Winning on the last Saturday in September aside, there is nothing I would love more than to go and watch the Dees at the 'G on the 25th of April. The atmosphere, the intensity, the passion and the feeling of national pride would be something that would eclipse even my love of the club.
Due to this I recently find myself reading any article relating to this topic with much interest, because I hope that eventually these whispers may snowball and cause a change in the way the fixture is set.
However, my desire to watch my club on ANZAC Day has been suppressed due to a major issue in the discussion regarding how the fixture should be set.
The talk of fairness in the fixture has gone from just relating to the importance of the event to one of finances.
Leigh Matthews has been quoted as saying "It’s an AFL game, if they think that [should be] Collingwood and Essendon, well OK, they have built the tradition so they play the game, but at least the profits from the game must be spread around the whole competition".
This is wrong, and for some reason nobody seems to have noticed why.
The ANZAC Day game is not made great by the AFL, Collingwood, Essendon or the fans. The ANZAC Day game is made great by the ANZAC's themselves.
They are the heroes, not the football players. They are the courageous ones, not the football players. They are the ones who gave their lives, not the football players. Please let us not forget this.
So how can it be that we find ourselves in a position where we are squabbling over the spoils of a game made great by those greater than we?
The AFL should make sure that this game is played by the two best teams of the year, as it is the only way to do justice to such a solemn and special occasion.
More importantly though, any money made from this game, above that made from an average home and away game, should be given to a charity that supports the people who helped to make this day a day of utmost importance.
Let this amazing windfall benefit the families of fallen soldiers, men who gave their lives to allow us the freedoms we now cherish.
I can't imagine there would be a person out there who would object to this, and if there is, then the fixture should be abandoned without hesitation because it makes a mockery of something we all should hold sacred.
Open Space is a platform for news, commentary, and debate and is now inviting readers to have their say where we will publish regular essays from readers.
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