Cale Hooker had read the books, seen some vision and heard a few stories. But actually visiting Gallipoli, and standing where thousands of Australians died at war, gave the Essendon defender a far greater understanding of the significance of Anzac Day.

On Saturday, Hooker will line up for the Bombers against Collingwood for the sixth Anzac Day game of his career. He has always known the importance of the day, and when he arrived at Essendon he was one of many young players to be schooled in the history of Australians in battle.

But this year will mean a little more to him, after he visited Gallipoli in November last season on a four-day tour with Bombers teammates Jobe Watson and Tom Bellchambers. The 26-year-old saw battlefields, went down into trenches and was left with a lasting impression of the horrors of war. 

"I personally had the impression that all the troops got shot down as soon as they got there, and that it was a failed mission," Hooker said.

"It probably was a failed mission, but I've got an understanding now of what they went through for six months, and how hard it must have been for them.

"We were standing in cemeteries (commemorating) thousands of people who died. It was a really eerie feeling. We were reading tombstones with messages from people's families and that's when it really hit home for me." 

On Tuesday morning, Essendon hosted an Anzac Day commemorative service at its Tullamarine headquarters to acknowledge the 100-year anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli.

Everyone at the club – including players, staff and coaches – was involved, an idea spawned by Hooker, Watson and Bellchambers’ visit to the place where nearly 9000 Australians died in the First World War.

"You stood at Gallipoli and tried to put yourself in their shoes, but it's obviously impossible to properly imagine or understand what it actually would have been like for them. They were just doing the best for their country, and that's what people continue to do for their country. It was quite confronting at times," Hooker said. 

"We're glad that the club organised the service. The development group and younger guys at the club are going to the Army barracks, which they do every year, and it's a really good thing for the players and the club. 

"The thing that I learnt a lot out of the trip was that its great we play a game on Anzac Day to help celebrate the day and make sure it isn't forgotten, and that we can keep paying our respects to the people who have served and continue to serve. We're not trying to compare football to war, but just trying to ensure the day is treated appropriately." 

Hooker will need to put some of his reflections to one side once the ball is bounced on Saturday, with the Bombers keen to continue their strong start to the season.

An All Australian last year, he has kept up his 2014 form in the first three rounds. Not only has he averaged 20 disposals and 10 marks a game, he has proved impenetrable in the back half and kicked the match-winning goal against Hawthorn in round two.  

Hooker says establishing a defensive partnership with full-back Michael Hurley has been important for the pair.

"Because we played a full year together last year, I've definitely noticed we understand each other a lot better out there and we've got that chemistry now where we know where each other is going to run," he said. 

"We worked hard as a team through the pre-season on consistency and playing the full four quarters, and we haven't done that yet this year. We're working towards that this week, and we think we've improved parts of our game already over the first three games." 

Click here to secure your tickets to the ANZAC Day Brunch at Crown Palladium.  This includes a reserve seat for the Essendon vs Collingwood clash at the MCG.