By JARROD POTTER
IT’S a weekend for solemn contemplation on the heroic service of our ancestors.
The actions of Anzacs and other Australians in service throughout our history deserve the deepest respect on 25 April as we stand as a nation to reflect on immeasurable sacrifice.
While it feels strange to play sport on Anzac Day – at least in the numbers we’ll see this weekend around football, netball, basketball and soccer leagues in the south east – we can take comfort knowing these were their sports too.
Our forefathers and foremothers loved their footy, excelled in their netball and took to the basketball, soccer or baseball arenas in droves as they were lauded for giving up their pursuits for the sake of ‘the greater game’.
So we’ll don the Anzac emblem on our jumpers, wear armbands and bow our heads to the sounds of buglers across the nation before we get out there and play the games these men and women so loved.
The Pakenham Gazette has compiled all a list of the region’s local sporting action so you can see where you want to be on Saturday and Sunday as the action unfolds on field.
If there are any matches or sporting events we’ve missed, contact us at sport@starnewsgroup.com.au and the page will be updated.
Make sure you pick up a copy of the Pakenham Gazette’s souvenir edition – which was released on Wednesday – as we reflect on the region’s Anzac involvement, especially throughout World War I to honour the centenary.
ELLINBANK DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Cora Lynn v Bunyip, Kooweerup v Lang Lang. Sunday – Buln Buln v Catani, Garfield v Nar Nar Goon, Neerim Neerim South v Ellinbank, Nilma Darnum v Longwarry, Poowong v Nyora. Warragul Industrials – bye.
SOUTH EAST FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
Pakenham v ROC, Cranbourne v Tooradin-Dalmore, Hampton Park – bye.
NEPEAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Pearcedale v Somerville, Rosebud v Devon Meadows.
YARRA VALLEY MOUNTAIN DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Emerald v Gembrook-Cockatoo (Sunday) from 2.10pm.
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
Bairnsdale v Warragul from 6pm, Traralgon v Drouin (Sunday) from 2.20pm.
TAC CUP
Gippsland Power v Northern Knights at Morwell Recreation Reserve from 1pm. Queensland v Dandenong Stingrays at Tidbold Park, Queensland, from 11am.
VFL Casey Scorpions away at Footscray Bulldogs (Sunday) from noon.
DANDENONG BASEBALL ASSOCIATION
Pakenham Pumas A1/A2 at home against Mornington Pirates C1 at home against Dingley Gold, C2 Pakenham White at home against C2 Pakenham Black all from noon.
BIG V BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Pakenham Warriors men away at Western Port from 7.30pm. Pakenham Warriors women – bye.
FOOTBALL FEDERATION VICTORIA – METROPOLITAN LEAGUES
Pakenham United Metro 2 away at South Yarra (Sunday) from 1pm. Pakenham United Metro 4 away at Monash University SC (Caulfield) (Sunday) from 1pm.
Pakenham United Metro 7 away at Yarra Jets (Sunday) from 1pm.
Bunyip Strikers Metro 6 at home against Harrisfield Hurricanes (Sunday) from 1pm.
Bunyip Strikers Metro 7 away at East Bentleigh (Sunday) from 3.15pm.
