ANZAC Day footy. Who will win? Any warning signs? Bombers? There's an ANZAC theme there. Pies? Eating pies has an ANZAC theme too. Bombers ...flakey, Pies ... flying high. Isn't that the wrong way round?
Who to draw? Who'll play a big role for their team? Pies have Grundy, Sidebottom, and Pendles. Bombers... gotta be the giraffe Daniher, BJ, or Heppell.While having a blood test (showing ANZAC courage) I decide... Grundy to be BOG! Let's draw him.
I arrive at the “G” early. I buy a Navy badge. Maybe I’ll alternate services badges each year.
I’m sent to row Y. So high up I feel like a Spitfire pilot. I down my rations of sandwiches and a Bully Beef pie. (Actually Beef and Burgundy, but who’s checking?) I drink tea from my khaki canteen... er metal thermos.
The on field ANZAC ceremony is eerie: 90,000 people watching in almost total silence; the bugle playing the haunting “Last Post”; the New Zealand and Aussie navy singers belting out their respective national anthems. On the last note of Advance Australia Fair there is an explosion of 90,000 voices roaring “GO PIES” or “GO BOMBERS”! A noise like the opening of an army offensive. It really is an amazing spectacle.
The game starts. Grundy is in everything. Feeding his onballers with leather ammunition. He guards the defensive wing like a sentinel. It’s a tight tussle. Pies lead early but are kicking too many points. Varcoe is playing a blinder early, as is de Goey. Goddard kicks across goal to one of the opposition who goals. That should shut him up for the afternoon.
Grundy leads Bellchambers a merry dance. Green and another Bomber injured. Daniher wayward. Pies defence strong. Two goals to Steele Sidebottom opens up a Pie lead.
I’m now drawing Grundy’s man bun. What would soldiers in WW1 and WW2 have thought of that? Better stick a helmet in there somewhere.
Jaidyn Stephenson is fast and lethal for the Pies. Is he really a first year player? Pies are missing war hardened veterans of previous campaigns... Wells, Greenwood, Fasolo, Blair. The Pies are starting to look like a frighteningly well reinforced squad.
The Collingwood army are in full voice as the final quarter turns into a rout. No glorious Bomber comeback today. They have flown the white flag.
I leave the ground early to miss the crowd. Who won the ANZAC medal? Surely my man Brodie Grundy! I hear... Adam Treloar! Where was he? Were the judges watching the same game as me? OK I guess they weren’t head down drawing for most of the game.
A good day for the Collingwood army. In front of over 90,000 fans the Pies had stormed the Bomber trenches early and never looked back. At least one team looks destined for finals action.
