Anzac Day AFL history: Andy Bellairs finds out where the players from inaugural match in 1995 are in 2025

The Collingwood-Essendon Anzac Day tradition started with a draw all the way back in 1995. Who played in that epic? And what are they doing 30 years later? We look at every name.

The script writers could not have dreamt up a better start to what has become one of the biggest occasions on the AFL calendar.

More than 90,000 Collingwood and Essendon fans packed the MCG on a Tuesday in 1995 to mark what would become an annual rivalry on Anzac Day.

They were treated to a match which befitted the day as Collingwood rallied from 16 points down at halftime to lead by 14 points with a quarter to play.

Despite nine goals from spearhead Saverio Rocca, the Magpies could not withstand a last-quarter surge from the Bombers.

Led by Ricky Olarenshaw, Joe Misiti and Gary O’Donnell, Essendon kicked five goals to three in the last term as the first Anzac Day match ended in a draw.

Andy Bellairs finds out where every player from that epic clash are now.

Originally published as Anzac Day AFL history: Andy Bellairs finds out where the players from inaugural match in 1995 are in 2025