playing Essendon on ANZAC day doesn't prevent other sides playing the same day, and that the time of day would matter little to either sides ability to generate genuine rivalry and an epic audience, is the issue the fact the game would be played on the MCG? Where else do these two ever play each other? And for the chosen sides that do get to replace the pies and bombers in the future, does playing it at the MCG make it any more of a tribute to our fallen soldiers? If two other Victorian sides want to play at prime time, surely they could play at the Docklands? But that wouldn't do, as I feel the agenda is less about getting two other sides on the park and more about getting Collingwood and Essendon off it....
And what about the interstate sides? If it is about fairness, and not ego or spoiled childism, the MCG isn't always going to be the choice venue – pull your heads out of your asses, Victoria! It isn't VNZAC day!
And why aren’t those complaining about this supposed injustice also up in arms about the Queens Birthday game, or dream time at the ‘G? What is the difference?
For goodness sakes, other sides do play on ANZAC day. I fail to see how playing at 2:40pm on the MCG is anymore meaningful or respectful than playing anywhere else at any other time. IT ISN’T!
There are only two logical summaries of the collective complaint I can come up with…
1. Like a spoiled child, somebody else’s toy is always better than your own.
2. Collingwood and Essendon do too good a job of the day and prevent the other matches being considered the 'main' ANZAC day match...
…and it is this egotistical, always something to complain about, don't want to see others succeed, commercially driven motive that is the main reason none of these filthy scavenging clubs should be given the chance to put on a pseudo ANZAC day match in place of something that has been built by two clubs and couldn't possibly be replicated on all fronts, pardon the pun.
/end rant (and sober edits)