National Anthem

[wackojacko 25]

Why do we have to hear this embarrassing song before each finals game?? We are not at an international event, we are at a footy game between to Aussie teams....Limit it to the GF, even thats too much.

[beelzebub 23,390]

Why do we have to hear this embarrassing song before each finals game?? We are not at an international event, we are at a footy game between to Aussie teams....Limit it to the GF, even thats too much.

what sort of idiot are you.

Its our National Anthem ffs.

If you dont understand why your OP is an absolute disgrace then you ought to go live on Nauru...or anythwere else for that matter

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

Why do we have to hear this embarrassing song before each finals game?? We are not at an international event, we are at a footy game between to Aussie teams....Limit it to the GF, even thats too much.

I'll never ever be embarrassed about our anthem. Sure the yanks play the anthem after their bins have been collected but I think we do it pretty well. What is so embarrassing about our anthem?

[wackojacko 25]

its just really cringeworthy. i understand at the Olympics yes you are representing your country. But for a footy final please.

[sue 9,189]

I'll never ever be embarrassed about our anthem. Sure the yanks play the anthem after their bins have been collected but I think we do it pretty well. What is so embarrassing about our anthem?

One bit does embarrass me - the line about 'Our home is girt by sea'. It's not the use of 'girt' that gets me, though that probably seems odd to younger people. But that line has no connection to the one proceeding it. It seems to be thrown in just to fill up a line and make a rhyme. Only redeeming quality is that it is true, but as poetry, it stinks. That line needs a re-write. They were happy to change from "Australia's sons" to 'Australians all' when that was deemed politically embarrassing, so a change to avoid poetical embarrassment wouldn't be too radical. ... just my little hobby-horse.

But I agree with the OP - why do it at all finals? Where do you draw the line - why not before every match during the year? Or maybe re-introduce it at the movies before every film? Pretty soon we will indeed be playing it when the bins are collected. Use it sparingly and the value is increased.

[beelzebub 23,390]

These are finals. they have a National standing in the competition.

Angry Anderson singing we wont be beaten out of a cardboard car is cringeworthy but our National Anthem isnt.

for Sue We've golden soil and wealth for toil; Our home is girt by sea; land surrounded by sea......its not that bloody hard to work out...surely ?? Dont like the anthem...go become Collingwood or Giants supporters

[wackojacko 25]

more cheese than a cheese factory

[Sir Why You Little 37,307]

Waltzing Matilda would be better.

[Biffen 12,949]

Waltzing Matilda would be better.

Khe San is the anthem isn't it?

[Sir Why You Little 37,307]

Khe San is the anthem isn't it?

Was when i was in Vietnam!

[Biffen 12,949]

Was when i was in Vietnam!

Calm Down WALTER.!!!

[sue 9,189]

These are finals. they have a National standing in the competition.

Angry Anderson singing we wont be beaten out of a cardboard car is cringeworthy but our National Anthem isnt.

for Sue We've golden soil and wealth for toil; Our home is girt by sea; land surrounded by sea......its not that bloody hard to work out...surely ?? Dont like the anthem...go become Collingwood or Giants supporters

Very patronising. Surprisingly enough, I do know the words. Hence my comments.

Obviously you didn't understand them, so I suspect you haven't got a poetical bone in your body. Fair enough.

Anyway, on the basis of your argument, every AFL game is national (well, minus Tasmania), so it should be played before every match.

Sad that we are getting to a state where any critical comment, however well-intentioned, is greeted with the modern equivalent of "If you don't like it, go live in Russia". (But Nauru!? - what does that say I wonder?)

So I'll join the times and say if you want the national anthem played gratuitously at every event, go live in the USA and put your hand on your heart.

BTW, the words of their anthem are pretty poor, but at least they have an historical basis as justification for never altering it.

edit: added last 4 words.

Edited September 16, 2012 by sue

[Pates 9,667]

I love the anthem before a finals match, the only thing that beats the feeling at the end of the anthem in a finals game is the end of the anthem in a grand final.

I agree that a re-write of the "girt by sea" wouldn't go astray though.

[titan_uranus 25,174]

what sort of idiot are you.

Its our National Anthem ffs.

If you dont understand why your OP is an absolute disgrace then you ought to go live on Nauru...or anythwere else for that matter

Whoa, calm down you hyperbolic git.

The OP was asking why we have to hear the anthem at every final. He wasn't questioning the anthem as an anthem.

And he has merit in his argument. Do we really need to hear the anthem before each and every final? Before the GF, sure. Before ANZAC day, sure. Maybe even before QBD (although that doesn't happen right now). But for every final? I don't think that's necessary. And that says nothing about whether our anthem is any good or not; that's a separate discussion.

Edit: having said that, 'necessary' and 'enjoyable' are different concepts, and I will admit that at the conclusion of the anthem, when the crowd roars, that is a great moment.

Edited September 16, 2012 by titan_uranus

[Biffen 12,949]

Whoa, calm down you hyperbolic git.

The OP was asking why we have to hear the anthem at every final. He wasn't questioning the anthem as an anthem.

And he has merit in his argument. Do we really need to hear the anthem before each and every final? Before the GF, sure. Before ANZAC day, sure. Maybe even before QBD (although that doesn't happen right now). But for every final? I don't think that's necessary. And that says nothing about whether our anthem is any good or not; that's a separate discussion.

Edit: having said that, 'necessary' and 'enjoyable' are different concepts, and I will admit that at the conclusion of the anthem, when the crowd roars, that is a great moment.

So in other words you wish to be processed offshore.

[wackojacko 25]

Exactly. Limit it to Gf and ANZAC Day.

[machine11 142]

An embarrassing national anthem. We need a killer song to rev them up for war.

[Supermercado 2,802]

No problems with the song, but any danger of somebody singing it? The tape they use has been played so many times it's wearing thin.

I know somebody singing it is a mixed bag which can end in tragedy but at least it shows effort.

As for Waltzing Matilda you might as well shut the country down if we start playing that.

[Gippsland Dee 367]

i don't see anything wrong with our anthem but if it was to be changed surely it would have to be 'down under' by men at work!

the 2nd one is sooo cool

[BIG JIM 508]

The finals are for the best of the best each year.

The song should be played because it's something special to make the finals in the best bloody game in the world.

Any MFC fan that is worried about this great song should maybe worry about how bad the bloody trumpet guy is before every MFC home game now that's crap.

[Sir Why You Little 37,307]

No problems with the song, but any danger of somebody singing it? The tape they use has been played so many times it's wearing thin.

I know somebody singing it is a mixed bag which can end in tragedy but at least it shows effort.

As for Waltzing Matilda you might as well shut the country down if we start playing that.

What's wrong with a song about stealing sheep?

[Biffen 12,949]

What's wrong with a song about stealing sheep?

New Zealands is about rooting them so weve been eclipsed already if we do that.

[angrydee 842]

I was impressed by the AFL's understanding of the intelligence of the crowd by informing them that thay would be standing for the national anthem of Australia - many of them must have thought it was Libya that was girt by sea.

[rolly 149]

This is the stupidest thread during a period when there is a thread with "gysberts to be shot out of a cannon" in its title...

I would like the song performed live, but to insinuate it has no place or that its embarrasing disgusts me.

What else embarasses you? The flag? 1 minutes silences? People wearing poppy's or rosemary sprigs?

You would probably prefer a catchy hit from LMFAO or nickleback to be performed because they're more trendy?

Pull your head in and realise that history didn't begin with the invention of the internet and that "embarassing" song and what it represents means a hell of a lot to a hell of a lot of people

[Biffen 12,949]

This is the stupidest thread during a period when there is a thread with "gysberts to be shot out of a cannon" in its title...

I would like the song performed live, but to insinuate it has no place or that its embarrasing disgusts me.

What else embarasses you? The flag? 1 minutes silences? People wearing poppy's or rosemary sprigs?

You would probably prefer a catchy hit from LMFAO or nickleback to be performed because they're more trendy?

Pull your head in and realise that history didn't begin with the invention of the internet and that "embarassing" song and what it represents means a hell of a lot to a hell of a lot of people

How about we change it for "Careless Whisper" this year just for a laugh?