MELBOURNE and Richmond will square off in an unprecedented Tuesday night game next season, as the two clubs look to cement their Anzac Eve contest onto the annual football calendar.
While neither club is willing to pre-emptively confirm the game is going ahead before next Tuesday's official release of the 2018 fixture, AFL.com.au understands the League has agreed to schedule the match despite the unusual timeslot.
The only time premiership points have been awarded on a Tuesday night was in 1996 when Essendon and St Kilda finished off their game – which had come to a sudden halt when the lights went out three days earlier.
The Bombers eventually won by 22 points and 17,000 fans turned out to watch two 12-minute halves at Waverley Park.
In The Moment: The Waverley blackout
The Demons and Tigers will be hoping for a much bigger turnout when the two teams play at the MCG on Tuesday April 24, but the upward trend since the game's inception three years ago has both clubs confident.
A torch lit from the eternal flame at the Shrine of Remembrance will again be carried on horseback to the MCG, and form the centerpiece of a stirring pre-game commemoration.
This season's game was televised on Seven's secondary channel 7mate because it clashed with cooking competition My Kitchen Rules.
While Seven is yet to confirm its plans, interest in the game is likely to be sharply up.
It's expected Richmond's premiership win and Melbourne's increasing competitiveness will only help the cause when it comes to growing the occasion.
Melbourne will be the home team for the clash between the two MCG tenants in what will be the fourth consecutive Anzac Eve blockbuster.
ANZAC EVE – BY THE NUMBERS
2015 Friday Night Demons by 32 points Crowd 58,175
2016 Sunday Night Demons by 33 points Crowd 59,968
2017 Monday Night Tigers by 13 points Crowd 85,657
