THE BIGGEST match on the home and away calendar will break new ground in 2020, with the annual MCG Anzac Day blockbuster to be played in a twilight slot for the first time.

AFL.com.au understands the clash between Collingwood and Essendon, which next year will fall on a Saturday, will be played at 4.20pm, one hour later than this year's start time.

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Due to a scheduled bumper day of football, the later bounce will ensure clean air around other matches and finish around 7pm local time.

The annual Collingwood-Essendon match, which will enter a 25th year next season, has previously been played across eight different start times spanning between 1.15pm and 3.40pm.

Brody Mihocek and his Collingwood teammates celebrate victory in the 2019 Anzac Day clash. Picture: AFL Photos



The last time Anzac Day fell on a Saturday in 2015, five matches were played across five cities – Melbourne, Wellington, Adelaide, Sydney and Perth.

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Port Adelaide and Fremantle, both of whom hosted Anzac Day matches in 2015, have played home games in the same round as Anzac Day since 2013.

Anzac Day will fall in round six next year and include the now-annual Anzac Day Eve clash at the MCG between Melbourne and Richmond.

The Tigers and Demons will face off again on Anzac Day Eve. Picture: AFL Photos

