I was on the train home from the Boxing Day Test this year with a bunch of teen boys.

Most were wearing KFC buckets on their heads and Australian flags draped over their shoulders. (I'm sure you can see where this is going already)

To entertain themselves they sang a series of call and response ditties referring to how they like to treat ladies.

eg: http://theblokeyshed.com/forums/showthread.php?4089-I-wish-that-all-the-ladies&p=61669#post61669

This went on continously for about 30-40 minutes of the train ride despite a few of us older heads telling them to put a lid on it including one sage lady who informed them the would never get "laid" behaving like that.

For good measure, they threw in a verse of Advance Australia Fair and We Are Australian.

If these kids are the future then I don't hold out much hope. They were an embarrasment to themselves and this country.

You are a F.. en turkey Jacko!

It is the National Anthem.

And unless you come from another country that doesn't want to adopt our traditions.

Then Shut the F'en up.

don't hold back chippy, just say what you really mean

Someone please embed this:

don't hold back chippy, just say what you really mean

I don't know what you are on about DC

I thought I was being very subdued.

I was in total fear of getting a warning.

@RGRS

I love a good National Anthem before 95,000 people.

It's more that "Advance Australia Fair" is a very lame anthem.

The italians have a great one.

Ours is dull.

Ours is dull.

Clearly you haven't heard Canada's.

I think everyone switches off after the first two words.

Would this work better:

We've golden soil and wealth for toil

Each yard has a barbie

Would this work better:

We've golden soil and wealth for toil

Each yard has a barbie

No.

Clearly you haven't heard Canada's.

I think everyone switches off after the first two words.

O Canada zzzzzzzzzz

Great flag though.

And eh....heres the thing eh.. Whilst we may think the Canadian/Canadien Anthem du Nationale is like dullsville. They sing it with gusto, with reverence and respect. ( unless you're Quebeccan !! lol )

We could learn a bit ....eh !!

i hate the line "weve boundless plains to share".

might as well add "unless you come by boat, then you can [censored] off to nauru

Any suggestions Sue ? Surrounded or encircled won't get the job done

How bout rimmed by sea? Lipped by fluid?

Don't like the song. Uninspiring, lacks passion. If you must, play only at the GF. Played at AFL matches for PC reasons, I believe.

I would think that being a domestic sport (as opposed to an international sport) is not a good enough reason to play the national anthem.

It is done at international sporting events to inspire the side from whose country it belongs. In a domestic sport, it has no alegence to either side. For AFL footy this is what the club theme songs are for and why they are played before and after matches.

How often to you see the winning AFL team sing the national anthem with gusto in the change rooms?

I don't know what you are on about DC

I thought I was being very subdued.

I was in total fear of getting a warning.

mate, your s-meter just needs new batteries - lol

I love a good National Anthem before 95,000 people.

It's more that "Advance Australia Fair" is a very lame anthem.

The italians have a great one.

Ours is dull.

I am sick of the Julie Andrews version that the AFL use.

The one used at the Olympics was a far better version.

P.S. Even the New Zealand anthem is better than ours

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.

Haha dude, I couldn't agree anymore. Laughing at some of these comments, chill out. You don't need a cheesy anthem to respect the past.

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.

I guess our land is girt by sea describes one of few nations that occupies a whole island, and a bloody big one at that.

Can't see the problem really.

The second verse, rarely sung, is more controversial: "for those who come across the seas, we've boundless plains to share" is certainly an anachronism.

I have spent a lot if time in Canada, they sing their anthem before every home game in Vancouver (41 games) and it sounds great with 15k peopld singing it. I just wish we would be a little louder and not mumble through it. We love this country be proud!