World Footy News

Anzac Day is linked most significantly with Aussie Rules football in the modern day by the Collingwood v Essendon clash as the MCG, which in recent years has seen big crowds attend. This is largely due to the families and diggers who move across to the footy after the ANZAC Day parade and commemoration at the Shrine. Those two AFL clubs usually have the day to themselves but this year with the day falling on a Saturday the AFL has scheduled Hawthorn v West Coast at Aurora Stadium, North Melbourne v Richmond at Docklands and Fremantle v Sydney Swans at Subiaco, all later in the day. Significant tributes to those that have served their country in the armed forces are always part of the day.

Locally the Anzac Day Act would prevent any footy played before 1pm but the Victorian State Government and the RSL announced this week that suburban footy matches could start at any time on Saturday, if they included a minute's silence and recognition of the day. But footy has become linked not just in Melbourne, or in Australia – but around the world with clubs getting together for matches, tournaments or just to get together to watch the MCG clash as part of their own Anzac Day commemorations.

We have put together a list below of some of these events.

In the USA the Golden Gate AFL will hold their annual ANZAC Day Cup for the Gooding-Kramer Shield on April 25 in Concord at 2pm (Ygnacio Valley Park). And Louisville Kentucky will host the annual Thunder Cup tournament on Saturday 25th of April from 10am to 5pm. US clubs getting together to watch the MCG match are Arizona Hawks (at the Tilted Kilt in Tempe. Game starts at 9PM Friday 24th, entry from 8PM $10 cover charge) and the New York Magpies (Pier 66a Maritime Saturday, April 25 from 1:00 pm to 12:00 am).

In Canada the BC Footy Cup tournament (at DW Poppy Secondary School 23752 52nd Avenue, Langley) will feature 5 clubs fighting for the title on Saturday 25th of April.

In Villers-Bretonneux, France there will be formal ANZAC Day events, including the dawn service and memorial service, on Saturday 25th April. The following day the Anzac Cup match will commence at 10am on Sunday 26th April.

In Indonesia they will hold the 2009 Anzac Day Cup Saturday, April 25 2009 @ 01:00 PM EST - 05:30PM at Balikpapan, Kalimantan. The cup will be a 3 way tournament featuring Borneo Bears, Jakarta Bintangs and Jakarta Bulldogs

In Japan the Nagoya Redbacks play the Tokyo Goannas Saturday, April 25 2009 @ 02:00 PM EST - 06:30PM in Nagoya in round 1 of the JAFL.

In Thailand the Thailand Tigers play the Vietnam Swans in the Hell Fire Pass, Anzac Day game on Saturday, April 25 2009 @ 10:15 PM EST - 04:15PM at Kanchanaburi, Thailand

In Malaysia there will be a Tri-Nations tournament described as an “Anzac Day Festival of Footy.” Taking place on 25th April 2009 through the day at the Alice Smith School, Seri Kembangan, Kuala Lumpur. The three teams will be Malaysia, Singapore and an Australian Army team.

In the Cayman Islands they will be playing their traditional Anzac Day clash in the Compromise Rules format with the Aussies looking to reverse the St Patricks Day result in which the Irish were victorious.

In England the Anzac Sports Challenge is on May 2 the weekend after Anzac Day. A round robin tournament will take place against the other five AFL London clubs as well as two guest teams, the Great Britain Bulldogs and Ireland.

The picture accompanying this article is the cover of the commemorative book "Badge of Honour" it is $15 and is on sale from the Bomber Shop, newsagents, selected bookstores, AFL stores and online at slatterymedia.com/books. It is also available from AFL Record sellers all rounds leading up to and including Anzac Day.