Since the epic Power/Saints 2004 preliminary final, the rivalry between the two clubs has continued to grow, due in part to the spirited ANZAC Round clashes over the past two years. With both clubs desperate for the four points, the ANZAC spirit will definitely be on display this weekend.
This year marks the 90th year since World War One – which claimed the lives of almost 80,000 Australian and New Zealand soldiers – was declared over.
The Port Adelaide Football Club in conjunction with the Australian Football League will commemorate this significant occasion with an ANZAC Observance Ceremony immediately prior to the start of the game. The Power will ask patrons at AAMI Stadium to remember those 1.5 million Australians who served their country in times of war and in peacekeeping roles.
RSL SA president Jock Statton, OAM, will recite the Ode of Remembrance. Jock served with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment in South Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. Bugler Andrew Newhouse of the Australian Army Band Adelaide will play the Last Post and Rouse, and Navy vocalist Rory McKinnon will sing the Australian National Anthem. Each of the three defence services will be represented at the commemorative service.
Members of two of the defence services, the RAAF and the Australian Army, will do battle in the curtain raiser from 5.20pm.
For the fifth consecutive year, the Peter Badcoe VC Medal will be awarded to the player who best exemplifies the ANZAC spirit during the game. The medal is named after Peter Badcoe VC, the last South Australian to receive the military’s highest honour for bravery, the Victorian Cross.
Major Badcoe’s Victoria Cross was awarded for not one, but three actions of bravery in Vietnam which occurred between 23 February and 7 April 1967. They were the rescue of an American medical adviser whilst moving across gun fire swept ground; the leadership of an attack over open terrain to capture a heavily defended enemy position; and the rallying of his men after they were stopped by heavy fire, during which he was killed by machine gun fire.
Past winners of the Badcoe Medal are:
2004 – Josh Carr
2005 – Warren Tredrea
2006 – Brendon Lade
2007 – Chad Cornes
Major Badcoe’s nephew, John Kelton, will present the Badcoe Medal after the game.
ANZAC Round Key Times
4.45pm – Car park opens
5.15pm – Gates open
5.20pm – Curtain raiser between SA RAAF and SA Australian Army begins
6.40pm – On-ground entertainment begins
7.10pm – ANZAC Observance Ceremony
7.15pm – Port Adelaide vs St Kilda
We encourage all supporters to get to the ground in plenty of time to be part of the Anzac Day commemorative service and also to give generously to RSL representatives, who will be collecting money around the ground.
Tickets are available for Saturday night’s game from BASS outlets or BASS Dial ‘n Charge 13 12 46. Tickets will also be available from AAMI Stadium gates.
Don’t get wet!
With wet weather forecast this week, we’d like to let our Game-Day members know they can purchase a seat in the Northern Grandstand for an additional $10.
Members will need to enter the ground as usual and then proceed upstairs to the concourse level of the Northern Grandstand to purchase their upgrade from the red coat attendant. The offer is subject to capacity in the GA section of the Northern Grandstand.
