The ANZAC Day blockbuster will be the 20th annual clash between Essendon and Collingwood since the tradition began with the memorable 1995 drawn match at the MCG, played in front of a crowd of 94,825. The ANZAC Day rivalry now stands at 10 victories to Collingwood, 8 victories to Essendon and a draw.
The ANZAC Day match pays tribute to the sacrifice of the servicemen and women of Australia and celebrates the ANZAC spirit – courage, sacrifice, endurance and mateship. Each year Collingwood and Essendon work closely with the RSL to highlight the contribution of Australians who have served in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations around the world.
The traditional Veteran’s Motorcade will take place prior to the observance ceremony and the commencement of the game. This year the motorcade will include those currently serving, along with returned veterans, nurses and servicewomen who served in World War 2, Korea, Malaya/Borneo and Vietnam.
Match Program
This year’s match will feature
- The Australian Army Band
- Entertainment from the Good Times Band
- Half time performance from Kate Ceberano
- Motorcade of ANZAC Veterans.
- Observance Ceremony
Catafalque Guard slow march, flags are lowered to half-mast
Major General David McLachlan recites “The Ode”
One minute silence
Last Post
Reveille
National Anthem
Timings
1.20pm Australian Army Band
1.38pm Teams preliminary on-field warm-up
1.56pm Motorcade of Veterans
2.04pm Entertainment
2.17pm Joint cheer squad banner display
2.18pm Presentation of match day footballs
2.20pm Essendon enters
2.23pm Collingwood enters
2.33pm Anzac Day observance ceremony
2.38pm Coin toss
2.40pm Match commences
5.15pm On-field post match presentation
Anzac Trophy & Anzac Day Medal winner announced
Coin Toss
Gabriella Rush, granddaughter of Jack Pimm, will toss the coin at Friday’s match. Jack played 58 games for Collingwood and kicked 113 goals in 1940, 1946-1950 and is a life member of Collingwood. He saw active service in New Guinea and Bougainville in the 15th Brigade 58/59th Battalion. He was awarded the military cross “for inspired and gallant service” in Bougainville in 1945. Jack is now 93 years of age and will be represented at the match by his daughter Julie and granddaughter Gabriella.
The Kip
Collingwood uses a traditional “kip” and a single 1942 Australian Penny for the coin toss. Two-Up is a traditional Australian game indelibly linked to the Anzacs and a regular part of ANZAC Day commemorations.
Presentation of match footballs
Representatives from Collingwood and Essendon will present the footballs to the umpires on the MCG. Essendon’s representative will be club legend Kevin Sheedy, the man who originally envisioned the idea of Anzac Day football between Essendon and Collingwood. Collingwood’s representative in 2014 is Warrant Officer Class 2, David Nelson from the 8/7 Battalion of The Royal Victoria Regiment. Warrant Officer Nelson has previously been deployed on operational service to East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Cheer squad banner
The ANZAC Day match is unique in that the players from each team join together to run through a single cheer squad banner created by the cheer squads of both clubs - in recognition of the ANZAC Spirit and the way Australians came together as one in times of war. The banner lists the names of players from each club who lost their lives in war. The captains and players from both teams will meet to shake hands before they run through the banner together.
ANZAC Medal
A presentation of the ANZAC Medal will be made on the field at the conclusion of the match. The ANZAC Medal is awarded to the player in the match who best exemplifies the ANZAC Spirit - skill, courage, self-sacrifice, teamwork and fair play. The medal is an engraved bronze disk, incorporating battlefield metal, surrounding a glass centre into which is set an image of the RSL badge.
ANZAC Day Trophy
A presentation of the ANZAC Day Trophy will be made on the field at the conclusion of the match. The President of the Victorian RSL, Vietnam Veteran Major General David McLachlan, will present the trophy to the captain of the winning team. The trophy comprises a silver bowl, which is supported by four bronze columns and a central glass pillar. The glass pillar has images of servicemen and footballers and is etched with the names of all VFL footballers who gave their lives on active service. The wooden footing of the trophy comes from an ironbark plank, part of an ammunition wagon, which saw service in Villers-Brentonneux in France. The bronze columns incorporate metal salvaged from Gallipoli battlefields.
ANZAC Veterans Motorcade
A motorcade of eight cars prior to the commencement of the game will include those currently serving along with returned veterans and returned nurses and servicewomen who served in WW2, Korea Malaya/Borneo and Vietnam.
CAR 1. EX POW
Mr Jim CAHIR
Age: 90
RAAF; 1942-1946, Jim was in Bomber Command, 466 Squadron, flying Halifax bombers, when he was shot down over Frankfurt, 1943. Imprisoned in Stalag 4B. Jim later returned to Germany and met the guard who had imprisoned him.
Mr Alex RYMER
Age: 92
ARMY; 8th Division, Alex was only 20 years old when captured by the Japanese in Singapore, 1942. Imprisoned in Changi and then taken as a forced labourer to Osaka, Japan to work in a steel foundry in appalling conditions.
CAR 2. WW2
Mr Alan OULD, OAM
Age: 90
ARMY; 1942-1946, Alan served with the Australian Army Service Corps as a driver with 2/153 General Transport Company. Alan participated in the Landings at Balikpapan, Borneo.
Mr Ted HOLLINGSWORTH
Age: 89
RAN; 1942-1946. ted served on HMAS Bendigo and later on HMAS Cairns from the Red Sea to Japan. HMAS Cairns provided escorts for the Okinawa landings.
CAR 3. KOREA
Mr Stan GALLOP
Age: 84
ARMY; Stan served in the Royal Australian Infantry and saw operational service in Korea with 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. Stan was took part in the Present at the Battle of Kapyong, 1951
Mr Kevin HARPER
Age: 82
ARMY; Kevin, served in the Royal Australian Infantry and saw operational service in Korea with 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. Kevin took part in the Battle of Kapyong, 1951
CAR 4. RETURNED SERVICEWOMEN/ RETURNED NURSES
Mr Alan BARRETT
Age: 60
RAN; 1987-current. Alan had operational service on HNMAS Success in Iraq and Kuwait.
Ms Gloria WELCH
Age: 91
WAAAF (Womens Auxiliary Australian Air Force). 1942-1946
Gloria served as a Corporal performing clerical duties at RAAF Central Recruiting. Testing up to 250 applicants per day.
CAR 5. MALAYA/BORNEO
Mr John LYNCH, OAM
Age: 79
RAN; 1952-1957, John served in the Fleet Air Arm as an Aircraft Electrician. He saw operational service in the Malayan Conflict and as part of the Far Eastern Strategic Reserve.
Mr Alan DAY
Age: 92
RAAF; Alan was a medical orderly in Darwin 1942-1943 and then in Borneo in 1945, participating in the landings at Balikpapan.
CAR 6. VIETNAM
Mr Bill TELFER
Age: 68
ARMY; 1965-1988. Bill served in Vietnam, 1966-1967 as a signaller with 101 Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery.
Mr Dal CROCKER
Age: 65
ARMY; 1969-1971. Dal was a National Serviceman. His operational service was in Vietnam, 1970-1971 with 1st Armoured Regiment, Royal Australian Armoured Corps, as a tank gunner.
CAR 7. CURRENTLY SERVING
Chief Petty Officer Adam BEAKLEY
Age: 35
RAN; 2000 – present. Adam saw operational service in the Gulf War, Iraq, in 2003 and again in 2007 as part of the border protection force.
Leading Aircraftsman Derryn MURPHY
Age:26
RAAF: 2006-present. Derryn is an aircraft technician based in Amberley, Queensland and saw operational service in the Middle East area of operations
CAR 8. CURRENTLY SERVING
Corporal Justin STREATFIELD
Age: 31
ARMY: 2003-present. Justin serves in the Royal Australian Corps of Signals. He saw operational service in Afghanistan 2011-2012.
Sergeant Sean O’DONOHUE
Age: 40
ARMY: 1993-present. Sean serves in the Royal Australian Corps of Signals. He is an Information Systems Technician and had operational service in Iraq in 2007.
