Essendon ruckman Tom Bellchambers reveals his most memorable Anzac Day moments
Tom Bellchambers admits he only knew “bits and pieces” about the horrors allied soldiers faced in Gallipoli. But a trip to the Turkish peninsula changed all that, the Bombers ruckman struck by how young some of the men who lost their lives were.
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Essendon ruckman Tom Bellchambers was shocked to read the names, but significantly the ages, of the fallen soldiers at Gallipoli.
The Bomber only knew bits and pieces of what happened at that Turkish peninsula in 1915 before he was fortunate enough to visit in 2014.
Bellchambers was one of three Essendon players, including then captain Jobe Watson and Cale Hooker, to travel to Gallipoli with Garry Lyon to film a piece for The Footy Show.
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“Reading some of the tombstones there, (you realise) these kids were a hell of a lot younger than the boys I play football with now,” Bellchambers told the Herald Sun.
“Coming back after that and playing in Anzac Day games made the occasion even more special.
“Yes, there’s been some amazing Anzac Day games … but standing at with 100,000 people around you means that little bit more because … of the sacrifices that were made for us to be playing football.”
That Gallipoli experience was burnt into Bellchambers’ psyche, the trenches, the tales of tragedy and bravery and the perspective.
“The way he (guide) explained it, it (trench warfare) was like the enemy is throwing grenades at you from one side of the road to the other,” Bellchambers said.
Bellchambers will, on Saturday, join the movement to walk to the top of his driveway at dawn to honour and commemorate the Anzacs.
“Ideally, we’d love to be at the Dawn Service with everyone,” Bellchambers said.
“I’m actually in the country, at the farm (near Daylesford), there’s not too many other driveways around me so I don’t think I’ll see anyone, but I’ll definitely be out the front of my driveway.”
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Bellchambers has been lucky enough to play six Anzac Day games against Collingwood.
Each is special for the 202cm giant, who due to injury and subsequent form has managed just 130 games in 13 seasons.
“I’ve played a lot of football but I haven’t been lucky enough to play in a winning final yet so for me, Anzac Day along with the finals I’ve played are biggest games of football I’ve played,” Bellchambers said.
“I definitely don't take it for granted that, apart from Grand Final day, we play on one of the biggest days on the football calendar.
“I’m lucky enough to be at (the first bounce) … there’s 100,000 people at the MCG screaming and cheering and you (the ruckmen) get to be involved in that first contest.
“It’s pretty special, something I look forward to and always set myself for.”
The AFL has prerecorded an Anzac service inside an empty MCG which will be broadcast around Australia on Fox, Channel 7 and multiple online platforms at 1pm today.
BELLCHAMBERS’ BEST ANZAC DAY MEMORIES
DON’T FORGET RICKY’S GOAL?
Round 5, 2009: Essendon 93 def Collingwood 88
“Zaka gets the accolades, don’t get me wrong, it was a good goal, but Ricky Dyson needs to get remembered also. He slotted one from the boundary, from just inside the 50m arc, that put us within two points. I was in the stands with a few of the guys and we thought it was over (after the Dyson goal) … we almost began the walk back down to the rooms and then all of a sudden little Zaharakis pops up out of nowhere and slots it.”
DAMAGING DANIHER
Round 5, 2017: Essendon 100 def Collingwood 82
“What sticks in my mind and it’s probably Joe down to a tee, is when he’s up and running he has the ability to really, really dominate a game of football as much as anyone in the competition. You’re almost in awe of what he can do out on the field for someone of his size, I look at that and think, ‘Wow, this is a bloke that’s 6'7 dancing around midfielders and kicking goals from 50’.”
IF YOU DON’T MIND
Round 5, 2011: Essendon 77 def by Collingwood 107
“I kicked our first goal (after five unanswered Collingwood goals) and remember celebrating to the crowd, I haven’t done that too many times in my career … but I got the double fists going and turned around to the crowd and celebrated.”