Good evening and welcome to ABC’s coverage of the Anzac Day Eve game between Richmond and Melbourne at the MCG.
This match as an occasion has been going for less than a decade, but it has already established itself as one of the setpiece games of the season, thanks to the atmosphere and ceremonies that form part of the night.
Once again, the Eternal Flame from the Shrine of Remembrance will be used to light a torch, and that torch will light up the MCG through tonight’s game.
As with all games in this round, there will be the Ode to the Fallen, the Last Post, the New Zealand and Australian anthems, honouring as always those who fought and gave their lives in conflicts through the years.
Beyond that, there will be the football itself — an intriguing matchup between two clubs who have won four of the last eight flags, but are now at different ends of the ladder.
Thanks for joining us for the spectacle, the contest and the moments that matter under lights at the MCG.