MCG’s ‘response’ to Anzac Day booing ahead of Collingwood vs Essendon
After booing marred a Welcome to Country ceremony earlier on Anzac Day, all eyes were on the MCG ahead of the big match.
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The AFL’s pre-match Anzac Day ceremony was observed without a hitch prior to Collingwood’s 41-point win over Essendon, including the divisive Welcome to Country.
The Welcome to Country is received – and understood – in very different ways by Australians and has become a highly polarising issue at major events, including ahead of the Pies’ 16.11 (107) to 10.6 (66) triumph.
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The issue roared back onto the agenda on Anzac Day after apparent neo-Nazis attending the Shrine of Remembrance in the Melbourne CBD led booing at the traditional service when Bunurong elder Mark Brown began his Welcome to Country.
Their booing was drowned out by the rest of the crowd, who cheered in protest against the disruption, and the act has since been widely condemned.
Watch some of the AFL ceremony in the video player above
In front of a massive crowd at the MCG, representatives of the Australian Army, Navy and Airforce along with a single drummer marched from the goal line to commence Friday’s ceremony.
There was then warm applause before and after Wurundjeri man Uncle Colin Hunter junior gave the Welcome to Country.
“We are meeting on the lands of my ancestors, the Wurundjeri people, and I’d like to pay my respects to my elders both past, present and emerging,” Hunter said in part.
“I particularly want to pay my respects to everyone gathered this afternoon. I’d also like to acknowledge the women and men who have served this country and pay my deepest respects to them.
“You’re welcome to the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people.
“Enjoy the game, thank you.”
RSL Victoria president Robert Webster then gave the Ode of Remembrance before the Last Post rang out.
An impeccable silence was observed throughout from the packed house before the New Zealand and Australian national anthems were sung and six fighter jets roared overhead in formation.
A number of former and current service men and women were shown in the crowd during the service, including some singing along to Advance Australia Fair.
Following the ceremony, Fox Footy commentator Gerard Whateley then referenced the earlier trouble at the Shrine of Remembrance when he said: “Poignant and rousing. How blessed we are, medals on full display around the terraces and the stands.
“What an occasion to try to rise to.
“The applause for the Welcome to Country perhaps a response to what’s happened elsewhere around the country today.
“A profound silence and then a mighty roar for the celebration of who we are as a people and the national game that’s about to take place in front of us.”
Just before the opening bounce, Fox Footy’s Sarah Jones called the ceremony “sensational, spine tingling stuff” while AFL great David King added it was “hard not to get emotional really, to be fair”.
After the earlier trouble in the Melbourne CBD, Sunrise host Natalie Barr savaged those who booed the Welcome to Country at the Dawn Service, calling the disruption “disgusting”.
On Friday morning’s broadcast, which featured an interview with a woman who was present at the ceremony, Barr was clearly unimpressed.
“I thought it was horrific to have those people here booing, I thought that was absolute disrespect,” the guest said.
Barr then said she agreed with the woman’s summary: “Yeah, exactly. We do not care what you are sick of. Today is not the day to share it.”
As always on social media, there was a huge range of responses to the AFL’s pre-match ceremony.
Wazza from Melbourne wrote on X: “Uncle Colin Hunter Jr just delivered a powerful Welcome to Country, and the entire MCG erupted in applause. This is Melbourne at its best. Proud. United. Respectful. This is why our city is the greatest in the world.”
A North Melbourne fan with the handle BazNMFC tweeted: “Giving a “Welcome to Country” to the ANZACs who literally fought and sacrificed their lives for the country. Disgraceful.”
That comment drew a number of sharp replies.
Alyssaa_81 wrote: “Did you not see that people were booing the welcome to country in Melb this morning? Also indigenous fought in the wars too, be respectful it’s not hard.”
Taycationeyes added: “Learn what a welcome to country is & Indigenous Australians also fought in the war.”
Sadly Australians will seemingly never see eye-to-eye on the ceremony, but whatever your beliefs, there were welcome sights and sounds at the MCG on such an important day.
On the pitch, Essendon overcame a poor opening half to get its nose in front in the third term.
But led by stand-in skipper Nick Daicos and his brother Josh, along with a monster game from Anzac medal winner Steele Sidebottom, the Pies kicked 10 goals to five after the main break for a dominant victory.
Originally published as MCG’s ‘response’ to Anzac Day booing ahead of Collingwood vs Essendon
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