Anzac Day Preview: Essendon vs Collingwood

By saladin
May 20, 1915, Anzac Cove, Gallipoli

“Great battle at 3 a.m. Turks captured large portion of our trench. D. Coy called into the front line. Lieut. Hamilton shot dead. I led a section of men and recaptured the trench. I bayonetted two Turks, shot five, took three prisoners and cleared the whole trench. I held the trench alone for 15 minutes against a heavy attack. Lieut. Crabbe informed me that I would be recommended.”
A twenty-two year old acting Lance-corporal, Albert Jacka, entered this laconic account into his diary at days end. The bare facts recorded do not adequately transmit the true reality of life (and death) at some of the precarious toe-holds clung on to by Anzac forces on the Gallipoli peninsula. A heavy Turkish attack on the area of the front known as Courtneys during the night had killed, or driven, the Australian defenders from a large sector of the line and they began to infiltrate down the length of the trench. Jacka watched other defenders running past him, but he held his position in a rebate on the firing step and single handedly prevented the turks from progressing any further. His spirited defense soon attracted aid from other members of the company (although the company commander was shot and killed in the process), and three volunteers accompanied Jacka in a bid to retake the trench. However, Jacka and one comrade had no sooner entered the trench than they came under heavy fire. Miraculously, Jacka was unscathed, but his accomplice was hit three times, and the attempt was called off – with Jacka dragging the wounded private to safety. An alternative plan was hatched with Lt Crabbe, whereby a diversion would be set-up that would allow Jacka to circle in behind the enemy and take them by surprise. This was put into effect via a concerted grenade attack whilst Jacka maneuvered through No Mans Land and dropped into the Turkish-held trench alone. He shot five defenders, bayoneted two others in hand to hand combat, and accepted the surrender of three more. Fellow members of his company had to wait fifteen minutes for dawn before learning of his success, during which time he manned the defensive line on his own. Crabbe entered the re-taken trench to find a dazed Jacka, unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth, sitting amongst the dead. “Well, I got the beggars, Sir”. Word of Jacka’s exploits spread across the cove, and he was eventually awarded Australia’s first Victoria Cross of the Great War. He went on to serve in France – where his exploits could easily have won him two more VC’s- and cemented his reputation as one of the finest fighting man of the AIF. Severely wounded at Pozierres, and then returning to action for the ill-fated carnage at First Bullecourt, he somehow survived the war but eventually fell victim to complications from his many wounds and mustard-gas symptoms. Albert Jacka died in 1932 at the age of 39. His final words, uttered to his father, were “I’m still fighting, Dad”.

Essendon Vs Collingwood. Anzac Day. The pinnacle of home-and-away football. This is the game that everyone hopes to play in. The Anzac aura surrounds supporters and players alike, and gives an already intense rivalry a little extra edge. For both sides this year, irrespective of the occasion, it is a vital match. Collingwood are precariously placed at 2 wins/ 3 losses, precarious not so much for the outright win/loss record but for it’s sudden form slump and attendant effect on it’s top-four aspirations. For the Dons, with the same number of premiership points, a loss would probably trigger an end to the feel-good vibe around the club and the new game style and coach will start to cop some serious – negative – attention from the football public. Expect to see a frantic opening as the emotion finds a badly needed outlet.

From what we’ve seen so far this year, Knights will stick to his guns and attempt to persist with the fast running and slick ball movement that saw the side get over North and Carlton. But Collingwood will attempt to close the game down and stifle Essendon’s speed. Clearances are everything in this match. No matter what happens forward or back, if Essendon get bogged down with the ball, or outmuscled in the clinches, it will be very very tough to kick a winning score. So the focus – in the unfortunate absence of Mark Mcveigh, and to a lesser extent Lonergan – will turn largely to Jobe Watson. He is likely to go up against Dane Swan, and absolutely has to find some ball-winning and ball distributing form. If you talk about “clearance specialists”, he is pretty much the only one we are putting on the park this week. Selection news was a little surprising in my opinion – I thought Jason Johnson would get a call up if only for some body size. Angus Monfries should get some time in the middle. Why it didn’t happen last week I don’t know, but if he’s in the side, it has to be as an onballer at least some of the time. Other than that, we will be trying to open up the play through the likes of Lovett (a former Anzac Day medalist), Winderlich, Davey, Houli, Stanton and Dyson. Davey or Lovett will spend some time on Leon Davis you’d think, Houli might get a job on Pendlebury and the pies might opt to tag Stanton (perhaps with Ryce Shaw), who is slowly running into some form. If we can get the ball flowing our way, then the forward line have a real chance of doing some damage.

6th July, 1918. Accroche Wood, Villers-Bretonneux. France

Corporal Walter Brown had originally joined the AIF in 1915 as an infantry-man, but in an effort to “get to the action” quicker, he transferred to the 1st Light Horse Regiment and was sent to the middle east. In July, 1916, having decided that France was where the “real” stuff was occurring, he managed to get himself transferred to the 20th Infantry Battalion and took ship for Calais. Brown spent September and October 1917 fighting in the bloodbath at Passchendaele, Belgium, where he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for tending to the wounded whilst under heavy fire, and was then wounded in November. In 1918, the battalion had transferred to the Villers-Bretonneux sector, and 6th July found his company pinned down in recently captured trenches. Brown identified the German strong-point responsible, grabbed two grenades and charged, alone, at the german position. His first grenade landed short, but he continued – under fire – right up to the German sniper post, felled an opponent with his fist and threatened the rest with the last grenade. The germans – 13 general ranks, and one officer – surrendered. This action allowed the local advance to continue, and Brown was awarded the Victoria Cross. He was discharged early in 1920 and returned home. Incredibly, the outbreak of war in 1939 saw Brown again present to the Recruitment Office, where he put down his age as 39 (in reality, he was 53!) and went to war for his country again. As part of the ill-fated 8th Infantry Division, he fought on the Malayan Peninsular against the Japanese, and was trapped in Singapore. The night before the British capitulation, he again picked up the grenades. “No surrender for me” were his last words to his fellow soldiers, and he headed for the Japanese lines. Walter Earnest Brown V.C , DCM was never seen alive again, nor is his final resting place known. Only his name in the service books, and on memorial walls, are there to remind us of a man who went beyond the call in two disastrous wars.

Defensively, we look ok on paper. Mal /Ryder/Fletch to take on Rocca and Cloke. Slattery will probably get Thomas or Didak (although doubt remains over Didak’s fitness). Last week I thought Reimers should go defensive on Milne, and I again was leaning to this outcome against Collingwood. But I’m starting to think he may be of more advantage in the attacking half given how the Pies played last week. Nash is going ok –although not as good as last year imo -, Houli has bounced back after a quiet game against Carlton, and Welsh may also get a role on half back at times. Rama is an interesting one. He hasn’t been overly good in his minding duties, but his footskills going forward are generally spot-on. This week, if his fitness levels allow, he could be very damaging on a wing.

29th August, 1942. Isurava Village, Kokoda Track, Papua.

Bruce Steel Kingsbury, a 24 year old private in the 2/14th Battalion, was serving in Papua with his childhood friend, Alan Avery. The 2nd/14th had arrived at the beginning of August and had slugged their way over the Own Stanley ranges in an attempt to relieve the 39th Militia Battalion and halt the Japanese advance on Port Moresby. Twelve platoons took up defensive positions around Isurava, where they were assailed on the 28th by an attacking Japanese force 6 times greater in number than their own. Eventually, after a day of heavy small-arms and hand to hand fighting, the Australian right flank was over-run and the Battalion headquarters left exposed to the enemy. Kingsbury, whose own platoon had been decimated, joined another platoon, and with a cry “follow me, we can turn them back” he charged the Japanese with a Bren gun. Kingsbury cleared a path through the enemy, causing large numbers of casualties, and inspired his fellow men to join him. The Japanese were pushed back and the Battalion Command was saved. In the brief interlude following the action, Kinsbury was gunned down by an unseen sniper. His best friend, Alan Avery, was able to reach him, and returned his mate to a Regimental Aid Station, but he could not return his life. Kingsbury was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross – the first ever given in a theatre of war under Australian Command – for extreme valour under fire, and his unit, the 7th Section of the 9th platoon, became one of the most-awarded combat units in Australian history. The eleven original members – including Kingsbury and Avery – were awarded one VC, one DCM and four Military Medals. A Melbourne suburb was named in Bruce Kingsbury’s honour, and the landmark near which he lost his life is still known as “Kingsbury’s Rock”. He now rests with the fallen in the Kokoda War Cemetary.

Expect to see a much improved performance from Mathew Lloyd. The skipper returned last week from a calf problem, but had no impact on the game. He will get some marking help this week from inclusion Courtney Johns, or alternatively Paddy Ryder if Knights chooses to start Johns down back. Lloyd will probably Wakelin – a win to us if Lloyd is switched on – and Johns by Nathan Brown, who is a very good young player. Maxwell might be given Mcphee or Pears if young Tayte plays up forward. I hope Mcphee pushes well up the ground to function as a get-out-of-trouble option. This will reduce the burden on our running players to carry the footy as much. But Collingwoods’ real problems last week were with the small forwards of north, and this is where we need to hurt them most. Davey, Lovett, Reimers and Monfries need to be prominent (oh how I wish Jetta was playing!) early. Heath Shaw was all at sea last week when actually forced to be accountable. He killed us last year, and must not be allowed to do it again. Laycock may have to sit on the pine if not rucking – his form hasn’t been great and we could be too top-heavy with him in a pocket. Collingwood set up too well when Shaw and the rest have time to run it out.

Intensity. It is appropriate on a day commemorating our service men and women that this characteristic will probably determine the match. Pretty, fancy running and carry will not win the field. Not tomorrow. Not without grit, tenacity and sheer hard work for your mates. We can find it, the talent is there and hopefully the desire. I’m tipping big Hille to be the gamebreaker. He has been excellent this year, and this is just the sort of occasion for him to stand up. Dons by 5 points.

102,804 people. That is the official tally of those who have perished in the Australian Armed Forces across more than 15 conflicts. Tens of thousands more probably perished in ancillary organizations such as the Merchant Navy, Nursing profession and logistics. Hundreds of thousands returned wounded, almost 40,000 as former prisoners of war. Anzac Day is not about glorifying conflict or even deifying individuals for specific acts. It is a day of commemoration, of acknowledgement, of recognition and of thanks. It is certainly not a day about football. Remember, whether at the game, or elsewhere, that the true significance occurs in the two minutes before the opening bounce, not the two hours after it. Most of us will have the good fortune to return next year and watch this match again. It was not a luxury given to Albert, Walter or Bruce. Nor countless others.

LEST WE FORGET

Posted 24 April 08 in News Match Preview