The men's and women's ADF Australian rules teams decisively won their Anzac Challenge Cup games in Adelaide and Canberra.
As a curtain-raiser for the AFL Anzac Day clash between Greater Western Sydney and Brisbane at Manuka Oval, the ADF women's team dominated NSW Police with a resounding 99-8 victory.
Midfielder Air Force Corporal Peta Elliot said the match lead-up was short, but the team gelled quickly.
"We really worked on structures leading up, as well as specific roles, which was pretty high-level footy compared to what I'm used to," she said.
The women had a good ratio of forwards and backs, balancing out the play, while achieving effective clearances and handball sequences in the middle.
"The NSW Police were definitely competitive and didn't drop their heads at all," Corporal Elliott said.
'As the game went on, more and more people filled the seats. By the fourth quarter, thousands were watching.'
Before the Port Adelaide versus St Kilda match at Adelaide Oval, the men's ADF team faced off against Australian Combined Emergency Services, winning, 56-21, for the first time since 2017.
Team captain and half-back Bombadier James Taylor said the match was closely contested in the first quarter, but they gained momentum, feeling confident the game was sewn up by the third quarter.
In previous matches, Emergency Services typically held a height advantage, but the ADF team neutralised that edge this year.
"Our run on the outside and our hardness at the ball was also just that little bit better, which I think allowed us to come away with the win," Bombadier Taylor said.
This victory placed the ADF team one win ahead of Emergency Services in their annual Anzac clash since the 2000s.
Playing back line and stopping goals, back pocket Acting Sub-Lieutenant Louis Piva said the match was probably the highest level of footy he's played in.
"Our game started when the gates opened for the ground. So as the game went on, more and more people filled the seats. By the fourth quarter, thousands were watching," he said.
Private Jacquin Mifsud was named man of the match, taking a spectacular mark down in the forward 50 and going on to kick a goal.
"It was cool because it was the first time I noticed we were playing in front of a big crowd given their reaction to that screamer," Acting Sub-Lieutenant Piva said.
