Push for women to join men on Anzac Day sporting tribute

Anzac Day is one of the biggest occasions on the Aussie sporting calendar and there are calls to make it even bigger.

A Gold Coast Aussie rules star and army captain says it would be “amazing” to see a women’s AFL match to honour Anzac Day.

The annual Collingwood vs Essendon men’s match at the MCG on April 25 is one of the highlights of the Australian calendar, and Jade Pregelj, a key defender for the Gold Coast Suns’ AFLW team, said it would be great to see the women’s game showcased on the grand stage.

Pregelj is more aware than most of the significance of Anzac Day – her day job is as a captain in the Australian Army where she is based at the Land Warfare Centre at Canungra in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Played largely over the men’s off-season, the AFLW year is already finished, so any women’s game would likely be an exhibition or representative game, but Pregelj said that in itself would be a tremendous opportunity.

“I would love to see the girls get a game on Anzac Day,” she said.

“There would probably be some logistical issues, but to have a curtain-raiser (to the men’s game) at the MCG would be fantastic.”

Gold Coast Suns AFLW star Jade Pregelj is a full time serving member of the Australian Defence Force while Pat Fairon is a Vietnam veteran and RSL District President on the Gold Coast. Picture: Nigel Hallett.

This year, Pregelj, who ruptured her ACL during the AFLW season, will attend her first Dawn Service at the iconic Currumbin Beach ceremony, restored to its former glory after two years of Covid chaos.

“I’m excited,” she said.

“The turn-up is going to be pretty impressive and it’s such a picturesque location.

“It makes me feel a bit giddy inside just thinking about it.”

Gold Coast District RSL President Pat Fairon said it was heartening to see the young generation talk of Anzac Day with such enthusiasm.

“It’s fantastic to see how much it means to people like Jade,” he said.

“She obviously has her football career and a whole life outside the military, but it’s something that is still very important to her.

“It’s always a challenge to get the younger generations involved so it is good to see the spirit live on down through the generations.”

Mr Fairon will attend services at his local sub-branch at Runaway Bay, where he will reflect on his own family’s century-old association with the military.

Both his grandfather and great uncle fought in World War I while he himself served in Vietnam, working as an artillery gunner in some of the conflict’s most intense battles through 1967-68.

He said he was looking forward to the return of crowds at ceremonies across the state and encouraged people to seek out some of the more intimate dawn and morning services.

“Currumbin on the Gold Coast is always a magnificent spectacle, but there’s also something special about getting to the local sub-branch,” he said.

“And if people just want to light up the dawn in their own driveway, that is fine too.”