Fireys turn out for Anzac Challenge

The Anzac Day Challenge game is a fiercely-contested annual Australian Rules football match, pitting the best Police, Ambulance and Firefighter footballers in Australia against the best Army, Navy and Airforce players. 

The game is played on or around Anzac Day each year as a tribute to our fallen Anzacs. 

This year’s game will be played as the curtain-raiser to the Port Adelaide V North Melbourne AFL match at Adelaide Oval on Friday 26 April starting at 4.15pm.

ACES team nominations are accepted from all three services across Australia. 

This is the sixteenth year the Challenge has been held, with the ADF All Stars leading 9-6. 

Nine CFA firefighters made it into this year's team, with Senior Station Officer Travis Smith from Caroline Springs selected as the team's assistant coach. 

Smith said this year marked a significant achievement for CFA.

“With nine players we have the most number of representatives from any one organisation in the history of the game; this is something we should be very proud of,” Travis said.

“While the competition will be fierce, the respect for challenge and what it represents far outweighs winning or losing.

“We are proud to fly the flag for CFA as we share this special day with our defence force colleagues.”

CFA representatives for the Anzac Day Challenge:

•         FF Justin Baxter - Corio

•         FF Rob Castello - Sunbury

•         FF Nathan Evans - Dandenong

•         FF Ryan Mullett - Mornington

•         FF Daniel Pearce - Rowville

•         FF Thomas Pridgeon - Mildura

•         QFF Damian Rayson - Dandenong

•         QFF Joel Tipping - Hoppers Crossing

•         FF James Wright - Hoppers Crossing

•         SSO Travis Smith (Assistant Coach) - Caroline Springs

For those unable to attend, the game will be streamed live on YouTube  

To keep up with ACES news, like their Facebook page 

Main photo by Jeff Wray Photography