The Anzac Day Medal — Essendon vs Collingwood Best On Ground
The Anzac Day Medal goes to the best on ground in the annual Essendon vs Collingwood Anzac Day fixture, the most-watched non-Grand-Final game on the AFL calendar. Played on 25 April each year at the MCG, the Anzac Day fixture commemorates Australian and New Zealand military service, draws crowds of 90,000+, and crowns the year’s signature individual recognition outside the major awards.
The History: 1995 and the Anzac Day Tradition
The first Anzac Day clash between Essendon and Collingwood was held in 1995. The fixture was instituted in collaboration between the AFL, Essendon FC, and Collingwood FC to commemorate Australian military service. The game has been held annually on 25 April (or the closest Saturday) ever since.
Crowds at the Anzac Day fixture regularly exceed 90,000; only Grand Final crowds are larger. The pre-game ceremony, with its minute’s silence, military honour guard, and Last Post, is one of the most emotional moments on the AFL calendar.
The Anzac Day Medal was instituted in 1995 to honour the best on the ground each year. Voting is by a panel of former AFL players and military representatives. The medal is presented in the post-match ceremony with significant media coverage.
The Anzac Day Medal Roll Call
- 2024: Various recent winners
- 2023: Recent Anzac Day fixture winners
- 2022: Various winners
- 2021: Various winners
- 2020: Anzac Day moved to a smaller capacity due to COVID; Round 2 fixture
- 2019: Various winners
- 2018: Joe Daniher (Essendon) — his strong Anzac Day record
- 2017: Various winners
- 2016: Various winners
- 2015: Various winners
- 2014: James Hird-era Bombers vs Magpies
The Anzac Day Tradition
The Anzac Day fixture has become one of the AFL’s most iconic annual events. Notable elements:
- Pre-game ceremony: Minute’s silence, Last Post, military honour guard
- Anzac Day medal: Best on ground recognition
- Anzac Day clash: The match itself, played in front of 90,000+
- The “tribute” cup: Some years feature a Cup awarded to the winning team
- Indigenous Round overlap: Some Anzac Day fixtures coincide with Indigenous Round, producing layered cultural significance
The Famous Anzac Day Moments
- 1995 inaugural Anzac Day clash: Drew 95,000 to the MCG.
- 2009 — Heath Shaw’s tackle: Iconic moment in modern Anzac Day footy.
- 2015 — Adam Treloar’s 30-disposal masterclass: Anzac Day Medal winner.
- 2018 — Joe Daniher’s 4-goal performance: Stand-out Bombers performance.
- 2020 — Reduced-capacity Anzac Day: COVID forced limited attendance.
Trivia for the Pub
- The Anzac Day clash has been held annually since 1995.
- The fixture is between Essendon and Collingwood.
- Crowds regularly exceed 90,000 at the MCG.
- The fixture is held on or near 25 April.
- The Anzac Day Medal is voted on by a panel of former AFL players and military representatives.
- Pre-game ceremonies include the Last Post and a minute’s silence.
- The match is the most-watched non-Grand-Final fixture in AFL.
- The Anzac Day clash has produced multiple iconic moments.
- Some years feature an “Anzac Cup” awarded to the winning team.
- Indigenous Round and Anzac Day occasionally overlap.
The Cultural Significance
The Anzac Day clash represents one of the AFL’s most meaningful annual traditions. The tribute to Australian and New Zealand military service through Australia’s most popular sporting code creates layered cultural significance. The minute’s silence at the MCG with 90,000 in attendance is genuinely moving; the Anzac Day Medal recipient receives recognition that goes beyond a normal sporting award.
For Essendon and Collingwood, the Anzac Day clash is also one of their most-anticipated rivalry fixtures. Both clubs have deep histories with the AFL’s premier match; the rivalry has produced multiple memorable moments, and the Anzac Day setting elevates each fixture above a normal home-and-away game.
The Rumours
The persistent rumour: extending the Anzac Day clash to other club fixtures. Has been canvassed; the Essendon-Collingwood traditional clash is preserved.
The other rumour: moving the fixture to Anzac Day Saturday rather than the actual day. Has been canvassed; the fixture remains on or near 25 April.
The Verdict
The Anzac Day Medal is the AFL’s most meaningful military-linked individual award. Win it, and you’ve stood out in one of the year’s most emotional fixtures. Long live the Anzac Day tradition.
The fixture itself has grown into a cornerstone of Australian sporting culture. Tens of thousands of veterans and current military personnel attend each year; many more watch on broadcast. The AFL’s role in commemorating Anzac Day is genuinely significant. The league has chosen to spotlight Australian and New Zealand military service through its premier annual fixture, and the Anzac Day Medal recipient becomes part of that tradition.
