Nisbett said the Eagles ideally would want to play the Sydney Swans on the holiday, in the annual HMAS Sydney II game.
The Eagles and the Swans do battle each year for the HMAS Sydney II Trophy, which raises money for the Legacy Foundation.
Nisbett said the club requested the AFL schedule the annual fixture on ANZAC Day in order to allow Eagles fans to pay their respects to those who have served, while supporting a great cause, but the request was obviously unsuccessful.
“We pitched for ANZAC Day again this year, and Fremantle were successful in getting it here,” he said.
“Because of our relationship with the SAS Resources Trust, and the SAS in general, we’ve been pitching for that for a few years and missed out.”
The annual match against Sydney is held in memory of the 645 men who died when the HMAS Sydney II was sunk in 1941 and takes place annually between West Coast and Sydney - representing the ship’s home port of Sydney, and the state of her final resting place, WA.
The Legacy foundation provides services to Australian families suffering financially and socially after the incapacitation or death of a loved one, during or after their defence force service. Legacy currently cares for around 100,000 widows and 1,900 children and disabled dependants throughout Australia.
But Nisbett was adamant the club would aim to play the match on ANZAC Day in the future, saying it’s a day that the WA football community should share together.
“So we’ll be pitching again, we don’t believe it’s anyone’s right to have it for one of the teams in Perth, we think our members and supporters deserve the opportunity to have an ANZAC Day game as well.
“The ‘HMAS Finding Sydney game’ against Sydney is always a really popular game with our members and supporters.
“We’d like to play Sydney on that day (ANZAC Day), I see Fremantle are playing Sydney on that day (this year).”
