Since unveiling the first-ever Anzac Day clash in 1995, Collingwood and Essendon have had several thrilling encounters. Tuesday afternoon's clash will be no different.
There is a slight twist in what to expect, with Essendon riding momentum after the opening month under new coach Brad Scott, sitting 4-1, likewise Collingwood. It marks the first time the teams sit in the top four heading into an Anzac Day contest since 2000.
Last Saturday, the Bombers were super impressive against premiership favourites Melbourne, with ruckmen Sam Draper and Andrew Phillips playing pivotal roles in a 27-point win.
Even without their two key forwards, Peter Wright and Sam Weideman, Essendon found different avenues to generate goals, with nine players hitting the scoreboard. This Bombers outfit in the early going is a vastly different one that meekly limped to the finish line in a disappointing 2022 campaign.
Collingwood, they have hit the ground running despite their depleted ruck stocks. The Magpies' backline took another hit with defender Nathan Murphy missing after being concussed from an incident involving St Kilda's Anthony Caminiti, while Taylor Adams unsuccessfully challenged his one-match ban for a dangerous tackle on Seb Ross.
In arguably the most eagerly-anticipated clash in years, both sides will be going tooth and nail in front of a crowd of over 90,000.
As part of the lead-up, here are five close Anzac Day matches from the last 20 years.
In front of 83,905, Essendon held off a brave Collingwood outfit to prevail by eight points.
In a see-sawing opening term, Essendon booted five goals to three - with two coming from blunders by Magpies ruckman Josh Fraser. Undaunted by Essendon's renowned physical play, the young Magpies hit a purple patch, slamming home seven of the next nine majors to open up a three-goal buffer late in the half - with Chris Tarrant causing headaches on the usually compact Bombers' defence.
Early in the third, Tarrant struck again, and Tarkyn Lockyer, already having an influence, kicked his third to re-open a three-goal lead.
Essendon, being the dominant premiers a year before, hit back with three successive majors to set up a grandstand finish. The teams continued giving their all in a frantic final stanza with several defensive efforts by all players on the field.
Ultimately, the Bombers found a way with tough nut Paul Barnard taking an excellent mark on the lead. His fourth goal would be the final one of the match.
In a losing cause, Tarrant was awarded the Anzac Day Medal for his five-goal haul, while James Hird and Mark Mercuri had significant impacts for Essendon.
In a tight, unrelenting contest, Collingwood prevailed by four points. For one and a half quarters, it was all black and white, dominating at ground level and opening up a 29-point lead.
Joe Daniher sprung Essendon into action, kicking two goals near half-time, and one early in the third to prize his side back into the match.
The pressure decibels intensified in the second half, with the teams throwing themselves into every contested situation. In the final term, the Bombers were on the end of some dubious non-free kicks, including a controversial push in the back call against Jordan Ridley on Callum Brown.
Seconds before, the Bombers were stiff not to receive a free kick in their defensive 50 after Matt Guelfi's brilliant tackle on Jaidyn Stephenson.
Scott Pendlebury went on to win the Anzac Day Medal with a tremendous 38 possessions, including 16 contested. His awarding of the medal was received by a chorus of boos from the Bombers faithful, prompting Magpies coach Nathan Buckley to call out: "shame on anyone who booed a champion."
There is something about playing Essendon that brings out the best in Dane Swan.
Two Anzac Day matches ago in 2012 the majestic midfielder had an incredible display in the Magpies' narrow one-point win. On this day, Collingwood needed another Swan masterclass, and he delivered.
Jumping all over the Magpies, Essendon raced ahead to a 37-point lead in the early stages of the second term.
All seemed lost.
However, a galvanising black and white outfit began lifting their intensity around the contest behind the tireless Swan and the enterprising Steele Sidebottom - whose three second-quarter majors wiped a six-goal deficit into an even ball game at the long break.
That is when Swan took centre stage.
In a titanic arm-wrestle, the 2011 Brownlow medallist broke the game apart with a ripping goal after fending off Mark Baguley. His third major was even better, bursting away from Cale Hooker along the boundary before slotting the major, the play reminiscent of Lance Franklin outrunning Hooker four years earlier.
With Essendon coming hard in the fourth, albeit missing numerous gettable opportunities, Swan sealed the outcome, pouncing on a loose ball from a ball-up, swinging the kick onto his non-preferred left foot and slamming the Bombers' door shut.
Fittingly, he won his second Anzac Day Medal with 26 disposals and four goals.
After overwhelming Anzac Day results (2010, 2011) in Collingwood's favour, this encounter would be one of the heavily fought clashes.
A crowd of 86,932 were on hand to witness a contest where neither side led by more than three goals. The Bombers and Magpies didn't take a backwards step in the physicality stakes as the contest reached an exciting conclusion.
Come the final term, Essendon began to get their running game going with goalsneak Alwyn Davey booting two critical majors. The Bombers' relentless pressure finally put them ahead, with the dependable Brent Stanton snapping home a major with two minutes remaining to put his side in front. All 36 tired and battered players put their bodies on the line in the dying stages, before the diminutive Jarryd Blair - the last man behind the pack - soccered home a goal, giving Collingwood back the lead.
Essendon would get two final cracks with Stewart Crameri dropping a tough contested mark in the forward 50, and the team failing to capitalise on David Zaharakis' tackle on Kirk Ugle near the Magpies' defensive 50.
Ultimately, Collingwood prevailed by the narrowest of margins, marking to this day the closest margin since the inaugural Anzac Day clash in 1995.
Dane Swan was rewarded for his scintillating performance by collecting the Anzac Day Medal, amassing 42 disposals, along with three goals, and 13 clearances.
The stage would be set for a blockbuster encounter.
Heading into the game, both teams had identical 2-2 records, with percentages substantially in Collingwood's favour. In front of a raucous crowd of 84,829, the Magpies swopped out of the gates, establishing a 15-point lead at the first change. In the second term, Essendon wrestled back the momentum, levelling the scores at 6.6.42 at the main break.
Carrying on from their five-goal second term, the Bombers extended their lead to 17 points behind the explosive Andrew Lovett. However, the mercurial Leon Davis kicked an important goal late in the quarter to keep the black and white within touching distance.
An enthralling final term was on the cards. After the Magpies, behind swingman Leigh Brown and forward John Anthony, put Collingwood ahead, a young Paddy Ryder bursting through the middle emphatically landed a major from 30 metres for the game's seventh lead change.
For the next 18 minutes, it was all Collingwood. Dominating territory and possession, the visitors got their reward, with Scott Pendlebury and Leon Davis landing a long-range bomb steering the Magpies 14 points clear. With under five minutes to play, time and the scoreboard weren't in Essendon's favour.
Everything had to go right from here.
Leroy Jetta began the side's late rally by dribbling home a goal, with his major opening up the heavens, which had been brewing for the second half. With rain steadily coming down, conditions became greasy for all 36 players out on the field. All of a sudden, it was Collingwood feeling the heat, with Davis rushing his kick, only to see it sail out of bounds, resulting in an Essendon shot at goal.
Ricky Dyson, one of the team's most reliable kicks, made no mistake with his deadly left foot, shaving the deficit to only two points. Moments later, a wide-open Jetta had the golden chance to put Essendon ahead, only to fumble the slippery ball, before a desperate Magpies defence rushed the ball through for a behind. Not to be denied, the Bombers found a way to win back possession.
Enter a then-19-year-old David Zaharakis.
Cometh the man, cometh the hour.
After marking Nathan Lovett-Murray's short pass, Zaharakis immediately played on, launching the heavy Sherrin from just inside 50, despite late Collingwood pressure, to cover himself in glory as Bombers supporters roared in unison.
As Channel 10 commentator Stephen Quartermain iconicly described the moment: "He goes short. It's a mark. To Zaharakis, Zaharakis, Zaharakis has kicked a goal. THE BOMBERS ARE IN FRONT AT THE G."