Essendon and Collingwood fans can buy tickets for the traditional AFL Anzac Day blockbuster from this Friday.

A crowd of 98,000 is expected at the redeveloped MCG for the annual match, which has become the biggest fixture of the regular season.

There had been speculation the ground might not be ready in time, with workmen now removing the synthetic athletics track that was laid for the Commonwealth Games.

But Victorian Premier Steve Bracks has assured the AFL that the ground will be ready in time.

The MCG now has an increased AFL capacity due to the rebuilding of half the ground's grandstands.

The Anzac Day match will be the first AFL game at the MCG since last year's grand final.

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