Stan Middleton, Kevin Bartlett & Jim Flower (24th July 2011), Etihad Stadium Melbourne
Back in July 2011, Vietnam Veteran (and Vietnam Football League historian during that period) and Essendon Bombers’ fan, Stan Middleton, vented his fury. And he’s at it again. Last time it was Collingwood. This time it’s the AFL for an allegedly biased draw that favours Collingwood in the lead up to next year’s ANZAC Match against Essendon.
Next ANZAC Day game. Essendon v Collingwood, Wednesday, 25 April 2012, both teams will have had just a four day break.
Seems fair until you look into it!
Essendon play Carlton in a Blockbuster on Saturday afternoon. Always huge and intense games with huge crowds. Collingwood play Port Adelaide at Etihad at the same time. Collingwood will be able to rest many players and still win that and come up fresh on ANZAC Day! Essendon will have to be at full strength for Carlton!
We play the previous Sunday interstate. Collingwood play the previous Friday in Melbourne!
Essendon will play their 3rd game in 10 days (the last after a huge blockbuster game). Collingwood will play 3 games in 12 days (the last after an easy game against Port)!
ANZAC Day is the biggest home & away game of the year so they play one of the teams in a huge blockbuster just four days before! They the AFL claim it is fair to both Essendon and Collingwood as they both play on the previous Saturday!
If Collingwood flog Essendon as a result, the AFL won’t take any of the blame!
You would think the AFL would make it as fair as possible given the short break for ANZAC Day for both teams! After all, it is their marquee home & away game for the year!
I’m Stan Middleton and that’s life. (Ed’s note: sign off added by editor…)
- The 3rd Annual ANZAC Friendship Match in Vung Tau, Vietnam will be played between the Vietnam Swans and the China Reds on Saturday, 21 April. A Legends’ Match shall precede the main event.
