There were remarkable scenes at Domain Stadium on Saturday night for the 20th annual Len Hall Tribute Match.
 
Nearly 40,000 people stood during the minute’s silence before the blockbuster between Fremantle and Sydney, paying a touching tribute to past and present Anzacs.
 
Freo triumphed by 14 points in a close finish with Luke McPharlin’s 16 disposals, including nine marks, critical against Sydney’s potent forward line of Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett.

Buddy bound by McPharlin

“We set ourselves for a big game against Sydney, a contender and it being the Len Hall Game is going to be a big event, “ he said.
 
The game had extra significance for McPharlin who has family links dating back to the fateful landing at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.
 
“I’ve got family links that stretch back to Gallipoli and my grand father fought in WWII,” he said.
 
McPharlin said the significance of the day was talked about among the players before the game.
 
“As we talked about in the rooms beforehand, we really had to honour the occasion by giving great effort,” he said.
 
“Hopefully we did that tonight.”