anzac day - get farked afl

[ramjet21]

Bombers, Magpies slam Anzac change
abc.net.au

Collingwood and Essendon have expressed vehement opposition to any change to the start time of their traditional Anzac Day clash at the MCG.

Both clubs want the match, to be played on Friday next year, to remain an afternoon fixture.

The AFL on Tuesday speculated that the biggest game of the home-and-away season could be played as a twilight or night fixture.

AFL general manager of football operations Andrew Demetriou said a time change was being considered for next season.

"It's a question we put to our broadcasters at a meeting on Monday," Demetriou said.

"There's an argument for the traditional day game, but Anzac Day falls on a Friday, so I'll be interested to see what people think."

Both Essendon chief executive Peter Jackson and Collingwood CEO Greg Swann said they were surprised that the clubs were not consulted before the league opened public debate.

Jackson said the match should be played during the day.

"The game is a natural extension of Anzac Day celebrations, it would not be appropriate to be played later in the day or at night," he said.

"We want to maintain the occasion. That's what we requested in our fixture requirements for next year and I'm intrigued with what has been said."

Swann said he found any suggestion of a change "a bit strange".

"It's been played at 2pm for eight years and we don't want the match played at any other time," Swann said.

"We have a dawn service, diggers' march and have a few beers and then it's off to the footy at the MCG. We don't want that tradition changed.

"They (the AFL) should have talked to the two clubs involved before canvassing anyone's view."

Both Collingwood and Essendon said they would have no problem if the AFL wanted to fixture another night game in Melbourne on Anzac Day or an interstate fixture on the same day.

Jackson suggested an interstate Anzac Day clash involving Sydney at the SCG had merit and could create a new tradition between the Swans and either Melbourne or Brisbane.

The Demons have requested to play Sydney at the SCG on Anzac Day as part of their fixture wish-list for 2003.

Demetriou said he personally favoured an Essendon-Collingwood twilight match.

The traditional Bombers-Magpies match was first played in 1995 and resulted in a draw which attracted a capacity 94,825 on a Tuesday at the MCG, the second-biggest home-and-away crowd ever.

This year's game, in round five on a Thursday, attracted almost 85,000 and was broadcast live on Channel Nine.

It is believed Channel Nine is not in favour of a time change next year.

[CQ]

who gives a rats what demitriou *prefers*.

he wishes it was a night game!

and as for everyone else having a whinge about us having ANZAC day and that they should get a go, well they had their opportunity but no one wanted it, now that coll, ess, have made it good they want to steal all our hard work.
the thing is, even if they did have it no one would go cos they arent important like us!

249

[Brown26]

What a perfect time to have a second anzac day game - the usual friday night game. What about bulldogs Vs St Kilda at colonial. Perfect chance for them to get a capacity crowd. Not.

Pies for Premiers 2002, 3, 4, 5, 6....

[MagpieMad]

LOL Brown26
bulldogs Vs St Kilda, they could even call it a "BlockBuster"
LMAO

[Dgen]

Why does the AFL keep suggesting things like this without speaking to the clubs first? DAMN they are stupid!

'caveat pica pica'

[ck_nd]

you mean 4000 isn't a blockbuster???? LOLOLOLOL

suppose it would be for the aints and dogs... why have it at the colonial - they might even make a few bucks from the "blockbuster" should they have it at some oval in the suburbs.

Go Pies! You are doing us Proud (and you can fill the 'G.)

Carol

May the Wings of the Magpie touch every corner of the Nation!

[Dr Alf Andrews]

I don't see any problem with them having another game on the same day. As long as it's in another State. Sydney V Melbourne would be fine.

Can't see any reason to change the starting time of Collingwood-Essendon, though. Unless they start the Sydney game at 12.30 and play the M.C.G. game from about 3 o'clock. But I reckon they'd be better off leaving the M.C.G. game at its usual time and playing the Sydney match at night.

Really, is there any reason why other states should not be entitled to have their own ANZAC Day match? ANZAC is an Australia-wide phenomenon. It's not just a Melbourne thing.

In the S.A.N.F.L. they always had a traditional ANZAC Day fixture between the previous season's Grand Finalists. Not sure if they still do that, but it worked well for many years. It was very popular with the Diggers because it was played in the city at the Adelaide Oval. It used to pull about 25 to 30,000 every year in the olden days, which was a huge crowd for a home and away game in the S.A.N.F.L. It was the biggest game of the year outside of the finals and the interstate games.

floreat pica
**************
My Ph.D. thesis, "Football: the People's Game?" is now available for viewing and/or downloading at http://alf.magpies.net

[ramjet21]

absolutely alf. used to live in perth and the anzac match between dockers and saints was always good. anzac is australia, not vic. the reason i posted the article was re the start time for pies v dons. no consultation and in all honesty, the afl trying to fix something that aint broken. anzac day has been a huge success year after year? why the hell change it?

[London Dave]

Why should we be doing the AFL any favours...have a read of Trevor Grants Hun article...they didn't give a stuff about us.