AHEAD of Melbourne’s ANZAC Day Eve clash against Richmond on Wednesday evening, the Club is advising all patrons to allow extra time and arrive early to the MCG.
All gates will open at 5pm, with a pre-game ceremony paying tribute to both the fallen and those currently serving commencing at 6.45pm.
Please note that when the Last Post and National Anthems are played during this ceremony, all entry gates will pause operation.
With the ANZAC Day Eve clash in its fifth consecutive year, as well as being a Richmond home game and Melbourne replacement home game, a large crowd is expected to fill the MCG.
Melbourne members with home game access can enter the ground by scanning their membership card at the gate, before proceeding to a general admission area.
However, with general admission subject to capacity, members are strongly advised to upgrade to a reserved seat to guarantee their entry. Members can do so by entering their membership barcode on Ticketek, and will receive a member discount on the price of a reserved seat ticket.
Limited general public tickets are also still available but are selling fast. As a result, fans are recommended to secure tickets through Ticketek prior to the game.
Patrons are also encouraged to explore their transport options in getting to and from the MCG.
For safety and security reasons, public parking in Yarra Park has been closed, with only a limited number of parks available for disability permit holders via gate 3.
Pre-game ANZAC ceremony
At the invitation of the Richmond Football Club, the family of fallen soldier Rowan Robinson will be a prominent feature of the pre-game ceremony.
At the age of 23, sapper Rowan Robinson was killed on Monday 6 June, 2011, serving his country in Afghanistan.
The moving pre-game ceremony will also include a performance by the Australian Army Band, before the torch lit from the Eternal Flame makes it way around the arena.
Following the lighting of the cauldron, the Last Post will be observed, along with the Australian and New Zealand National Anthems.
To further pay tribute to those lost at war, both sides will run through a joint banner, wearing special edition guernseys for the occasion.
Melbourne’s ANZAC Day Eve guernsey honours the 30 players who died in active service during World War I and World War II.
For the first time in the club’s history, the 30 names have been displayed and presented on the back of the guernsey, with the words ‘Lest We Forget’ placed above.
Melbourne’s ANZAC Day Eve guernseys can be purchased online here or in-store at The Demon Shop, with a portion of proceeds from each sale being donated to the RSL’s ANZAC Appeal.
