Teams show Anzac spirit

The second annual Anzac Day fixture in the Great Southern Football League will take on extra significance this Saturday when traditional rivals Railways and North Albany wear specially designed jumpers and raise money for two foundations close to their hearts.

After a highly successful inaugural Anzac Day fixture at Collingwood Park last season, the second game in the two-year trial by the GSFL will be played at Tigerland on Saturday afternoon.

Adding to the importance of the match, special Anzac jumpers have been designed and will be worn by both clubs in the league and reserves.

Those jumpers will be auctioned off after the league fixture, with all money raised going towards the Soldier On Foundation, Proudies Foundation and Ryan Marron Foundation.

The Proudies Foundation helps support Kangas and Claremont footballer Warwick Proudlove, who was seriously injured in a car crash in 2011, while the Ryan Marron Foundation assists Albany-raised policeman and Tigers member Ryan Marron, who was bitten by a mosquito and contracted Murray Valley encephalitis in 2011.

Newly appointed Tigers captain Jarrod Whittle said playing on Anzac Day was a huge occasion for his club.

"It's a pretty special day being Anzac Day itself and being the only game on the day," he said.

"We are privileged and honoured to play.

"We have to respect the day, enjoy the day and show the courage and fight they did to put your body on the line."

Kangas counterpart Brent Welshman also highlighted the importance of playing football and paying respect to the fallen soldiers.

"On a day when everyone reflects on great loss, we get to try and do something on that day," he said.

"It's a small sacrifice to make to play footy on a Saturday compared to the sacrifices they made all those years ago.

"We have to respect it for what it is - not many people get the opportunity to play on Anzac Day."

Both sides are coming off emphatic round 1 victories, adding to the excitement surrounding this match, which was won by the Kangas last year.

The Tigers are expected to make one change for the clash, with Riley Quilty unavailable and star midfielder Craig Frost coming back into the side.

The Kangas will lose Corey Rogers, who is playing in the State country colts team with Quilty, and Stuart Myers is also likely to miss with a shoulder injury.

Star Geoff Wynne is a chance to return and reliable defender David Scriven will be an inclu- sion.

The Curly Taylor Medal will be awarded to the best player on the ground, with the league match starting at 3pm and the reserves kicking off at 1pm.