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...
5R6 2021 – Hawthorn v Adelaide @ Launceston
Straight Kicking Crows go down to Hawks in Tassie
Hawthorn's comeback win over Adelaide at Launceston on Anzac Day, 2021 was an incredibly entertaining game of footy. The Crows were flying early, kicking a ridiculous 15 straight and riding a five-goal debut from Riley Thilthorpe to a 32-point lead.
But the Hawks hung around, then flipped it. Jaeger O'Meara and Tom Mitchell got busy, Changkuoth Jiath gave them run, and suddenly the ball lived in Hawthorn's front half. Jacob Koschitzke, in just his fifth game, stepped up with five goals as the Hawks piled on the pressure.
Adelaide didn't kick a goal after midway through the third, and even a late Ben Keays set shot that hit the post couldn't save them.
Hawthorn stormed home to win by three in a fair dinkum thriller.
