For Jobe Watson, the traditional Anzac Day fixture between Collingwood and Essendon is always far more than a game.

It’s a poignant reminder about “what it means to be an Australian”.

As captain, he led his side out onto a packed MCG and took his place next to the coach at the start of the players’ line-up, facing the opposition, as the teams stood together to honour those who lost their lives serving in the armed forces.

Watson said he always felt “an enormous amount of pride” to play on April 25 and to represent the Bombers.

“It was always something you looked forward to as a player, being able to immerse yourself in what the day and the game stood for,” the Seven expert told The Nightly.

“What it meant to the culture and fabric of society and what it means to be an Australian and its importance in the calendar in Australia has continued to grow.

“There’s no better day in the year that talks through or explains what it’s like to be an Australian citizen and what this country means to a lot of people.”

For many football fans, the clash between Essendon and Collingwood has become synonymous with Anzac Day. Often a standalone game, the 90,000-strong crowd at the MCG makes up only a fraction of the eyes watching on across the nation.

For former Collingwood star and Seven expert Daisy Thomas, the privilege was not lost on him.

“Like most people who are footy fans I, as a kid, grew up watching all the footy but Anzac Day is one that most of the footballing world watches on,” said Thomas of the clash, which will be live and free on Seven, 7mate and 7plus.

“To have watched it for so long and then to actually live it out, was such an amazing experience.

“The lead-up to the week, the history that is shared and the knowledge of the sacrifices that were made by so many men and women to allow us to play a game of footy.

“That was a message that (Pies coach) Michael Malthouse was always big on driving home. And then it was just all about showing the spirit of the Anzacs.

“That mateship, comradery, courage under pressure, standing up in big moments; those were the sort of themes of the week, which was a build-up to the observance, the bugle, the national anthem and then the roar of the crowd as you run out into position.

“I did it seven times throughout my career (five wins and two losses) and I certainly didn’t get tired of it, ever.

“It’s something that now that I’m old and have to watch it from the other side of the fence, I’m certainly grateful that I got the opportunity to do it on the ground.

“It’s special wherever you watch it from but when you’re in the middle of the MCG and the colosseum is filled and then silence falls across the entire place, it’s very eerie but it is magical in the same way.”

Conceived by legendary Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy in 1995 and later championed by Mick Malthouse, the clash has remained an annual fixture between the Victorian powerhouses for more than 20 years.

It now takes pride of place as the biggest game of the home and away season.

While the Bombers and Magpies know they are “the envy of the football world” on Anzac Day, according to Thomas, he only realised how other teams felt watching on when he eventually made the move to Carlton.

This year, eight teams will feature on Anzac Day, as it falls on a Saturday. But only two teams play at the MCG.

“It’s certainly not lost on both sides how much of a privilege it is to be a part of it,” Thomas said.

“I obviously finished my career at Carlton and you watch on when you’re not playing, hoping and wishing that maybe the two teams will give it up.

“A bit of a rarity this year because it is on a Saturday, so there are others who will share in the day in different grounds.

“But the Collingwood/Essendon match-up is a special one that everyone certainly doesn’t take for granted.”

As part of Seven’s star-studded commentary team, which includes Hamish McLachlan, Brian Taylor and James Brayshaw, as well as Nick Riewoldt and Abbey Holmes, Thomas will be front and centre at the MCG once again on Saturday.

The 38-year-old said the pre-game ceremony and observance, which forms part of the extended coverage on Seven, 7mate and 7Plus, remained his favourite part of the day but now he can soak up the spectacle of the game without the pressure of playing in it.

“Once you are over this side of the fence, you appreciate the moments a lot more and it’s provided some amazing moments,” he said.

“In recent years, Jamie Elliot taking a hanger, the roar in there, those are big moments. When you’re playing, you have to move past them really quickly, you probably don’t appreciate them until weeks on as to how big they were at the time.

“But certainly when you’re commentating and watching it, the special moments you wait for because you know at some point, there is going to be something special happening.”

Collingwood (3-3) remain $1.48 favourites over the Bombers (1-5) at $3, according to TABTouch. However, improved form over the past fortnight, including an impressive win over Melbourne and a tight loss to Gold Coast, has lifted their chances of causing an upset.

The Bombers currently trail in the head-to-head with 18 losses, 10 wins and two draws (in 1995 and 2024).

Both Thomas and Watson are backing in their former sides to claim victory in an even contest, with the Pies undefeated since 2021.

“I don’t think there is much between the two teams,” Watson, who played in three wins across 11 appearances, said.

“I think Collingwood are sitting higher on the ladder but if you looked at the last three weeks of performance, Essendon have really improved.

“Their senior group has lifted their standards of output and the youth and enthusiasm their young players are playing with, they’ve provided a bit of energy to the side.

“There’s not much between the two teams on recent form and I’m expecting a really competitive game.”

The difference, according to Thomas and Watson, could be how much influence Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos can have on the game.

Fresh off a best-on-ground performance against Carlton last week, the Bombers need to find a way to keep the ball out of his hands.

“I don’t think we’ll see him run around unopposed for the entirety of the match like we did last Thursday because as he demonstrated and reminded the football world, if you do that, he has the ability to take the game away from you very quickly,” Thomas said.

“Brad Scott is a very wonderful coach. His coaching group will have plan A, B, C and D (for Daicos).

“Hopefully Craig McRae has plans through to E, F and so on and so forth so he can still find a way to impact.”

Watson, who captained his side for six seasons, said it was a job for Essendon skipper Andy McGrath.

“That’s probably the best match-up that Essendon have for him,” Watson said.

“He’s a dynamic player and can go anywhere but Andy has got the resilience and the discipline. I don’t know if it’ll be a tight, negating role but certainly one that he can play. As a defender, if he (Daicos) goes forward and can run through the midfield with him too.

“I’d say he’s the natural match-up to try and quell his influence in the game.”

The Anzac Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon will be live and free on Seven, 7mate and 7plus from 2pm AEST.