Collingwood have released their 2024 ANZAC Day guernsey, to be worn in the annual clash against Essendon.
The design features maps from sites of significant World War One battles, two sprigs of the iconic rosemary and ‘The Ode of Remembrance’, intertwined into the iconic Collingwood black and white stripes.
With the 2024 ANZAC Day encounter fixtured as an Away game for Collingwood, the guernsey has a white base with black stripes.
The design pays tribute to those who have served for their country in times of war, proudly displaying the ANZAC Appeal emblem above the AFL logo.
The maps featured in the design are from Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey and the German Hindenburg Line near the town of Bullecourt in Northern France.
All Australians know the story of Gallipoli as the birthplace of the courageous ‘ANZAC’s’, and maps depicting the positions of Australian and Turkish forces in the infamous battle are featured across the front and back of the guernsey.
Also featured is the town of Bullecourt, which formed part of the German’s Hindenburg Line in April 1917. There were two Battles of Bullecourt in 1917, in which the Australian Infantry Force lost 10,000 men. The second of the two battles saw the Australian’s take part of the Hindenburg Line.
Front and centre on the guernsey are two sprigs of rosemary, a plant that has been long associated with remembrance. The tradition dates back to World War One and according to RSL Victoria:
“Native to the seaside regions of the Mediterranean, rosemary grows wild on the slopes of the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Tradition has it that a wounded Digger brought home a small rosemary bush from ANZAC Cove, which was planted in the grounds of the Army Hospital at Keswick, South Australia. Cuttings from this original plant were taken and propagated in nurseries all over Australia, and sprigs of rosemary are worn to this day by attendees at ANZAC Day ceremonies as a fragrant reminder of the fallen.”
Under the rosemary is ‘The Ode of Remembrance’.
They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We will remember them.
Collingwood’s 2024 ANZAC Day guernsey is now on-sale via shop.collingwoodfc.com.au (exclusive to members via email inbox until 10am AEST on Saturday 13 April) or the Official Collingwood Store, with part of proceeds donated to the ANZAC Day Appeal.
