MELBOURNE will honour the brave individuals who protect and serve for their country in the seventh annual ANZAC Day Eve match.

Sunday night’s game will see the Demons face Richmond at 7:25pm, with a unique pre-game spectacle kicking off proceedings at 6:55pm.

As a past Richmond player, Melbourne’s backline coach Troy Chaplin knows just how significant the game is for both clubs.  

“It’s exciting,” Chaplin told Melbourne Media.

“It’s one of the hallmark games in the calendar now, it’s really been built up by the two clubs.

“I remember when I was a player, the pre-game out on the oval…it’s a fantastic event and we’re starting to see crowds really get behind it.

“Our boys are really looking forward to it, we’re looking forward to it as coaches as well, it should be a red-hot game.”

Richmond will head into the game off the back of a 19-point loss to Adelaide, but Chaplin isn't taking this as an indicator for Sunday's match, with Melbourne preparing for a tough battle against what is one of the more successful clubs from the past decade. 

“You’ve got to prepare for their best, they’ve probably been a little inconsistent with a couple quarters here and there that have cost them," Chaplin said. 

“But you prepare for their best because you know what sort of team they are when they are up and going.

“We know that their centre bounce scoring has been a real highlight for them this year.

“We need to make sure we slow them down where we can, because we know if they get a bit of momentum, they really thrive.

“It’s going to be a challenge but we’re really looking forward it.”

Hear more from Chaplin’s match preview below.