This Thursday, Essendon and Collingwood will square off at the MCG for the annual Anzac Day clash.
It’s a fixture that extends far beyond football, providing the opportunity for over 90,000 people to stand to attention and pay their respects to all the Anzacs who’ve served their nation, including those who made the ultimate sacrifice on the fields of battle.
As the Dons and Pies get set for their 29th encounter on this famous day, look at the factors set to shape the biggest game of the season so far.
The ‘G stands still
The sound of silence will be at its most powerful in the pre-game on Thursday.
As the 48 players and coaches stand arm-in-arm in the middle of the park, the bugle player’s rendition of The Last Post echoing through the ground and the subsequent minute’s silence will be sure to give anyone goosebumps.
It’s a seminal moment every Anzac Day, and this year will be no exception.
Bombers’ pressure
Last week, it felt like sheer tenacity drove Essendon’s thrilling win over Adelaide last week.
With a season-high 80 tackles from the side, the Bombers brought the heat early on the road, particularly from their midfield duo Sam Durham and Jye Caldwell combining for 44 pressure acts and 19 tackles.
The Dons will need similar intent against Collingwood, whose big win over Port Adelaide last week has set the stage perfectly - both sides enter Anzac Day in winning form, so expect a hot contest from the opening bounce.
Forward half threats
After a month on the sidelines through suspension, Peter Wright's return bolsters a Bombers attack that has been held strongly by Kyle Langford, Harry Jones and Jake Stringer in his absence.
Wright's aptly-timed comeback has created welcome selection headaches for the Dons, who will still opt to play two ruckmen in Sam Draper and Todd Goldstein on the day, giving the side a fair share of tall forward targets.
Big game exposure
With the exception of a COVID-interrupted 2020 season, these two sides have played on this day every year since the fixture’s inception in 1995, cracking crowds of more than 90,000 a whopping nine times.
Last year’s clash saw a record 95,179 people through the gates, making it the second-highest attended home-and-away game in AFL/VFL history – for a young Bombers outfit, the experience and exposure to big games like these will prove invaluable.
In the past two Anzac Day games, Collingwood have outlasted the Dons in exciting contests, winning by 11 and 13 points respectively.
The Bombers will be looking to bounce back and snare their first victory over the Pies since 2021.
