ANZAC Day match and traditional rivals

[high flying flag]

4600 crowd at Adelaide Oval was very disappointing. I am not sure the SANFL has it right with the whole GF rematch thing. I suspect the AFL has the right idea with regular "blockbuster" matches based on old rivalries, and I wonder if this should be brought back. The Eagles dont really have the supporter base for a blockbuster and Central fans clearly didnt want to make the trip. ANZAC day is about tradition so why have the two newest clubs in the competition playing? The ANZAC day massacre Port vs Norwood back in 1997 attracted 20,000. There will be more at Port-Norwood at the Parade this Friday night than there were at Adelaide Oval today. I think Port Norwood is the obvious choice but I am biased towards Norwood.

What are the great rivalries? I can think of:

Norwood-Port
Norwood-Sturt
Port-Glenelg
Sturt-Port
North-Glenelg? (was during the 1980s)

What others are there? What do people think? Should the SANFL be making more of these traditional rivalries like the AFL does? How could it best be done? What other days could be used for "blockbusters"?

[Wedgie]

I think 4600 was OK considering how both sides are travelling at the moment.
Leave it as it is as I'm looking forward to a North v Port game on Anzac Day next year!

[Dogsbody]

Usually when I thought of Anzac Day, I always thought Port vs. Norwood.

Its a shame we can't have both games on the same day, have Pies vs. Legs at 1pm and then the GF re-match at 5:30pm.

[Aerie]

Usually when I thought of Anzac Day, I always thought Port vs. Norwood.

Its a shame we can't have both games on the same day, have Pies vs. Legs at 1pm and then the GF re-match at 5:30pm.

Nice one. There wouldn't be any trouble with Port or Norwood being one of those GF re-match teams these days neither so that could work well...

[high flying flag]

Dogsbody: thats quite amazing coming from a Dogs fan. Who are your greatest rivals?

Wedgie: is the Glenelg-North rivalry still strong? I'm actually looking forward to Norwood-Port next year regardless.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I remember the Anzac Day match of 1997 when Norwood played Port Adelaide. It wasn't a re-match between the previous year's Grand Finalists, but the crowd was huge. Maybe Spell Check could tell us how many. The good news (for me) was Norwood spanked Ports by 122 points.

[Dogsbody]

Dogsbody: thats quite amazing coming from a Dogs fan. Who are your greatest rivals?

Hmmm... that's a hard one. The only one I can really think of is North, but only because they're fellow northerners. I don't think that the Eagles qualify for obvious reasons.

[high flying flag]

Well I know I love it when we play you because its always a good match. We havent had any epic finals though because we havent been there much lately, and I think thats where rivalries are made.

[sydney-dog]

for me, I think you have to earn the right to play in the ANZAC Day clash and to earn that right you need to be the GFteams from the previous year

[cd]

If you've played in the GF you have earned the right to play on Anzac Day and the right to be eligible for the Bob Quinn medal.

If you just give the day to the same 2 teams then only their players can win the medal.

Why are old rivalries so special - clubs are forging new rivalries - eg the Eagles and the Dogs

Earn the right to be there on Anzac Day - dont just expect it because once you had a rivalry - play off in the GF and there is no problem.

Personal comments only
Col D

[eyeofthetiger]

Looking at the TV today the 4,600 crowd was a lot smaller than the 4,200 for the recent double header between Bays V Dogs and Norwood V Eagles.

[-]

I think 4600 was OK considering how both sides are travelling at the moment.
Leave it as it is as I'm looking forward to a North v Port game on Anzac Day next year!

Exactly. Ive waited this long dont change it on me now

[duncs7]

Dogsbody: thats quite amazing coming from a Dogs fan. Who are your greatest rivals?

Hmmm... that's a hard one. The only one I can really think of is North, but only because they're fellow northerners. I don't think that the Eagles qualify for obvious reasons.

Thats not a hard one. Its Port Adelaide! We still owe them for 94/95.

[sturtpeter]

I am privileged enough to have seen games played at Adelaide Oval and in the late 1960's.

There were 4600 in the ground by 1/4 time in the Seconds Match. (ON Anzac Day)

Noone can blame the SANFL for this. It's a fact of life that due to the emergence of the AFL in Adelaide, people care more about wasting their hard earned going to AAMI then seeing our great League.

The Replay of the GF is NOT the answer, however, now, weather etc plays such a huge part in determining the attendance

Maybe we should let the teams who attract higher crowds play on this sacred day. It may not be right according to tradition, but it would sure make for a larger crowd to witness Football on this great day in our history.

I remember Sturt vs Woodville attracting bigger crowds in the late 60's and early 70's than we saw today.

[Ian]

Noone can blame the SANFL for this. It's a fact of life that due to the emergence of the AFL in Adelaide, people care more about wasting their hard earned going to AAMI then seeing our great League.

Thats exactly what the SANFL wants, more people to AAMI for the AFL (and less to SANFL on same day) = more $$$$$ for the SANFL

[MightyEagles]

You have to earn the right to play on ANZAC Day, we're not the AFL, we play in the SANFL. We can't copy every little thing the AFL does, do we? I don't.

[doggies4eva]

Bugger off. I've waited most of my life to see the doggies get the right to play on Anzac Day. Its not our fault the wiggles have no fans. It was a pretty good game this year and fitting for the day.

If you other teams want to see your team play an Anzac Day then pull your finger out and make a GF.

As far as traditional rivals - surely the recent Doggies Eagles GFs - 4 of them in the last 6 years - is an emerging rivalry. Plus for the Doggies - we still owe Port a few GF losses - maybe this year is the year.

[westside]

Anzac Day should be Port V Norwood.

[northernblue]

As far back as I can remember, into the mid 60s, it was always a re-match of the previous years GF. Keep it this way, let the SANFL be its own competition and not a AFL copy.

The so-called traditional ANZAC rivialry in the AFL goes back about 10 years, some tradition!!!!!!!

[MUNGO JERRY]

I agree, keep the tradition using the 2 teams from the previous GF.
As we all know, it hasnt always been that way in the past.