Moment Collingwood coach Craig Craig McRae breaks down in tears just before dramatic Anzac Day match

Collingwood coach Craig McRae has shown just what the AFL's Anzac Day match means in an emotional display at the MCG on Thursday.

His Magpies and Essendon played out a thrilling 12.13 (85) to 12.13 (85) draw, drawing comparisons to the memorable first Anzac Day clash back in 1995 which also ended in a draw.

Before the match, McCrae was interviewed in the middle of the MCG with the crowd of 93,644 fans generating an enormous amount of noise. 

While the Magpies coach was there for a footy match, he couldn't help but be wrapped up in the emotion, stopping his interview to soak up the atmosphere and shed a few tears in honour of Australia and New Zealand's fallen soldiers. 

'You said a number of times during the week, there is nothing like it, standing in the middle of the MCG in front of 95,000, just talk us through the emotion,' former Adelaide AFLW player and media personality Abbey Holmes asked McRae.

'It's incredible, just to be here, present, it's quite emotional to be honest,' he said.

'Just a privilege, to be grateful to be here on this day.'

At this point the Collingwood coach apologised and broke off from the interview, surveying the crowd around him, shedding a tear and also smiling at the awe of the occasion. 

'We're all with you. We're all feeling it,' Holmes said as she consoled McRae.

'It's a very special day for all Australians and New Zealanders of course.

'But there is a football match to be played here as well and I think we are all pretty happy with what we saw from your 'Pies last week. How do you continue to build on that?' she asked.

'We're ready to go. It's such an incredible occasion for all those that have been impacted by war,' he said.

'Hopefully we will do them proud.'

The response from McRae saw plenty of footy fans praise him for the raw emotion he showed for the annual Anzac match. 

'Would love him next to me in a trench,' one posted.

'There is nothing that hits me in the feels more than a man embracing emotion.' another footy fan commented.

 'He gets it,' added another.

Masters of the tight finish under Craig McRae's coaching tenure, Collingwood traded blows with their arch rivals during a frenetic last quarter that will go down as one of the best home-and-away games in recent times.

Both teams had their chances in the final term as Collingwood forward Brody Mihocek, who finished with three goals, kicked two gettable set shots out on the full. 

'I normally go home watch and replay with a red wine, I might have a white tonight,' McRae said.

'I don't know how to feel, to be honest.

'On a day like today, when most of the footy world would be watching, it's a great spectacle for our game.'