There are a few certainties throughout the AFL season. In the lead up to the Grand Final, you can guarantee the debate will be had about whether it’s time to move to an evening or even a twilight decider.
During the middle of the season, the State of Origin debate will hit talkback radio.
And sure enough, in the lead up to the Anzac Day game, commentators will discuss whether it should remain the domain of Essendon and Collingwood.
The debate is old, but the numbers are clear.
Playing footy on Anzac Day was commonplace prior to 1995. There was at least one match played on the day in most of the 25 seasons prior to the famous draw between the Bombers and the Pies.
Games played on Anzac Day 1970-1994: 60
Total attendance at these games: 2,238,804
Average attendance at these games: 37,313
Kevin Sheedy had seen the potential of the day first hand. In 1977, he played for Richmond against Collingwood on Anzac Day in front of 92,436 fans. So it was with some authority he started to pitch his idea nearly two decades later.
Games played between Essendon and Collingwood on Anzac Day (1995-2015): 21
Total attendance Essendon v Collingwood on Anzac Day (1995-2015): 1,676,175
Average attendance Essendon v Collingwood on Anzac Day (1995-2015): 79,818
Ladder position seems irrelevant went Essendon meet Collingwood on Anzac Day.
Since 1997, Essendon and Collingwood are the highest drawing teams in the AFL. In that time, they’ve won only two premierships between them.
Hawthorn and Geelong have won a combined seven flags in that period but are ranked 7th and 12th respectively for home game attendances since 1997.
Games not involving Essendon and Collingwood on Anzac Day 1995-2015: 22
Total attendance at these games: 598,147
Average attendance at these games: 27,188
Of the 16 biggest home and away crowds throughout AFL/VFL history, ten were games played between Essendon and Collingwood on Anzac Day.
Collingwood enter Monday’s Anzac Day game coming off two straight defeats. The Bombers are missing 12 of their most popular players. But there is another certainty in football – a huge crowd when Essendon plays Collingwood on Anzac Day.
