More Than a Game: Local Sport Honours Anzac Day

On a day where the nation remembers the sacrifices made for us, Anzac Day football and netball across the region carries meaning far beyond the scoreboard.

By Ben Andonoudis

The silence before the start of the game says everything.

As the Last Post rings out, football fades into the background.

Around grounds across the region, April 25 will represent not just a day for football, but a day where players become custodians of a tradition that stretches far beyond the game.

In the marquee game of the round for the GFNL, a 17-year tradition will again take centre stage as St Joseph’s and South Barwon meet in their annual ANZAC Day clash.

Last year’s contest was an 11-point tussle, adding another thrilling chapter to a fiercely contested history.

St Joseph’s president Sue Cormack knows the significance of playing on a special day for all Australians, describing it as “a privilege for both clubs”.

Cormack went on to note how Anzac Day meant a lot to people as a “day filled with gratitude to those who have served our country, for the peace that Australians enjoy, and for the opportunity to belong to a community club”.

While the two powerhouse clubs of the GFNL “enjoy a great rivalry on the field”, they also “relish the collaboration between our clubs which has kept this tradition alive”, according to Cormack.

For all the commemorations and ceremony, South Barwon will be determined to end 11 straight Anzac Day defeats to their fierce rivals St Joseph’s.

For South Barwon president Tim Sherman, the match is “always one of our most anticipated games for the season and we are very much looking forward to it again in 2026”.

While being “thrilled to continue the privilege of competing in the annual GFNL Anzac Day clash”, the game means so much more to the club.

South Barwon uses the game to “further educate our players and supporters on the importance of honouring those who have served our country” in a telling nod to the significance of the day.

The other game on Anzac Day in the GFNL sees Geelong West take on St Albans in a clash that was a 7-point thriller in ANZAC round 2025.

The BFNL sees Newcomb take on Ocean Grove with both clubs keen to honour the Anzac spirit.

Greg Mervin, president of Ocean Grove FNC, is mindful of “playing community sport on Anzac Day as it is a tremendous privilege”.

A special day on the calendar for the club, Mervin said “for the club it is a day of reflection and remembrance where we honour the sacrifice of all who have served and acknowledge values such as courage and mateship that define the ANZAC spirit”.

Drysdale will face Portarlington in the other BFNL Anzac Day match as Drysdale look to build on last year’s comprehensive 63-point win.

More than 416,000 Australians served in World War I, with close to a million following in World War II, figures that continue to give weight to the moments of silence observed before each game.

On a day where the nation pauses and reflects, local football does its part to ensure that the Anzac spirit lives on in every contest, every handshake, and every moment of silence.