This Saturday, April 25, marks ANZAC Day – a day to remember all those who have served and lost their lives for our nation in armed conflict.
Australian rules football has never been separate from that story. Across the nation, players from league and community clubs have answered the call, and many have lost their lives in service.
Among them were 20 South Melbourne footballers who once wore the red and white with pride before making the ultimate sacrifice. This list includes icons of the club – Sydney Swans Hall of Fame players Bruce Sloss and Len Thomas:
Bruce Sloss was football at its finest. Named Champion of the Colony in 1911, he was an elite follower, a gifted singer, and a gentleman by every account. He played 81 games for South Melbourne, including two grand finals, before enlisting alongside his brothers. In 1917, after captaining a joyful exhibition match in London, Sloss was killed in action by artillery fire in France. His words in a letter to his family, “It’s a wonderful life,” endure as a reminder of his spirit. He will be remembered.
Len Thomas embodied leadership. A best and fairest winner, premiership player and captain, Thomas was one of South Melbourne’s great centremen. Married with two young children, he enlisted anyway, saying simply, “A fellow just can’t be out of a thing like this.” He lost his life while serving in New Guinea in 1943 at age 35. His legacy lives on.
Ahead of ANZAC Day, representatives from the Sydney Swans visited the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Sydney Swans CEO Matthew Pavlich was joined by board member Brian Tyson, chief of staff Amanda Turner, and the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC. Alongside AFLW senior coach Colin O’Riordan, AFL senior coach Dean Cox, and players Chloe Molloy and Braeden Campbell, they paid their respects to the South Melbourne players who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Matthew Pavlich reflected on the visit:
“It’s a very humbling experience.”
“We heard stories of lots of our former players enlisting … wonderful players for our game, hall of fame players, premiership players … and for them to go and serve it shows how important it was to the country at that time.”
“I’ve only lived in relatively peaceful times or very peaceful times in comparison. The sacrifices we make are nothing compared to what these men and women did for our country.”
“It shows the best of our country; that sense of mateship, that sense of sacrifice, that sense of doing it for a better purpose.”
The Sydney Swans pay tribute to every footballer who has served, and especially the 20 South Melbourne players who never came home. Their courage lives on in memory and we honour them.
Lest we forget.
During ANZAC Appeal Round, the Sydney Swans are proud to honour the courage, sacrifice and enduring legacy of the Anzacs through our commemorative ANZAC Appeal heritage guernsey. During our Round 7 clash with the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium, our Red V featured the ANZAC Appeal logo on the chest as a mark of respect and remembrance for all who have served, and continue to serve.
Following the match, the 23 match-worn guernseys will be made available via auction, with proceeds going to the RSL's ANZAC Appeal in support of veterans and their families.
