Believe it or not, Essendon vs Collingwood at the MCG isn't the only game ever played on Anzac Day. Footy on April 25 actually dates back to 1960, with a mix of memorable matchups, big crowds and a few quirky experiments along the way as the game found its place on one of the nation's most important days.
From double-headers and epic comebacks to games across the ditch and the odd freakish moment, I've gone digging through the archives to pull together a few of the best from over the years...
8R5 1986 –Two Up Games at the MCG
Melbourne v Sydney; North Melbourne v Geelong
In 1986, the VFL took a punt Anzac Day falling on a Friday with its first and only double-header at the MCG, an ambitious concept that didn't quite land.
Melbourne faced Sydney in the afternoon, followed just 30 minutes later by North Melbourne taking on Geelong under lights.
It was a full day of footy at the ‘G, however, only 40,117 showed up and the quick turnaround between games created a logistical headache. The idea had potential, but the execution didn't match it, and the league quietly shelved the double-header concept until recently.
On the same day, over at league headquarters – VFL Park at Waverley, close to 69,000 turned up to see the Blues beat Essendon by 69 points.
For the record, Sydney would beat Melbourne by nine points in the first game and North easily accounted for the Cats to the tune of 62-points.
