Melbourne and Richmond request to play an annual Anzac Eve night match (H-Sun)

[one-eyed]

Melbourne and Richmond request to play an annual Anzac Eve night match at the MCG
Herald-Sun
April 24, 2014

AN annual Anzac Day eve clash between Richmond and Melbourne could be launched next season.

The match — which has the crucial support of the RSL — would be played at the MCG on the night of April 24 each year.

Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale told the Herald Sun the two clubs wanted to develop a “traditional blockbuster” on the eve of the Collingwood-Essendon Anzac Day game.

“This is very much about complementing the existing programming the AFL has around Anzac Day,” Gale said on Wednesday.

“We are well aware of the sensitivities around such a game. We have already spoken to the RSL and without their support the concept would not have gone any further.

“Both clubs have significant links into armed conflict and being cotenants of the MCG there is a natural and historic fit.”

The Anzac Day eve concept was pitched to AFL chiefs last year and will be considered for next season.

AFL broadcaster Channel 7 has also indicated support.

Collingwood and Essendon have played on Anzac Day at the MCG since 1995, while St Kilda and Brisbane meet for the second time in New Zealand tomorrow night.

Melbourne chief executive Peter Jackson told the Herald Sun: “We believe this match can complement the Anzac Round in a meaningful way.

“Anzac Round is about recognising and reflecting on the sacrifices made by our service men and women.

“Our club along with Richmond has strong ties to war. Melbourne lost more players (32) in wartime service than any other club. The story of Ron Barassi Sr who died in Tobruk in 1941 still has an enormous impact on the Melbourne Football Club and for the supporters of both clubs to be able to recognise and honour these stories at a night time special event game would be fitting.”

Richmond and Melbourne played in their only Grand Final meeting in 1940 during World War II.

The winning Melbourne side contained four players subsequently killed in action — Ron Barassi Sr, Keith Truscott, Syd Anderson and Harold Ball — along with Dick Hingston, who survived.

Six members of the Richmond team also served in the war — Ian Hull, Kevin O’Neill, Jack Cotter, Jack Quinn, Laird Smith and Jack Crane.

Richmond’s Punt Rd Oval became Melbourne’s home ground during WWII because the MCG was occupied by the armed forces.

In 1965 the two clubs became the MCG’s original cotenants.

Gale said yesterday: “We will continue to work with the RSL to ensure we are complementing existing ceremonies.”

Anzac Day falls on a Saturday next year and Monday in 2016.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-and-richmond-request-to-play-an-annual-anzac-eve-night-match-at-the-mcg/story-fndv8t7m-1226893699973

[Phil Mrakov]

If the dees pull their finger out coud draw 70,000 plus to this.

[WilliamPowell]

 

So when ANZAC day falls on Wednesday or Thursday Richmond want to play on the Tuesday or Wednesday night?

 

And another of these

 

and this

 

PASS

[Eat_em_Alive]

^ can just imagine playing at metricon the sunday twilight game before tueday 

[YellowandBlackBlood]

^ can just imagine playing at metricon the sunday twilight game before tueday 

The Tuesday match would be the last of the round. You could follow it up with an away Monday night game the following week.
The hardest to cover would be a Wednesday night game.

[Rampstar]

Good Idea IMHO. Who gives a poo if we only have a 5 day break or something. The reality is players are professional so they should do what they can to get themselves up for the game.

[WilliamPowell]

Good Idea IMHO. Who gives a poo if we only have a 5 day break or something. The reality is players are professional so they should do what they can to get themselves up for the game.

Yep it sounds like another great idea/concept

Just like the "Eureka Game" was 

 

[lamington]

So when ANZAC day falls on Wednesday or Thursday Richmond want to play on the Tuesday or Wednesday night?

 

And another of these

 

and this

 

PASS

But we'll be playing Melbourne so we only need a couple of days rest right?

[Francois Jackson]

Fantastic

just another event to showcase our monkey ball concept, and squeeze some more coin out of us loyal supporters.

[Phil Mrakov]

Should be us vs Carlton

[Mr Magic]

Don't like the idea one bit. No from me.

[Damo]

Great idea if we guarantee playing them twice

[bojangles17]

Pretty shrewd move by the tigers , could easily see it being bigger than Anzac Day itself, 

[YellowandBlackBlood]

Pretty shrewd move by the tigers , could easily see it being bigger than Anzac Day itself, 

Is that your mail BJ?

[one-eyed]

Well we've got Eddie sooking  .

Eddie Tells Tigers, Dees To Get Original

Collingwood president flabbergasted by Anzac Day eve match idea

MMM
April 24, 2014


Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has told Richmond and Melbourne to ‘come up with something fresh’ in light of their proposal for an Anzac Day eve match.

Speaking on Triple M’s Hot Breakfast on Thursday, Eddie said we were already ‘oversubscribed’ on Anzac Day with three games featuring on the day this year and attaching another match to the occasion might ‘over-bake the cake’.

One of Eddie’s biggest concerns is the prospect of having two Anzac Day ceremonies back-to-back if the Richmond-Melbourne match got the go-ahead.

Eddie likened that to ‘having Christmas twice’ if that occurred.

Luke Darcy also voiced his concerns over the saturation of one of the country’s most solemn days from a footy perspective and he believes it will be ‘overcooked’ this year as it is with three games.

St Kilda and the Brisbane Lions will do battle in Wellington after the traditional Collingwood-Essendon blockbuster and the day will be rounded out by a match between Fremantle and North Melbourne at Patersons Stadium.

http://www.triplem.com.au/sydney/sport/afl/news/2014/4/collingwood-magpies-president-eddie-mcguire-not-happy-with-idea-from-richmond-tigers-and-melbourne-demons-to-have-an-anzac-day-eve-match/