This weekend will be about more than just securing four points for footballers throughout Brimbank.
Clubs from both the Western Region and Essendon District leagues are preparing to honour Australia’s service men and women in a range of blockbuster Anzac Day weekend football matches.
Across the two leagues, Brimbank-based clubs will host seven games.
In the past three years, WRFL club Caroline Springs has worked with its local RSL to help build an Anzac Day tradition.
This season, the Lakers will take on fellow finals aspirant Manor Lakes on Sunday.
The club will begin its Anzac Day celebrations on Thursday night by welcoming members of the Caroline Springs RSL to talk to players about the history of the Anzacs.
Lakers football manager Marc Raak said the growing relationship with the RSL was something of which the club was extremely proud.
“We would like to think that the Caroline Springs RSL is an extension of our football club and we want to keep building that relationship for many years to come,” he said.
For this year’s match, Caroline Springs will play in specially designed jerseys and at the end of both the seniors and reserves matches, a medal will be presented to the best player on the ground.
“From a club point of view, we see Manor Lakes in the same boat as we are,” Raak said. “Both clubs are probably looking at third or fourth spot on the ladder so it should be a great game.”
If players from EDFL club Keilor need any advice on what it’s like to play in a big Anzac Day clash, they should look no further than their coach, Mick McGuane.
McGuane played in the inaugural Anzac Day blockbuster clash between Collingwood and Essendon in 1995 that finished in a draw.
On that day, 94,825 people attended the match at the MCG.
“It was great to be a part of it,” McGuane recalled.
“History will tell you it has grown to be as big as a preliminary final day or a grand final day in terms of exposure, crowd, the game itself and the education through the game. It has certainly got bigger and stronger.”
With the Keilor seniors taking to the field in a stand-alone EDFL fixture on Sunday, the Blues’ juniors will take centre stage for their matches on Saturday.
McGuane said the chance to play on Anzac Day would be great for teaching the club’s youngsters about the history of the day.
“We are about developing people and part of that is to get them to understand what the Anzacs really mean,” he said.
“With juniors reverting to the Saturday, it is a great opportunity for these kids to understand a part of history.
“It is not only just a football game. It goes a lot deeper than that. The Anzac spirit shows values like courage, mateship and things we talk about in a game of football.
“What the Anzacs went through was a lot more difficult than a game of sport.”
This week’s senior clash against undefeated Pascoe Vale looms as Keilor’s toughest test of the new season.
Keilor has accounted for Strathmore and Airport West while losing to Maribyrnong Park in its opening three rounds.
The Panthers went on a recruiting rampage in the off-season, adding a host of former AFL and VFL players including Ben Warren, Ben Ross and Michael Ross.
While they didn’t come with the same hype, Keilor also added new faces, with its recruits crossing over from other local leagues.
Rhyce Prismall, David Isbister, Nathan Schroder, Ryan Noye and Matthew Wilkinson have all joined from Lara, while Adrian Crawford and Rory Alexander have signed on from South Bendigo.
Brimbank clubs hosting Anzac Day weekend football …
Keilor v Pascoe Vale
2.15pm, Sunday
Keilor Rec Reserve
Two of the EDFL’s strongest teams go head to head both with an eye on the top four come the end of the season. With Keilor’s seniors playing on Sunday, the club’s junior teams will be lining up on Saturday.
Taylors Lakes v Tullamarine
2.15pm, Saturday
Lionheart Reserve
The Lions have made a solid start to the 2015 season with wins against Hillside and Glenroy. This match-up looms as the perfect chance to keep the winning run going with Tullamarine yet to register its first win.
Burnside Heights v Hadfield
5pm, Saturday
Burnside Heights Rec Res
It will be a tough ask for division 2 club Burnside Heights when its takes on one of the premiership favourites in Hadfield under lights on Saturday. Last season, their first year as a senior club, the Bears won two games.
St Albans v Altona
2.15pm, Saturday
Kings Park Reserve
Playing on a big day in front of a packed crowd is nothing new for St Albans. The club has been involved in Good Friday football for the past three seasons.
The Saints have had a tough start to the new year and are 0-2.
Caroline Springs v Manor Lakes
3pm, Sunday
Town Centre Oval
Anzac Day football is one of the biggest days of the year for Caroline Springs. The club has a strong bond with the Caroline Springs RSL and the relationship is continuing to grow each year. On the field, the Lakers are 0-2 after two rounds.
North Sunshine v Parkside
2.15pm, Saturday
Dempster Park
North Sunshine has already pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season, knocking off last year’s division 3 premier Braybrook in round one. The Roadrunners will be looking to cause similar chaos this weekend.
Albanvale v Wyndham Suns
2.15pm, Saturday
Robert Bruce Oval
Albanvale comes into the game with some solid Anzac Day experience having played Braybrook last year. After finishing last season as runners up, the Cobras have again made a good start to the year and are 2-0.
