Love him or hate him - he's right...

[CureTheSane]

Aker 'totally against' Pies-Dons Anzac fixture - AFL.com.au

[Matty10]

I'm not convinced that just any old club would get the same numbers as that of the Pies v Bombers (and marque matches need genuine crowd support).

They might if it was just one year. But, year-in-year-out it is hard to imagine that it would be sustained. Aker is right in that there are a lot of neutral fans that go to that game, but they would have to be in the vast majority if it was North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs. I could be wrong, but the Pies and Bombers did make it their own by getting huge crowds and some good contests even when they weren't going that well.

[ROK Lobster]

Aker is wrong. The socialist AFL could divide all gate takings equally on the ANZAC weekend. That would shut the battler clubs up.

[ShockOfHair]

It is annoying that those two big clubs hog the day, but they did create it, it's a great occasion, and it's not going to change. We'll have to be content with the Marn Gruk.

[goswannie14]

It is annoying that those two big clubs hog the day, but they did create it, it's a great occasion, and it's not going to change. We'll have to be content with the Marn Gruk.

Would you like to re-word that? IIRC it wasa group of soldiers 95 years ago that created ANZAC day.

BTW in the 70's Essendon and Carlton played regularly on ANZAC day. Crowds on 77000 at Waverley were the norm. It has only been recently that Collingwood got involved.

[ShockOfHair]

I meant they did turn it into a commercial blockbuster and so will be impossible to move. It's all about the money.

[cruiser]

I have no problem at all with Collingwood v Essendon always being the ANZAC Day blockbuster. Theses two clubs and their supporters have worked hard to make it what it is. Imagine a North Melb v Bulldogs ANZAC Day game? It'd be lucky to get 25,000.