Anzac Day will be a twilight game next season.

The traditional match between Collingwood and Essendon will be a standalone Saturday game held on Anzac Day next year compared to other seasons when there were games held in other states and overseas.

The 4.20pm start time is possible because of the fact Anzac Day next year falls on a Saturday and so the twilight start is not seen to be problematic for families in a way that it would be for a mid-week match.

The AFL will experiment with another big clash in the twilight slot. Credit:John Donegan

The late start time is understood to have the blessing of the RSL.

The twilight start is also considered to be a further experiment for the AFL in hosting blockbuster matches in the later slot before moving the grand final to a twilight or night time slot.

(Editor's Note: The original version of this story said the match would start at 4.40pm, but a 4.20pm start time was later confirmed by the AFL)