During a time when Australians and New Zealanders reflect on the sacrifices made by the ANZAC service members, the Australian Football League (AFL) honoured this solemn day with its own traditions.

However, not everyone is in agreement about the way the AFL handled the tributes, with some accusing the league of turning a moment of respect into a mere spectacle.

Brisbane's Triple M Breakfast radio host Greg 'Marto' Martin voiced a strong opinion against the AFL's Anzac Day practices.

He particularly criticised the use of The Last Post—a bugle call played at military funerals and commemorative services—as a pre-game ritual for all matches during the ANZAC round.

Greg Martin slammed AFL’s use of The Last Post on ANZAC Day. Image source: AFL/ Facebook

‘Football has now turned (The Last Post) into a gimmick,’ he said.

The Last Post, a haunting melody that resonates with deep emotional significance, is traditionally associated with ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day ceremonies.

It is a time for silence, reflection, and honouring those who have served and sacrificed.

Martin recalled the powerful impact of this ritual when it was first introduced in 1995 for the ANZAC Day clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where a crowd of 97,000 would stand in respectful silence.

‘But now what’s happened, as football always does, and I’m not just talking AFL, I’m talking rugby league as well, they’ve taken a wonderful thing, and they’ve gone, “Oh that’s good ... (how do we capitalise?”)’ he expressed.

Martin argued that what was once a poignant tribute has now become overused to the point of inducing 'bugle fatigue' among fans.

‘So what’s going to happen this week in all (nine) games of the AFL and all eight games of the rugby league…every single one of them will play (The Last Post), and you’ll get ANZAC (or) you’ll get bugle fatigue,’ Martin said.

‘We have to stop it somewhere.’

His co-host, Margaux Parker, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the over-saturation of the tribute lessens its value and turns it into a mockery.

‘It gets saturated, so it loses its value,’ Parker stated.

The backlash against Martin and Parker's views has been swift and severe, with some social media users accusing them of disrespecting Australia and questioning their patriotism.

‘Surely they can’t go any lower than that. That’s disgusting,’ a social media user wrote.

‘These people really hate Australia, don’t they?!’ another posted.

A third person asked: ‘Tell me this is a joke! ⁦The AFL cannot axe this!’

The AFL, for its part, maintained that ANZAC Day is one of the nation's most important national occasions and encouraged fans to participate in the pre-match formalities.

Several clubs have even embraced the tradition by wearing ANZAC-themed jumpers, with plans to auction them off and donate the proceeds to The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL), an organisation supporting veterans.

Additionally, the league encouraged fans to arrive early to ‘soak up the atmosphere and pre-match formalities that will no doubt be another moving tribute to the sacrifices of our past and present service men and women’.

Key Takeaways

• AFL games' tradition of playing The Last Post during ANZAC Day round has been criticised by Triple M's Greg 'Marto' Martin for becoming excessive and likened to a gimmick.
• Martin took issue with the use of The Last Post before all games during the round, not just the central ANZAC Day match, suggesting the practice leads to 'bugle fatigue’.
• The criticism from the radio hosts has been met with strong condemnation from the public, who feel that the tradition is a respectful tribute to service men and women.
• AFL clubs embraced the ANZAC Day tribute by wearing themed jumpers, with some clubs participating for the first time and planning to auction off the guernseys to donate proceeds to the RSL. The league underscored the importance of ANZAC Day and encouraged fans to participate in the pre-match tributes.

We invite our readers to share their thoughts on this matter. How do you feel about the AFL's ANZAC Day tribute? What's your take on the radio hosts' criticism? Let us know in the comments below.

 

[Kelpie]

It is about time that these wokes idiot are shown the door and never to come back to the office again.
Where is the respect from those people (IDIOTIC AND MANIAC BRAINWASHEDLUNATICS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE) for the ones who have died for this Country and for keeping everyone n Australia safe under a Democratic system which has given us the freedom of speech.?
Shame on them and sack them. Period.!!

 

[Clancieblue]

I ask my father once a returned soldier why is football allowed to be played on ANZAC DAY. His reply was the morning is meant to be solemn but the afternoon is meant to be how they would have lived. There were some great footballers who went to war but never came home one was Bluey Truscott. I am sure those who were killed in War would be happy for this tradition to be continued.

A schoolteacher told us once, in the morning we mourn them, in the afternoon we celebrate them.
Why are we not complaining about drinking and playing two up.

 

[Kelpie]

I watched both the AFL and NFL tributes to Anzac Day and it was wonderful, very respectful and dignified towards our most cherished day , it honoured the men and women who fought and died to make our country the great place it is today, the players and the crowd showed the greatest respect , the last post was played and you could hear a pin drop and see tears from a lot of the crowd, and I am sure from all watching from home, it was a beautiful way to honour our fallen and our veterans
How disgraceful of these so called radio wannabes to suggest this , just shows how out of touch they are.

The owners running the station should sack him on the spot and get him escorted out of the radio station. That is total disrespect to the fallen soldiers.
Even I, who I am not of Australia Origin respect this day and along with my father in Law, now deceased (A DINKY DYE AUSTRALIAN WHOSE FAMILY ORIGINATED FROM THE FIRST FLEET AND WHO FOUGHT IN THE WAR), used to walk with him and talk about it all.
These people should be expelled from the Countrty if they are against the rules and the norms as set out. Shame in this ars..hole.

 

[Kelpie]

one of those rock jokes you refer to was a wallaby. Greg Martin.

So what and who cares. As far as I am concerned he really show the World what an unrespectful idiot and out of touch man he is.

 

[mitchellowe]

ANZAC DAY IS A JOKE
EVERY ONE THANKS ALL SOLDIERS FROM ALL 3 DEFENCE PERSONEL BY THANKING THEM FOR SERVING THEIR COUNTRY AND IF YOU ARE STILL A\LIVE BY LOOKING AFTER YOU ON A PENSION
WE THE GOVTS WILL GIVE ALL LIVING SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN THOUSANDS LESS IN THE STIMULOUS PACKAGES AND PUT THE UNEMPLOYED AND SINGLE PARENTS FIRST
ALSO WE THE GOVT WILL GIVE THE UNEMPLOYED AND SINGLE PARENTS BIGGER PENSION INCREASES THAN THE REMAINING VETERANS AND THE AGED AND CARERS AND THE DISABLED SINCE THE VIRUS STARTED
WE THE GOVT WILL REWARD THE UNEMPLOYED AND THE SINGLE PARENTS FOR DOING NOTHING FOR AUSTRALIA EXCEPT PAY YOU TO KEEP DOING THE SAME 14 YEARS AT A TIME AND ENDLESS UNEMPLOYMENT LOOK HOW MANY ELDERLY DIED FROM THE VIRUS AND IF THAT DOES NOT WORK WE WILL LEAVE YOU IN AMBULANCES AND BLAME RAMPING
UNTIL YOU DIE
HOW MANY UNDER RETIREMENT AGE HAVE DIED COMPARED TO PENSIONERS FROM THINGS UNDER GOVT CONTROL
WE THE PEOPLE WHO DESERVE TO BE TREATED LIKE HEROES WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR GETTING TREATED LIKE YOU JUST WANT US TO DIE
WE DESERVE TO BE TREATED LIKE HEROES INSTEAD OF BEING A BURDEN ON SOCIETY
HANG ON WHO IS THE BURDEN ON SOCIETY
THOSE THAT DO NOT HAVE TO WORK AND THOSE THAT KEEP HAVING CHILDREN THEY CANNOT AFFORD
NOT THE PEOPLE WHO SERVED THIS COUNTRY WORKED ALL THEIR LIVES NOT ON BENEFITS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO BENEFITS

 

[Kelpie]

not as a wallaby and this is from nzer.

Too many knocks on his head. Period!

 

[PattiB]

I ask my father once a returned soldier why is football allowed to be played on ANZAC DAY. His reply was the morning is meant to be solemn but the afternoon is meant to be how they would have lived. There were some great footballers who went to war but never came home one was Bluey Truscott. I am sure those who were killed in War would be happy for this tradition to be continued.

My late dad was a returned soldier who fought in New Guinea during WW2 & this is exactly what he used to say. When he aged & experienced mobility problems going to the service became too much for him (he objected to sitting in a wheelchair) we would watch the service on TV & he loved the football in the afternoon.

 

[Kelpie]

Ahh good to know we still have whinging Poms - thought they had all left.

It's in their breed. Just look at what is going on in Pommy Land now. Say no more.

 

[MIZMAC]

There are a lot of women who love football but it’s mostly men, it’s almost mostly men marching on Anzac Day. I don’t agree with football on Anzac Day. We are remembering the fallen in the wars all morning. I think a couple of war time movies in the afternoon would be more appropriate and teach the younger generation a bit about what it was like.
Just my opinion.

I think football is appropriate on ANZAC Day. Many Aussie soldiers relaxed with games when fighting was a bit quiet.

 

[Kelpie]

My late dad was a returned soldier who fought in New Guinea during WW2 & this is exactly what he used to say. When he aged & experienced mobility problems going to the service became too much for him (he objected to sitting in a wheelchair) we would watch the service on TV & he loved the football in the afternoon.

That is eaxctly what my father in Law used to say.

 

[Cadfael]

No problems with the Last Post being played at any footy games but should only be played on ANZAC Day.

 

[Ronloby]

There should be NO football played on ANZAC DAY. Also, no businesses should be trading on the day either, it is a public holiday.

 

[PattiB]

There should be NO football played on ANZAC DAY. Also, no businesses should be trading on the day either, it is a public holiday.

Why not?

 

[Veggiepatch]

Too many knocks on his head. Period!

Probably by the hands of his boyfriend, Alan Jones....

 

[Veggiepatch]

There should be NO football played on ANZAC DAY. Also, no businesses should be trading on the day either, it is a public holiday.

Close all essential services, non essential "services" such as places of worship and brothels, petrol outlets and the corner store. A 6.00 pm curfew country wide enforced by martial law.

Fancy that! Exercising the exact same dictatorial enforcement that the ANZACs fought against!

 

[Arkycray]

This was a thoughtless gesture by the AFL.

 

[KLB]

I have always said that the triple m radio station was full of it and only morons and idiots work on it or listen to it.

 

[gamiry]

I am sick & tired from the amount of football content in our every day lives I am an ex-Pom who was bought up on the real FOOTBALL game of SOCCER I have never embarrass the rough & tumble o either form of Aussie football when all it seems to do is glorify brutality. I am also sick on the moaning from the said footy players on how 5 months without footy is too long . For anyone who doesn't like either form of footy 7 months of footy are too much to bear. As for the ANZAC rounds Why have them at all?

I'm with you girl. 109 years since WW1 and still it goes on. I know some will jump down my throat but I have severe PTSD through treatment since birth of military personal. My specialists have forbidden me to watch the marches because of their effect on me yet it's jammed down my throat every year from 4am to when I go to bed, on tv. Aren't there enough family, inc kids traumatized by these wonderous people. My ex used to say "watch it bitch, you forget I'm a trained killer" and many of them think the same way.

 

[Judith Mary mcmullen]

As a veteran I think it's great! Disappear you twit on the radio!

 

[Kman]

I am sick & tired from the amount of football content in our every day lives I am an ex-Pom who was bought up on the real FOOTBALL game of SOCCER I have never embarrass the rough & tumble o either form of Aussie football when all it seems to do is glorify brutality. I am also sick on the moaning from the said footy players on how 5 months without footy is too long . For anyone who doesn't like either form of footy 7 months of footy are too much to bear. As for the ANZAC rounds Why have them at

I am sick & tired from the amount of football content in our every day lives I am an ex-Pom who was bought up on the real FOOTBALL game of SOCCER I have never embarrass the rough & tumble o either form of Aussie football when all it seems to do is glorify brutality. I am also sick on the moaning from the said footy players on how 5 months without footy is too long . For anyone who doesn't like either form of footy 7 months of footy are too much to bear. As for the ANZAC rounds Why have them at all?

Just remember - it was the POMS who "invaded" (I use the term loosely) this great country. If you dont like it, there is always a seat on a 767 waiting for you to go back to whence you came from to watch all those "faking actors" play that game you speak of.