'B-grade competition': Icon's issue with Anzac games
AFL icon Leigh Matthews has identified a major conundrum for the sport’s organisers as teams miss out on the blockbuster matches that come with Anzac Day.
Round seven of the competition kicked off with Richmond and Melbourne playing at the MCG on Anzac Day eve. Essendon and Collingwood then faced off in a blockbuster the following day at the same ground.
GWS and Brisbane also played on the Thursday, albeit at Manuka Oval in Canberra.
Matthews believes this “emphasises the inequality of opportunity for individual players”, describing it as “very uneven” on Nine’s Footy Furnace.
“It started on the Wednesday night, Anzac eve, you know that Richmond will be playing Melbourne, and they’ll be playing Melbourne the next year and the year after at the MCG.
“The following day you have Collingwood playing Essendon this year, next year and the year after that.
“Every year at this colosseum, the field of dreams (which) is just outstanding and players love to be involved.
“Then I turn on the TV to go to the Canberra game where the Giants were playing the Lions on Anzac night and you kind of thought if you didn’t know your footy, you would’ve thought we were going to a venue for a B grade competition.
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