I am always ambivalent about Anzac Day games.
My Dad was in WW2, got a rifle smashed into his head and was never the same. Wouldn't go to any Anzac Day stuff, wouldn't talk about the War except to say that one of the German POWs was very nice to him - made a hand-made boat in a bottle for him which was basically the only thing he ever kept from the War, except his medals (which he never wore ever).
My brother-in-law is a complete mess after Vietnam. He says that politicians and others recognize the vets one day of the year, then forget about them every other day of the year. He has PTSD every day, and is in and out of hospital all the time with mental illness.
My brother got his back broken in an accident in the Air Force, but didn't see combat.
Each of them have different attitudes to Anzac Day. Dad pretty much wanted to hide whenever it was on, and thought the people who carry on about it were full of shit. My brother in law thinks its all for show. My brother (who didn't fight in a war) actually goes to the footy when it's Anzac Day matches.
I just think it feels a bit fake, trying to cash in, and promote a fairytale image of war. But I recognize I've not been in it, so I'm not really capable of judging like others. Nevertheless, it just doesn't sit right with me... particularly blowing the trumpet at the beginning of games and so on. The dawn service feels a lot more respectful than a footy game.
Maybe I'm wrong, I dunno.
Sorry for being a minnow that posts in this thread... just been thinking about this.