<p>Who has the most ANZAC Day Medals in their trophy cabinet?</p> <p>With 2025 marking the 30th anniversary of the now traditional ANZAC Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon, it has prompted reflections on many moments that have made the footy match a key part of the day.</p> <p>One of the highlights of the day at the MCG is post-game with the awarding of the ANZAC Day medal. A medal presented to the player adjudged best afield, and who best displayed the ANZAC spirit, skill, courage, self-sacrifice and fair play.</p> <p>Despite the traditional clash beginning in 1995, The first ANZAC Day Medal was awarded in 2000. It was only in 2011 where retrospective medals were awarded for games from 1995-1999.</p> <p>Across the 29 matches played, there have been 22 different recipients of the ANZAC Day Medal. Some legends of the game. Some budding superstars and some incredible performances to match the day.</p> <p>So, just who has won the ANZAC Day medal the most times? Let’s find out.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Most AFL ANZAC Day Medals</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>James Hird, Scott Pendlebury - 3</h3> <p>It seems fitting that both an Essendon and Collingwood champion sit out in front together for having won this award the most times.&nbsp;</p> <p>Hird, who played in the first ANZAC Day game in 1995 is one of just two players to have played and then later coached on the sacred day.</p> <p>He won his first best-on-ground medal in 2000 - otherwise known as the year that Essendon destroyed everyone - and then won back-to-back ANZAC Day Medals in 2003 and 2004. Winning all his ANZAC Medals as captain.&nbsp;</p> <p>Scott Pendlebury won his first two ANZAC Medals back-to-back in 2010 and 2011 before winning his third back in 2019. His third, the famous day when Bucks stood up to the partisan Essendon crowd and said, “shame on anyone who booed a champion.”</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Saverio Rocca, Dane Swan - 2&nbsp;</h3> <p>Collingwood super boot Sav Rocca marked the occasion of the first ANZAC Day clash with a bang. The key forward booted nine goals in a best-on ground performance as the Pies and the Bombers played out a classic draw.&nbsp;</p> <p>He followed it up three years later with another bag of seven goals, helping the Pies on their way to a 20-point win.</p> <p>Dane Swan took the best-on-ground honours in an absolute classic of a game in 2012. In a game where Jarryd Blair was the hero in kicking the winning goal to put the Pies ahead by a point with very little time to play, Swan collected a whopping 44 disposals with 14 clearances and six tackles.</p> <p>He wound back the clock in 2014 with a vintage Swan performance, collecting 26 disposals and kicking 4.2. Including a stunner from the boundary line in the third quarter to get the Magpie army out of their seats.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Scott Russell, Damien Monkhorst, Mark Mercuri, Chris Tarrant, Mark McGough, Andrew Lovett, Ben Johnson, Heath Shaw, Paul Medhurst, Paddy Ryder, David Zaharakis, Paul Seedsman, Steele Sidebottom, Joe Daniher, Adam Treloar, Darcy Parish, Jack Ginnivan, Nick Daicos, Zach Merrett - 1&nbsp;</h3> <p>Among this list are names that will collect many more ANZAC medals before their careers finish.</p> <p>But the distinction of being an ANZAC medallist is a big one, and there have been some incredible stories and performances worthy of being named an ANZAC Day medallist.&nbsp;</p> <p>To pick out a few memorable ones…</p> <p>Mark McGough was still a schoolboy at 17-years-old when he was best on ground in front of more than 84,000 people. He went to school the next day with the medal still around his neck.</p> <p>Paddy Ryder went into the ruck after David Hille did his knee early in the game in 2009. While that match is remembered for the Zaharakis goal, the performance of Ryder was the breakout game of all breakout games for a young player in his first year of footy.</p> <p>Amid a spate of injuries, Joe Daniher played his second game in six days after almost 12 months out of the game and reminded everyone just how good he was. Four goals, including a 65-metre bomb after the half-time siren and a clever piece of play where he danced around Adam Treloar before snapping a goal while being pursued by Darcy Moore in the final quarter.&nbsp;</p> <p>And then there’s Jack Ginnivan. The cheeky rookie with the bleached blonde hair, making a name for himself in the Collingwood forward line. Bobbing up and kicking a bag of five goals and taking home the medal.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>AFL ANZAC Day Medal 2025 Odds&nbsp;</h2>