By RUSSELL BENNETT
FOOTY is all too often compared to war. Yes, it’s often brutally hard-fought; and yes, there’s often blood spilt and serious injuries as bodies are put on the line – but, dare we say it, it’s just a game.
This weekend, however, that game we all know and love does take on added significance – honouring the Anzacs, many of whom died on foreign shores all in the name of their country. They paid the ultimate sacrifice, and this weekend each year our game pays its respects.
Footy seems almost trivial by comparison but the focus of the Ellinbank and District Football League narrows to two big games on Saturday night – with Cora Lynn hosting Bunyip in what almost feels like a final in April; and Kooweerup hosting their much-improved local rival Lang Lang.
From a player’s perspective, it’s all about the game itself – focusing on what they can control, albeit under lights with a massive crowd.
“The biggest difference is just the atmosphere,” said Cora Lynn skipper Tim Payne.
“It’s got a finals type of anticipation and the footy is nice and hot early.”
While the process is slightly different to a night game, Payne said his players would be largely left to their own devices in their preparation.
“It’s a really important game – these are two quality teams both aiming for finals, (and) we all have the utmost respect for the occasion.”
Bunyip counterpart Nathan Lieshout added: “We are lucky to get to play on Anzac Day, and I suppose you do look at it a bit differently.
“It draws a massive crowd and no doubt there’ll be plenty of people there scouting the two sides.
“It’s completely different to a normal game in April – it’s very fast-paced and a lot of blokes chase that early footy.
“It’s a bit of a finals-type atmosphere, and it’s also a really good chance to get down and watch the juniors beforehand.
“The whole club has en emphasis to be there if we can from the start of the first game to the end of the last in both footy and netball.”
Cobras coach admitted he was “really old-fashioned” when it comes to Anzac Day, adding: “It’s just such an important day in our history. My pop was in the war, so it’s an important day for me too – as well as the country in general. That doesn’t get lost on us. I just make my players aware that the right to play on that day is an unbelievable gift”.
Kooweerup stalwart Gary King said Saturday’s game against the Tigers was special because “there’s a lot of family ties between the two clubs, and working with the RSL on this has been terrific”.
“We really see this game as a community commitment,” he said.
“Football is being part of a small community – it’s about more than kicking a footy around and I think it’s important for kids to understand that.”
For the first time since 2013, Gembrook Cockatoo will face off against staunch local rivals, Emerald this Sunday.
Both sides are back in Division 2 of the Yarra Valley Mountain District competition and Emerald president Bruce Rush said he couldn’t wait for the rivalry to resume.
“Gembrook’s tried to claim the naming rights to Cockatoo over the years, so I guess we’ll be the Emerald Clematis Menzies Creek Football Club!” he said with a laugh.
“This really started as a schoolyard thing. Most blokes either went to Monbulk, or to Ferntree Gully Tech and for a long time we couldn’t beat Gembrook. We didn’t beat them for 25 years up until the early ’80s, but it’s been 50-50 since.
“This occasion has been supported and promoted by the RSL clubs and both sides are really happy to be involved as a sign of respect.”
Emerald RSL president Peter Maloney, a keen local footy fan and Vietnam veteran, summed up what the relationship between footy and Anzac Day meant to him on a personal level.
“Aussie Rules has been played in many theatres of war over the years as a celebration of Australian culture and as a bonding exercise between soldiers,” he said.
“When I was in Vietnam, we played in the Vietnam Football League (VFL) and my unit took out the Premiership.
“Gembrook and Emerald have had a traditional rivalry dating back many years, so it is only fitting they have been chosen for our inaugural Anzac Game. Let’s hope this tradition continues for many years.”
To mark the occasion, the Emerald RSL has struck a unique Centenary of Anzac medal for best on ground on the day.
