Why is such a big deal made of the ANZAC game?

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Bayer_

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#52
The ANZAC medal IS one of the most prestigious medals in our game and you're just jealous that no Geelong player can or will be able to ever say they are an ANZAC medallist.
What ridiculous nonsense. The name of the medal cheapens the day by making the link between football and war that we keep hearing from the game's proponents never happens.
 
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#56
The ANZAC medal is treated to be as prestigious as winning a Norm Smith, which is also ridiculous - it’s the best player in a game between Essendon and Collingwood.
It’s a shame Gary Ablett Snr didn’t get the opportunity to add to his credentials in his court case with a multiple ANZAC Day medal listing. 3 times ANZAC Day medallist really adds impact in the courts eyes.
 

mcgarnacle

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#58
Why is tonight's game referred to as ANZAC Day Eve? Shouldn't it just be ANZAC Eve? You don't call Xmas Eve, Xmas Day Eve.

All about the big issues, me.
Never heard the term 'Anzac Eve' in any setting before until the AFL and media partners commercialised it for their benefit
 

mcgarnacle

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#59
Strongly dislike it when they try to draw parallels between the players and the ANZACs at times in the pregame fluff. Playing footy and getting shot in the face in Gallipolli really don't have anything to do with each other.
the channel 7 promos are really cringy and low. had to switch channels have way into the ad is making me that sick.

play a football match. i have no qualms about that. we're celebrating our freedoms and being Australian. but drawing parallels between this one game and a real war is pathetic
 

Milanista28

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#61
Strongly dislike it when they try to draw parallels between the players and the ANZACs at times in the pregame fluff. Playing footy and getting shot in the face in Gallipolli really don't have anything to do with each other.
It is like war though. going to battle with 21 other blokes all fighting for the win together, it's what it's all about.
 

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Papa G

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#63
Marketing hype to get an extra 20,000 paying customers along to the MCG and more importantly, to boost Ch.7's TV ratings by an extra 250,000

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

The AFL also loves anything which paints them as a pillar of the community and the Anzac Day palaver at the MCG certainly achieves that.
This is it an an absolute nutshell. Hey, like any game not involving my team I'll watch it if I'm not doing something else, but always make sure I don't turn it on till the game has started. The pre game stuff from Channel 7/AFL is just awful.

Essendon/Collingwood fans defend it till they are blue in the face because they are enormous beneficiaries from it.
 

Jason K

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#64
It is like war though. going to battle with 21 other blokes all fighting for the win together, it's what it's all about.
No its ****en not. It’s a game. I take offence to this notion. There's a huge difference between going to war, accepting you may die there and having a throw away line that you'd die on the fieldfor your team mates. Especially when your being paid insane money to do it.
 
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#66
Its a big game because you have two of the most successful, best run and oldest clubs based in the same city playing.

People can say what they like but North vs Freo (for example) at Marvel would get 15,000 people and no one would care.

I do hate it when they try and turn it into this "going to war, fight in the trenches, anzac spirit" bullsheet.

To compare a bunch of pampered young sportsmen getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to anyone who has actually been in a war situation is an insult. Someone above said the promos are cringy and i agreee. All they need to make it worse is have Brett Kirk give a weird speech.

It shows what drives the AFL and that's money.

And dont start me on Birds of Tokyo playing either.
 

Jason K

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#67
How was Jack Riewolt on AFL360 last night describing The Last Post as the song they play before the game. Pretty disrespectful.

I love having the footy on in the background on ANZAC day after the march while having a few beers, but I can't stand that the AFL and SOME players believe the day is about them.
 
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#68
What ridiculous nonsense. The name of the medal cheapens the day by making the link between football and war that we keep hearing from the game's proponents never happens.
A bit like your little Napoleon with his repetitious “You lose a soldier; you replace him with another one.” quote.
 

Milanista28

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#69
How was Jack Riewolt on AFL360 last night describing The Last Post as the song they play before the game. Pretty disrespectful.

I love having the footy on in the background on ANZAC day after the march while having a few beers, but I can't stand that the AFL and SOME players believe the day is about them.
Someone should write some lyrics and turn it into a pop song, Could be a nice money maker if they do a film clip as well.
 

basashi

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#70
It is such an interesting day.

It brings together the two opposites of Australian society: on one side the pampered, self interested, egotistical, flashy pro athletes prancing around in shiny shirts earning fat pay checks..... and on the opposite end of the spectrum the gritty, understated poorly supported soldier, risking his life for his country. They could not be more different. They are absolute opposites.

In the middle is everyone else, crunching it out from 8am to 5pm 5 days a week, trying to pay the mortgage and keep their kids away from drugs...

Its opposites day.
 
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#71
The AFL, Essendon and Collingwood sold out the meaning of Anzac Day years ago, but late to get on the complaining about Birds of Tokyo moral high horse.

There has probably not been an all-time classic Anzac Day match since the 1995 draw anyway. OP is right in saying the annual fixture is overrated, and all the hoo haa placed on the Anzac Day medal.
yes raising money for the RSL is such a sellout move....

nothing is more predictable year on year than a pack of minnow supporters having the annual whinge about ANZAC day.
 
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#72
Agree.

There’s a big crowd and the atmosphere at the start is okay by the game itself has been boring for years. Collingwood basically wins every year.

Put any two big sides on a public holiday and you’d get a big crowd.
incorrect

St Kilda vs North Melbourne 2018 Good Friday.

Crowd 33,000
 

Richard Pryor

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#73
It is like war though. going to battle with 21 other blokes all fighting for the win together, it's what it's all about.
Only on the most superficial level. Reading eyewitness accounts of the Somme shows that the reality of WWI was nothing like footy.

That aside, it's a game with a great finals atmosphere which is fun to watch
 
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