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There is no day in the Australian sporting calendar quite like it.
On Saturday 25 April 2026, the Essendon Bombers and Collingwood Magpies meet at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the annual AFL Anzac Day blockbuster — a fixture that is simultaneously one of the fiercest rivalries in football and one of the most powerful days of national remembrance in the year.
Kick-off is at 3:15pm. The pre-match ceremony begins at 2:40pm — a full military honour guard, the Last Post, a moment of silence, and national anthems before a ball is bounced. For many in attendance, that ceremony is as important as the game itself.
Getting there is the challenge. Anzac Day in Melbourne means dawn services across the city, the Anzac Day march through the CBD, road closures, a public transport system under maximum pressure, and then 90,000 fans trying to exit the MCG simultaneously when the final siren sounds.
Here is everything you need to know to get there, get away, and honour every moment of the occasion.
Event: AFL Anzac Day 2026 — Essendon v Collingwood Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Yarra Park, Melbourne VIC Date: Saturday 25 April 2026 Kick-off: 3:15pm Pre-match ceremony: From 2:40pm — full military honour guard, Last Post, moment of silence, national anthems Tickets: Reserved seats selling fast via afl.com.au and Ticketmaster
The MCG on Anzac Day is the MCG at its most significant. Australia’s largest stadium — 100,024 capacity — dressed in remembrance as much as in football colours. The atmosphere before the bounce is unlike any other regular season game. Quiet, respectful, and then electric as the tribute gives way to the contest.
Bag policy, entry conditions, and enhanced security apply on Anzac Day. Arrive earlier than you would for a standard Saturday fixture. The pre-match ceremony adds time and solemnity to the entry process, and the surrounding Yarra Park precinct fills long before gates open.
The road situation around East Melbourne and the MCG precinct on Anzac Day is one of the most complex of the year. The morning march and dawn services create road closures that persist well into the afternoon. Combined with the standard MCG match-day traffic volumes — multiplied by a crowd pushing 90,000 — the precinct approaches are some of the most congested in Melbourne on any given day of the year.
Planning your transport around this reality is not optional. It is the difference between an Anzac Day you remember for the right reasons and one you remember for the wrong ones.
Melbourne’s tram and train network is the backbone of MCG transport for good reason — Jolimont station sits a few minutes walk from the gates, and Flinders Street connects the CBD efficiently. On a standard match day, public transport works well for the majority of fans.
Anzac Day is not a standard match day.
The network is already carrying elevated loads from the morning’s dawn services and the CBD march. By the time the 90,000-strong crowd is heading to the MCG from midday onwards, trams on Swanston Street and trains from the City Loop are at or near capacity. The wait at Richmond station on the return — after 90,000 fans exit simultaneously — can extend to 45 minutes or more, particularly in the first hour after the final siren.
The honest assessment: Public transport is viable as an inbound option if you are travelling light, departing from a central location, and leaving plenty of time. The return journey is the problem. On Anzac Day, the post-match public transport experience tests the patience of even the most committed fan.
Best for: Solo supporters from the CBD or Richmond who are leaving before the final siren or happy to wait out the initial rush.
Not suitable for: Groups, families, interstate visitors, corporate guests, or anyone who wants a guaranteed departure time after the game.
Yarra Park and surrounding lots open early on Anzac Day and sell out well before kick-off. The morning road closures associated with the march and dawn services restrict access to much of the precinct approach network well into the afternoon — so if you are not parked before noon, the experience from the car degrades quickly.
Post-match, the car park queue is one of Melbourne’s most notorious on a major event day. Drivers who arrive after the final siren and walk to their car can expect to spend 45 minutes to an hour in the car park before they are moving. Punt Road, Brunton Avenue, and the Hoddle Street corridor back up significantly.
The honest assessment: Driving works if you can park early, accept the full exit delay, and have no particular urgency about when you leave. For families, groups, or anyone wanting a defined departure window, it is the option that most frequently disappoints.
Best for: Local supporters who park early, walk to the ground, and are in no rush to leave.
Not suitable for: Interstate visitors, groups, anyone with a post-match commitment, or corporate hospitality guests who need a professional exit.
Anzac Day at the MCG is precisely the scenario that rideshare apps are not designed for. The combination of Anzac Day city-wide demand and 90,000 fans exiting the MCG simultaneously produces surge pricing that can reach multiples of the standard fare.
Remember the $180 rideshare quotes after the AFL Grand Final last year? Anzac Day at the MCG is no different. Do not let an algorithm decide the value of your day. Our fixed pricing is locked in the moment you book — and it does not move regardless of what is happening around it.
The designated rideshare pickup zones around the MCG become extremely congested in the hour after the final siren. Passengers standing in large groups on Brunton Avenue trying to match with a driver who then cancels — or accepts and parks illegally and gets moved on — is not a transport solution worthy of an occasion like this.
For a group of four or five, the math on surge-priced rideshare frequently approaches or exceeds a pre-booked private transfer. Without any of the guarantees.
Best for: Solo supporters or pairs who are leaving early and can beat the main crowd.
Not suitable for: Groups, families, anyone leaving after the final siren, or corporate guests for whom the exit experience reflects on the occasion.
This is the option built for an occasion like Anzac Day at the MCG. A day of national significance. A sell-out crowd. A city-wide event programme that starts before dawn. And a post-game environment where 90,000 people are competing for the same exit options simultaneously.
The ceremony is the priority — your transport should reflect that. For many who attend the Anzac Day game, being in their seat for the 2:40pm ceremony is non-negotiable. Missing the Last Post because a rideshare cancelled or the tram was full is not an acceptable outcome. A pre-booked chauffeur with a confirmed arrival time eliminates that risk entirely. You know exactly when you are leaving, exactly when you will arrive, and you walk into the MCG with time to settle before the ceremony begins.
Door-to-door from wherever you are starting. Whether you are coming from a Melbourne CBD hotel, arriving from interstate at Melbourne Airport, or heading in from regional Victoria, your chauffeur collects you from your exact address and delivers you to the MCG precinct. The approach to the ground is handled. You arrive focused on the occasion.
Interstate supporters — from any airport, direct to the ‘G. Whether you are flying out of the new Western Sydney International (WSI) or Kingsford Smith, we coordinate the full door-to-door leg. Land at Tullamarine, skip the taxi queue, and head straight to the MCG. Your chauffeur is tracking your flight in real time from the moment you board. If it is delayed, your pickup adjusts automatically. Allow 30 to 40 minutes from Tullamarine to the MCG — book accordingly to ensure you are in your seat before 2:40pm.
The Anzac Day road closure advantage. Our drivers know the Anzac Day road closure configuration in Melbourne in detail — which approaches to the MCG are restricted and when, which corridors re-open after the march, and which routes avoid the Hoddle Street and Brunton Avenue post-match congestion. Rideshare GPS does not know this. Our drivers do. That difference is measured in 20 to 30 minutes on an afternoon when every minute counts.
Fixed pricing, confirmed before you travel. The fare you see when you book is the fare on your invoice. No Anzac Day surge. No post-match premium. No algorithm deciding the value of your day. A group of five sharing a pre-booked V-Class frequently pays less per person than five individual surge-priced rideshares from the MCG precinct at 5:30pm.
The right vehicle for the occasion. Executive sedans for couples and individuals. Mercedes-Benz V-Class people movers for groups of up to seven. Minibus options for larger corporate parties. View our full fleet for vehicle options and capacities.
A guaranteed exit. Your driver is pre-positioned in the designated chauffeur zone before the final siren, confirms their exact location via message, and waits for your group. You walk out of the MCG and into your vehicle.
24-hour Australian support and live GPS tracking. Your driver’s location is visible in real time before every pickup. Our support line on 1300 638 258 answers around the clock.
Book your Anzac Day MCG transport with Cars on Demand
Inbound from Melbourne CBD: Aim to be in the MCG precinct by 1:30pm to clear security and find your seat before the 2:40pm ceremony. Book your chauffeur for a 1pm departure from your hotel — earlier if you want to take in the Yarra Park atmosphere before gates open.
Inbound from Tullamarine Airport: Allow 30 to 40 minutes from the airport to the MCG in normal conditions, with an additional buffer for Anzac Day afternoon traffic. Pre-book your transfer before you fly and your driver will be tracking your arrival in real time. If you are flying from Sydney — from WSI or Kingsford Smith — your door-to-door leg is fully coordinated from departure.
Return: Schedule your pickup 45 to 60 minutes after the final siren. Your driver messages you with their confirmed position before you exit. Your driver waits for you — no rush, no scramble.
The Anzac Day MCG match is one of the most coveted corporate hospitality events in the AFL calendar. Members dining, premium boxes, and hospitality packages draw clients and executives who travel specifically for the occasion.
The transport that collects and returns corporate guests on Anzac Day should reflect the calibre of the hospitality. A pre-booked fleet of executive vehicles, managed under one account, with a single point of contact for all movements and a professional chauffeur for every transfer.
Leaving VIP guests stranded on a Richmond kerb at 6pm on Anzac Day because the rideshare app surged or cancelled is a duty of care failure that no EA or event manager wants to explain the following Monday. The risk is real. The solution is straightforward.
Our executive assistant platform is built for exactly this kind of multi-vehicle, multi-address corporate event logistics. One account covers all bookings, all vehicles, and all invoicing. Every pickup and drop-off is tracked in real time. EAs managing the hospitality programme have live visibility over every transfer.
New to Cars on Demand? We offer a welcome credit for new corporate accounts. Contact our team to discuss setting up your corporate account before Anzac Day.
Find out why CEOs choose Cars on Demand for major event ground transport.
Anzac Day is not simply a football match. It is a national day of remembrance that happens to include one of the greatest annual sporting events in Australia. The pre-match ceremony at the MCG is genuine, significant, and attended by men and women in uniform alongside 90,000 fans who understand what the day means.
The transport experience that bookends that occasion should be invisible. You should arrive at the MCG calm, on time, and ready to be present for the ceremony and the game. You should leave knowing your exit is handled. The logistics should not be part of the story.
Cars on Demand has managed event transfers across Australia’s major sporting occasions for 35 years. A 99.99% on-time record. Professional chauffeurs who understand Melbourne’s event traffic, the Anzac Day road configuration, and the particular logistics of the MCG on its most significant days.
Book your Anzac Day transport now
Call 1300 638 258 | Email admin@carsondemand.com.au
How much does a chauffeur transfer to the MCG cost on Anzac Day? Fixed pricing is confirmed at booking based on your pickup location and vehicle type. All pricing is fixed with no Anzac Day surge or event premiums.
Can I book a last-minute transfer for Anzac Day? Call our 24/7 team on 1300 638 258 as soon as possible. For guaranteed vehicle access on one of Melbourne’s busiest event days, booking at least 48 hours in advance is strongly recommended.
I am travelling with a corporate group of seven — what vehicle do you recommend? A Mercedes-Benz V-Class people mover seats up to seven passengers comfortably. One vehicle, one fixed price, everyone travels and arrives together. Contact us to discuss multi-address pickups if your group is coming from different locations.
I am flying in from Sydney on the morning of 25 April — what is the transfer time from Tullamarine? Allow 30 to 40 minutes from Melbourne Airport to the MCG in normal conditions, with a buffer for Anzac Day afternoon traffic. Your chauffeur tracks your flight in real time and adjusts automatically for any delays. Whether you are departing from WSI or Kingsford Smith, we coordinate the full leg.
Where does my driver wait after the game? Your driver will be positioned in the designated chauffeur zone and will message you with their exact location before you exit the stadium. Your tracking link shows you exactly where to walk.
Do you cover other AFL Anzac Round fixtures beyond the MCG? Yes. Cars on Demand operates across Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and all AFL Anzac Round host cities. One account covers every city. Call 1300 638 258 to arrange transport for any Anzac Round fixture.
Kick-off is 3:15pm on Saturday 25 April. The pre-match ceremony begins at 2:40pm. Vehicle availability on Anzac Day fills faster than any other regular season fixture.
Book your Anzac Day MCG transport now
Lest we forget.
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