AFL Anzac Day reporter almost breaks down in tears as soldier tells her all his mates are dead

An exchange between a TV reporter and a World War Two veteran has perfectly illustrated the depth of emotion surrounding the annual ANZAC Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon at the MCG.

Shortly before kickoff on Tuesday, Channel Seven‘s Abbey Holmes – who won an AFLW premiership with Adelaide in 2017 – spoke to John Braidie, who fought with the Australian Army’s 3rd division signals unit in Papua New Guinea and Bougainville.

She was soon holding back tears as he told her what ANZAC Day means to him.

‘You make me feel like crying, darling,’ he said as he became emotional too.

‘It reminds me of my mates that are all gone. They’re all gone, I’m the only one left in my unit, and while it’s great for me it’s sad.’

John Braidie’s exchange with former AFLW star Abbey Holmes was a great window into the sacrifice and emotion that makes the ANZAC Day game such a highlight of the season

Holmes then asks Braidie how he usually remembers his mates come April 25.

‘I was in Melbourne when I enlisted so most of my mates also came from Melbourne,’ he explained.

‘I came down to Melbourne every chance I got since 1947.’

The old digger was about to get into the motorcade to do a lap of the MCG when he was interviewed and was asked if that made him proud.

‘Not proud, because I’m not a hero. I did what I was told to do and  did it as well as I could.

Essendon’s Sam Durham attempts a mark at the MCG, which was packed to bursting on one of the most significant days of the AFL season

‘I’ll be thinking of New Guinea, Bougainville, Rabaul and places we served, and me mates that aren’t with me. They’ll be on my mind, darl.’

Experts believed a new crowd record for the ANZAC game was on the cards as huge numbers of fans started filing into the ground hours before kickoff. 

Earlier in the week Essendon star Kyle Langford revealed that his great grandfather Ernie Farrah served for Australia in Papua New Guinea during World War II – just like Braidie – and said he will be reflecting on him when the Last Post is played prior to the game.

Bombers star Kyle Langford (pictured after kicking a goal against Collingwood on Tuesday) revealed that his great grandfather, like Braidie, fought for his country in Papua New Guinea

‘I’ve never met him, but I’ve heard stories from my dad and grandparents. That’s just something for me to reflect on. Over the last week I’ve been doing a bit more research into it,’ he told AFL360.

‘From my understanding, he contracted malaria when he was over there in Papua New Guinea.

‘He also got blown up by a bomb and he had shrapnel wounds. He got sent back to the medical tent, and from what I know, he managed to sneak out and go right back to battle. I think he was in the 2nd/8th Battalion, so he was a Lance Corporal.’