MFC visit the Shrine of Rememberance

[dees189227 12,398]

In the main news they had a story on the team and Dean Bailey visiting the Shrine to learn more about ANZAC Day and learn about Melbourne players who went ot war. James McDonald read out we will remember them reading then they showed them watching soem films then they stood for the last post.

Brad Miller said he was moved by it and couldn't imagine having to go to war at age 16. What a great initative by Dean Bailey to get the club together and learn about ANZAC Day.

[Supreme_Demon 3,899]

Fantastic initiative by Dean Bailey and those involved with the MFC.

Quite a number of Melbourne players have died in both WW1 and WW2 (such as Ron Barassi Senior and "Bluey" Truscott) so it makes a lot of sense for Melbourne players to go to the shrine of rememberence and pay their respects to those Melbourne players that lost their lives in those wars along with all those many others who also did so.

It's just a shame that Essendon Vs Collingwood match seem to "own" ANZAC Day and the AFL can't have a match between say Melbourne Vs Sydney (or whoever?) or something like that in the evening, which they did a few years ago.

[w00dy 146]

i'm glad the club are paying the day the respect that it deserves, in the right context...

I really get annoyed with the way football is treated on Anzac day now... the Anzac medal for instance, what has any footballer ever done to earn an "ANZAC" medal? surely you're not deserving of an ANZAC medal after playing a good game of footy, where you played some hard contests "in the spirit of the ANZACS"... it's bull****...

the commetators go on about playing in the spirit of the ANZAC's etc... you can't even compare the two... Do Collingwood and Essendon have snipers shooting at them while they're playing footy on the MCG? I think not... I'm going to feel sick in the stomach everytime a commentator asks a Collingwood or Essendon player what it's like to play on ANZAC day...

Fine to have footy on ANZAC day, but to be honest, a lot of people almost treat it like the footy is bigger than what the day is truly for, and that's wrong...

[Pates 9,660]

....the AFL can't have a match between say Melbourne Vs Sydney (or whoever?) or something like that in the evening, which they did a few years ago.

I thought that the idea of Melbourne v Sydney in the ANZAC day round was a fantastic idea, and i don't know why they got rid of it. To be playing for the Barrassi Cup when both teams have such a huge connection with him and with Melbourne losing Barrassi Snr in Tobruk, it felt right.

Perhaps it is just the AFL wanting to make it all about the Pies and the Bombers.

And it was a brilliant initiative from Bailey or whoever to get the players more involved with what ANZAC day is all about.

[Sir Why You Little 37,130]

i'm glad the club are paying the day the respect that it deserves, in the right context...

I really get annoyed with the way football is treated on Anzac day now... the Anzac medal for instance, what has any footballer ever done to earn an "ANZAC" medal? surely you're not deserving of an ANZAC medal after playing a good game of footy, where you played some hard contests "in the spirit of the ANZACS"... it's bull****...

the commetators go on about playing in the spirit of the ANZAC's etc... you can't even compare the two... Do Collingwood and Essendon have snipers shooting at them while they're playing footy on the MCG? I think not... I'm going to feel sick in the stomach everytime a commentator asks a Collingwood or Essendon player what it's like to play on ANZAC day...

Fine to have footy on ANZAC day, but to be honest, a lot of people almost treat it like the footy is bigger than what the day is truly for, and that's wrong...

I tend to agree. I always try & watch "Gallipollli" in the Morning before the Game starts.

Really hope one day the MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB can play to a full house on Anzac Day. We have to get bigger first. Represent this city.

[DeeBest 13]

Good story that.

I think every footy club in the AFL and actually a lot of VFL, TAC Cup and even local footy clubs are now going to Anzac Day services which is fantastic. Perhaps beyond expectations of 10 years ago where people thought as the Diggers' passed away the Anzac Day story would pass on as well. But bucking that trend we've seen as the Diggers' pass away the spirit of Anzac Day keeps growing.

An Anzac Day game would be nice wouldn't it...four of them this year but the Dees miss out. Perhaps next year when Anzac Day is on a Sunday, or even the Monday which will be a public holiday in Victoria in 2010. Maybe the club should get in and request that one now!

[45HG 1,559]

It's bizarre that we aren't playing Sydney this week given how hard we tried to make it happen, Geelong Freo clearly deserve it more...

I remember '06 the team went and saw Kokoda when we were 0-3, that weekend we played as a team possibly more than i've ever seen, winning the game with 16 fit players.

[Je Roos Salem 661]

I agree.

I wish we still had the Anzac round fixture of Sydney V Melbourne.

Us and Sydney have a 3 year deal for games to be at Manuka, obviously the last is this year, so it might return next year.

I would also like to see Melbourne V Sydney at the MCG next year.

[H_T 3,049]

I thought that the idea of Melbourne v Sydney in the ANZAC day round was a fantastic idea, and i don't know why they got rid of it. To be playing for the Barrassi Cup when both teams have such a huge connection with him and with Melbourne losing Barrassi Snr in Tobruk, it felt right.

Totally agree. I think the melbourne sydney thing could work in time. Great idea by db and mfc taking players to the Shrine. Take note AFL

[Suzanna 72]

The Sydney ANZAC day game was always a good one - I went for about three years in a row and always had a good time. Particularly the game at Homebush when the Air Force did a flyover and burnt off fuel when they were overhead - it was visually spectacular. The timing on that was great - from memory it came after the 'formal' pre-game ceremony - ie the last post and the reading of the poem, the minute silence. After all that solemnity, a bit of noise & flames, and then game on!

It was great going to the game, and combining a bit of footy with a weekend break. I need more! (I can't get excited over Canberra, sorry to whoever lives there!)

Bring back the Barassi cup on ANZAC day!

[Sir Why You Little 37,130]

Was a great article in the Age Sport lift out this morning with Cam Bruce & Stefan Martin. The MFC should go in there every year at this time.

It shows to me once again, this club really wants to be taken seriously again in time.

Let's give Adelaide a Hard Game on Sunday evening in honour of the 4 Melbourne Diggers.

Lest We Forget.

[barpen 0]

I have an Honours essay I did on the First World War and its effect on the VFL if anyone is interested in reading it. It looks quite specifically at the MFC and CFC during the war and their differing responses.

Just let me know....

Cheers

[H_T 3,049]

A little surprised there is no story on the Mfc website regarding the Shrine visit.

[QueenC 74]

It is wonderful that they paid their respects, and hopefully it will continue for years to come, it is the least we can do in our generations......

But being in Sydney I never got to see the piece involving the Dees, but when the Bombers made the same visit yesterday, well that made the news all the way up here !!!

[H_T 3,049]

It is wonderful that they paid their respects, and hopefully it will continue for years to come, it is the least we can do in our generations......

But being in Sydney I never got to see the piece involving the Dees, but when the Bombers made the same visit yesterday, well that made the news all the way up here !!!

See, now that really irks me.. :angry:

[The Jack of Grimes 0]

It's just a shame that Essendon Vs Collingwood match seem to "own" ANZAC Day and the AFL can't have a match between say Melbourne Vs Sydney (or whoever?) or something like that in the evening, which they did a few years ago.

Agree, it should be about the Anzacs and Bailey's initiative was very good.

A mate of mine was listening to SEN yesterday and a caller called up (Collingwood supporter) saying how he thought it was ridiculous that other teams play on Anzac day. Not sure who was hosting the show but they blasted him, rightly so.

[QueenC 74]

Agree, it should be about the Anzacs and Bailey's initiative was very good.

A mate of mine was listening to SEN yesterday and a caller called up (Collingwood supporter) saying how he thought it was ridiculous that other teams play on Anzac day. Not sure who was hosting the show but they blasted him, rightly so.

Yeah Brian Taylor basically told the other three panelists last night that they could just sit out Anzac Day because it was "Collingwood's day" or something along those lines......

Now I am not going to argue the bloody obvious (not a lot of Pies jumpers at Gallipoli I wouldn't have thought), but I am going to marvel at the lack of respect for the history of the day itself.

And also for re-writing AFL history (which he should know), and the fact that the Anzac Day match (which I think is a wonderful thing) was a brainchild of Kevin Sheedy .

[QueenC 74]

See, now that really irks me.. :angry:

As it should......

But publicity really shouldn't be the point.

[barpen 0]

The ANZAC day game should, if we go on support for the First World War, be played between Melbourne and Essendon.

These were the two clubs that led the calls for postponement of the VFL until the end of the war. Clubs such as Collingwood, Richmond, Carlton and Fitzroy argued football should continue and the remaining clubs withdrew from the league until later in the war.

Melbourne was the only side to sit out the entire war and when it rejoined, struggled tremendously due to players lost.

I think that the ANZAC day game is not a true reflection of the period and the hype surrounding Essendon and Collingwood makes people believe that these were the two clubs most affected by the war when it is simply not the case.

I guess, outside of the MFC and its family, no one really cares...

[Sir Why You Little 37,130]

The ANZAC day game should, if we go on support for the First World War, be played between Melbourne and Essendon.

These were the two clubs that led the calls for postponement of the VFL until the end of the war. Clubs such as Collingwood, Richmond, Carlton and Fitzroy argued football should continue and the remaining clubs withdrew from the league until later in the war.

Melbourne was the only side to sit out the entire war and when it rejoined, struggled tremendously due to players lost.

I think that the ANZAC day game is not a true reflection of the period and the hype surrounding Essendon and Collingwood makes people believe that these were the two clubs most affected by the war when it is simply not the case.

I guess, outside of the MFC and its family, no one really cares...

They will start to care. When the MFC starts winning Big Games & filling our MCG with big Crowds, we may get to play on ANZAC day.

Until then i would be Gathering the entire list & coaches to attend the Dawn Service Each year.

We lost 4 Diggers in war & the club stopped playing during the war out of Respect.

That is an ultimate price...Lest we Forget....

[Deeoldfart 8,061]

................... (I can't get excited over Canberra, sorry to whoever lives there!)

No need to apologise Suzanna, I can't get excited about it either, and I've lived here for almost 40 years (and I still get my annual bout of homesickness for Melbourne every March to September)