Former Essendon coach and Anzac Day game conceptualiser Kevin Sheedy has revealed why Collingwood was chosen as the Bombers’ recurring opponent for the historic clash which celebrates 30 years this Friday.

Speaking in recognition of the three-decade milestone, Sheedy insisted it was the Magpie fan base that played a major role in why the Pies were chosen.

Saying that a myriad of clubs were considered as the regular opponent for the Bombers, Sheedy reiterated that the Magpie Army’s consistency in packing out the MCG was part of his reasoning behind including the Pies.

“Collingwood was the right club to pick because they’ve been to more Grand Finals than anybody. They obviously haven’t won them (all) because they’re very hard to win, but the fans turn up,” he said.

“They turn up and they just keep turning up.

“We could’ve picked three other clubs, but we picked the one that never ever alter their attitude towards their Club.

“They could be down the bottom for a year or two, but they just keep turning up.

“They’re everywhere, Collingwood.”

The much-revered Sheedy has long been lauded for drumming up the idea back in the mid 1990s alongside Essendon’s Graeme ‘Gubby’ Allen.

Sheedy’s Grandfather and Uncle had served in the war, while his father had been a member of the army, with Anzac Day close to his heart long before 1995.

Then Collingwood Senior Coach and AFL great Leigh Matthews remembered this week when he was first told of Sheedy’s idea, immediately understanding the significance it would hold, but perhaps not the overwhelming response in the way of crowd numbers.

“I remember when the idea was proposed by Gubby Allen and Sheeds as much as any two people and we met with Bruce Ruxton of the RSL and the two presidents and Bruce was all for it and from that point on off it went,” he said.

“For some reason we decided to get a bus from Victoria Park to the MCG, thinking it would be a big crowd.

“I think it was before the reserved seat days, so it was first in, best dressed.

“I remember walking into the rooms and out onto the ground, and the stadium was full, like an hour and a half before the game.

“The whole stadium was full, but silent.

“They knew they had to get there to get a seat and as we know 20,000 couldn’t get in.”

While games have been played on Anzac Day since 1958 when parliament lifted a ban that prevented sport being played on the public holiday, they were largely only staged if that day was a Saturday.

However, the seed for Sheedy’s idea to make it an annual event was planted some 18 years before the maiden clash recurring match in ’95.

Sheedy was playing in a Richmond guernsey against Collingwood on Anzac Day which had fallen on a Monday in 1977, with over 80,000 people packing the MCG.

It was then for the first time, even as a player, that Sheedy believed the tradition could have legs.

“I played in a game in 1977 in was Richmond versus Collingwood and 84,000 turned up,” he said.

“That was the first time I ever thought that ‘wow’.

“That was sitting there for quite some time before I went overseas and did some courses on creative thinking and I came back and probably put that idea up and it got through all the corridors of power as they say .

“I’m glad it did because being an ex-serviceman, I’m very proud of what our men and women have done in the war zones and the history of our country.

“I think the education part of it has been brilliant, because a lot of people haven’t seen war.

“We live in a pretty easy going society which our defence forces allow us to do. We’re still a lucky country … and I think we need these sorts of games that can actually make Australians feel about how great the country can still be.”

Now 30 years on from that famous high-scoring draw, the Pies and Bombers will face off in the most anticipated home and away game of the year.

Neither giving an inch, the tradition will live long in the history of not only the two Clubs, but the nation.