By Alex Docherty
Keysborough president Paul Wright has earmarked Anzac Day as one of the most important days of the year.
The Burra will run out on their home turf for the first time in 2025 on Friday night, when they take on the Caulfield Bears under lights.
It’ll be a momentous occasion for the club, highlighted by the special Anzac Day guernsey the players will don against the Bears.
Keysborough will take the field in its traditional royal blue guernsey, with two rows of poppies near the bottom and silhouettes of diggers underneath.
Wright, who had a grandfather who was stationed in Darwin during the Second World War, says the club loves to celebrate the day.
“It means a lot to me because of what those guys did in World War I and World War II,” he said.
“We wouldn’t be where we are today without them … the country we live in today where I can sit and chat, or go to the pub and have a beer … for me personally, it means a lot.”
The club has taken part in Anzac Day games throughout the years, but this will be the first time since entering the SFNL that the Burra have had a standalone division two Anzac Day game.
“We were lucky enough to apply to the league to ask if we can have a game on the Anzac Day Friday,” Wright said.
“Caulfield agreed to play us on that Friday … it’d be great to go and play football, but also celebrate Anzac Day on the actual day.
“We’ll play the first post before the first bounce. Hopefully it’s a good day.”
Keysborough will be hoping to mark their first home game of the season with victory after losses to East Malvern and Frankston in the opening two rounds.
After the week off due to the Easter break, Wright says there is excitement among the playing group about an Anzac Day fixture.
“Come Sunday (after the loss to Frankston in round two), there was always talk around the club about looking forward to it,” he said.
“It’s been a long pre-season … it’s the fourth week in and we haven’t had a home game yet … but to be honest, it’s kind of perfect.
“It means we could be able to build up to this … have the week off and then have the game on the Friday.”
However, Wright has given the playing group one caveat ahead of Friday's clash.
“We have said to the guys, ‘We want you to be prepared for the game’ so getting up at five in the morning to get to a dawn service and then play at seven at night might not be the best preparation,” he said.
“But a few of the leaders and committee members are going to go to the Dawn Service at Dandenong … we’ll wear our Keysy gear there. The boys are excited, but our supporters are excited too.”
