The Anzac Day match pays tribute to the sacrifice of the servicemen and women of Australia and celebrates the Anzac spirit of courage, sacrifice, endurance and mateship.
This year’s Anzac Day blockbuster clash between Essendon and Collingwood is the 19th annual game since the tradition began in 1995 at the MCG. The rivalry now stands at 10 victories to Collingwood, seven to Essendon and a draw.
The last time the two sides met on Anzac Day in 2012, Collingwood snatched the late victory overcoming a fearless fight from the red and black – Collingwood 11.14 (80) to Essendon 11.13 (79).
This year’s match will pay special tribute to the service of women in the Defence Force, with a number of servicewomen to take part in the motorcade. The game also commemorates the anniversary of the sinking of the Australian hospital ship, The Centaur. The Centaur was attacked and sunk by a Japanese submarine off the coast of Queensland on 14 May 1943. Of the 332 medical personnel and civilian crew aboard, 268 were killed.
Gates
MCC Gates open at 10.30am.
Public Gates open at 12.00pm.
Main entertainment starts from 1.25pm
Match will commence at 2.40pm.
Tickets
All public tickets, including restricted view seating and standing room have sold out. The AFL Members Reserve is also sold out.
TV Broadcast Guide
Melbourne – Channel Seven 2.30pm (live), Fox Footy 4.30pm (live)
Adelaide – Channel Seven 2.00pm (live), Fox Footy 2.00pm (live)
Perth – Channel Seven 12.30pm (live), Fox Footy 12.30pm (live)
Sydney – 7mate 2.30pm (live), Fox Footy 2.30pm (live)
Brisbane – 7mate 2.30pm (live), Fox Footy 2.30pm (live)
VIC/SA/WA regional markets have broadly the same telecast times as the state capital city, except where specified. TAS & NT have broadly the same telecast times as VIC.
Radio Guide
Melbourne – Triple M, 3AW, ABC, Grandstand Digital, SEN
Adelaide – Triple M, ABC, Grandstand Digital, Fiveaa (via 3AW)
Perth – 6PR, ABC, Grandstand Digital, NIRS
Sydney – N/A
Brisbane – NIRS
Canberra – N/A
Hobart – ABC, HeartFM
Darwin – ABC, NIRS
Regional – Crocmedia, NIRS, KRock
Cheersquad Allocation
Essendon – M3 (Rows A-R)
Collingwood – M33 (Rows A-T)
Presentation of the Match Football
Rhys Kelly
Trooper Rhys Kelly, a member of the Australian Army who served in Afghanistan, will present officials with the match football. Rhys, a lifelong Essendon supporter, joined the Army in 2008 and served operationally in Afghanistan surviving an IED blast. He has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Coin Toss
Nathan Garcia
A passionate Essendon fan, 10-year-old Nathan Garcia will toss the coin on ground with both sides captain’s. Nathan was born with half a heart and then since developed life-threatening infantile scoliosis (side curving of his spine).
Culinary Chairman’s Function
Essendon Chairman David Evans will make an address at the Culinary Chairman’s Function at 12.50pm. Media wishing to attend are asked to please contact Alexandra Stewart (details below). The club’s Culinary Chairman’s Function Series showcases three of Melbourne’s greatest passions – food, sport and business. Shannon Bennett, owner/chef at Vue de monde, personally designs a three-course menu using the finest local ingredients served pre-game.
Pre-Match Program
This year’s pre-match entertainment will feature:
- The Australian Army Band
- Apia Super Group including Darryl Braithwaite, Joe Camilleri, James Reyne and Ross Wilson will perform between 1.55pm and 2.15pm
- Motorcade of Anzac Veterans
- Observance Ceremony
- Catafalque Guard slow march, flags are lowered to half-mast
- Major General David McLachlan recites “The Ode”
- Last Post
- Minute Silence
- The Rouse
- National Anthem performed by CPL Deborah O’Toole from Australian Army Band.
Concourse
Outer concourse entertainment will be present from 12pm including:
Human Statues located between Gate 3 and Gate 5.
Ringwood Pipe Band located at Gate 3 TBC.
A collection for the Returned & Services League (RSL) will be held at the match. Volunteers will collect donations at the gates of the ground prior to the beginning of the match.
Guernsey Auction
All Anzac Day match worn guernsey’s will be auctioned online immediately following the game with all proceeds being donated to The Returned & Services League (RSL). The auction will end at 8pm on May 7. (Note – the numbered jumper will be signed by the player only.) Login or register at the Bomber Shop Auction site here to start your bidding today.
Cheer Squad Banner
The Anzac Day match is unique in that the players from each team join together to run through a single cheer squad banner created by the cheer squads of both clubs - in recognition of the Anzac spirit and the way Australians came together as one in times of war. The banner lists the names of footballers from each club who lost their lives in war. The captains and players of both teams will meet to shake hands before they run united through the banner.
Anzac Day Logo
The Returned & Services League (RSL), Australian Football League, Essendon and Collingwood Football Clubs have established an Anzac Day logo. Each year the logo is proudly displayed on the guernsey’s of both clubs and the cheer squad banner.
Anzac Day Trophy
A presentation of the Anzac Day Trophy will be made on the field at the conclusion of the match.
The President of the Victorian RSL, Vietnam Veteran Major General David McLachlan will present the trophy to the captain of the winning team.
The trophy comprises a silver bowl, which is supported by four bronze columns and a central glass pillar. The glass pillar has images of servicemen and footballers and is etched with the names of all VFL footballers that gave their lives on active service. The wooden footing of the trophy comes from an ironbark plank, part of an ammunition wagon, which saw service in Villers-Brentonneux in France. The bronze columns incorporate metal salvaged from Gallipoli battlefields.
The trophy and Anzac Medal were kindly donated to the RSL by UNIBIC, makers of Anzac Biscuits.
Anzac Medal
A presentation of the Anzac Medal will be made on the field at the conclusion of the match. The Anzac Medal is awarded to the player in the match who best exemplifies the Anzac spirit - skill, courage, self-sacrifice, teamwork and fair play.
Live Online Coverage
Twitter
To follow all the action live via Twitter with full commentary, stats and scores, visit: www.twitter.com/EssendonLive
Use the #godons hash tag to participate in the conversation.
Facebook
To get regular updates throughout the game on Facebook visit www.facebook.com/Essendon
