The football game is only a small part of Anzac Day, writes Brendon Goddard
ONCE envious of watching Essendon and Collingwood in the annual Anzac Day fixture, Bomber BRENDON GODDARD writes the game has taken on new significance for him.
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SINCE joining Essendon, my understanding of the significance of Anzac Day has grown considerably.
Not only is playing football on such a significant day for Australia an honour and privilege, but the build up has been more informative and eye opening than I ever anticipated.
My first visit to the Shrine of Remembrance was in 2012 with St Kilda and then coach Scott Watters.
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He strongly encouraged the whole group to go. His experience coaching on Anzac Day with
Collingwood obviously struck a cord with him which is why I think he thought it was
appropriate the team learnt more about the day’s significance and how lucky we
are as young men and footballers to take part in the days leading up to the occasion.
I joined Essendon at the end of 2012 and my first experience of playing on Anzac Day against Collingwood came the following year.
The game was one of the big attractions to join Essendon. The thought of regularly playing in front of huge crowds against traditional rivals at the MCG was really appealing. Playing on Anzac Day for Essendon against Collingwood was spine tingling. As a fellow footballer and opposition player prior to 2013, I was envious of both teams having the privilege of playing on such an important stage.
The reality is, which I now have a greater understanding and appreciation for, is that the football game is only a small part of Anzac Day.
But as an Essendon footballer, it is the biggest, most hyped home-and-away match of the season.
I’m approaching my fifth Anzac Day clash match. I’ve missed one through injury in 2014.
One of my greatest memories of participating in Anzac Day was in my first year at
Essendon. The team and I had the privilege of hearing the great Jack Jones talk to the group
about his experience of serving at war after a tour of the Shrine.
It’s a memory I always go back to as we approach the game each year. As Jack told his story, you naturally put yourself in his wartime shoes and wonder, what would I do in his situation and how would I be feeling?
It’s a harrowing thought to be honest, young men, only 18 or 19 years old being shipped off to training camp and, later on, war with really no idea of what they are doing or what they were about to encounter (as Jack explained it).
That experience alone is why I have such great respect and admiration for Jack, his fellow war veterans and those currently serving.
Another great memory is the Anzac Day service before our game. I’ll never forget
hearing the last post for the first time as a player. The Last Post and minute’s silence is a
moving moment for all of us.
I remember it being the moment I realised how truly lucky we are players to have the honour of playing on this significant day.
That service, just minutes before the first bounce, always take me back to Jack and his story he shared with us in 2013.
As we fast approach the game, we can never make parallels between war and football,
but we can draw inspiration and courage from those who gave their lives serving our
country, use it in our mental and physical preparation for the game.
The stories that we as players have been told by Jack and other war veterans help put things into perspective and makes us realise how lucky we all are.
If not for the efforts and sacrifice of those men and women, our country may be a vastly different place to what we know and enjoy today.
I’d like to finish by saying thank you. Thank you to Jack and all our war veterans. And thank you to those currently serving for Australia.
Lest We Forget.
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