PFNL 2018: Why Anzac Day footy is at its best in the country | Rake’s Rave

We may not have 91,000 fans in a stadium, or even a working PA system at times, but Anzac Day footy remains at its peak in the country.

Sure, our ceremonies don’t include the drums, the guns, the marching and all the hoo-ha.

They’re simple. A few quick words, the last post is played through the speakers and the crowd stands silent for a minute.

But it’s that simplicity that makes it so special.

We’re not the AFL, we don’t have millions of dollars at our disposal to hype up the Anzac Day games, but every year we pay our respects and do what we can to honour our past and present servicemen and women.

I watched Halls Head and Baldivis go toe-to-toe in a game that exceeded any expectation I had for it last night, and while a football match could never compare to storming the sands of Gallipoli, it embodied the Anzac spirit in every sense of the phrase.

Baldivis was the superior team in the end, but neither side gave in at any point, despite both having played tough games just four days prior.

Each club continued to embrace their annual Anzac Day fixture, which has become arguably the biggest marquee match on the PFNL’s calendar.

Across town, Mandurah and South Mandurah clashed in an Anzac Day derby, in what was the first time the PFNL has held two games to mark the day.

It’s not anything over the top, in country footy we commemorate and honour the Anzac’s within our means.

But it’s the people who turn out to mark the occasion – the players, the supporters, the officials – that make it such a momentous occasion.

The Halls Head, Baldivis, Mandurah and South Mandurah football clubs can all hold their heads high, knowing their tribute to those who have served our country was a fitting one.