Anzac Day AFL game: Essendon v Collingwood – as it happened

A nailbiter in the end – a fitting tribute to the near capacity MCG crowd who, while many went home unhappy due to contentious late umpiring decisions, were treated to a classic encounter.

Steele Sidebottom expressing his relief post-game, and in fairness having led from whistle to whistle, it would have been tough on Collingwood to lose at the death.

Brave from the Dons, who at least have begun to repay some of that pre-season confidence. The older, calmer heads of the Magpies prevailed in the end, but an Anzac Day clash win surely isn’t too far away for this talented squad of youngsters.

Thanks for your company! Stay safe this Anzac Day.

There can be only one – dejected Essendon players bejewel the MCG, as the Pies players celebrate – more from relief, you’d imagine.

Scott Pendlebury wins the Anzac Day medal!

It’s his third Anzac Day medal, and if I’m not mistaken – are there some boos from the Dons fans? They’re still irate.

Nathan Buckley opens his speech: “Shame on anyone who boos a champion.” No backward steps, from the Pies coach.

Firey stuff. The Collingwood coach pays tribute to his dad, a Vietnam vet, and suddenly it’s claps that surround the MCG.

There’s real feeling out there.

They hang on! They led from the fourth minute, but gee – it ran closer than any Pies fan would be happy to admit. A brave fighting effort from the Dons, and many of the fans are livid with some of the decisions that ran against their team; was that a factor?

It’s immaterial – the “w” goes to the Pies – a fifth win from the last six Anzac Day clashes. And what a cracker this one was!

28 min gone: He looks for Cox, but the defence spoils. Essendon on the transition. But they can’t string the kicks.

Oh my – Guelfi’s been pinged for a push; and it’s the Pies from dead in front – and Callum Brown has the biggest moment of his 20 years right here. But he misses to the right from almost dead in front! My oh my.

Essendon on the charge. But have they got the time?

25 min gone: Ouch, big collision – about four players have gone in there, and Hooker emerges more or less unscathed.

De Goey still lively, trying to fire his side. The Dons skipper Heppell is almost out on one leg, but he’s still scrapping for his side.

Shiel kicks midfield, but Pendlebury collects, and now it’s Brown lining one up from over 50m out. He hasn’t got the distance, the youngster, so who does he look for?

Goal – Pies! Essendon 10.9 (69) v Collingwood 10.12 (72) Daniher

Hello, hello! Anything you can do, I can do better! And does he fancy it today? Joe Daniher with the strutt – he’s just kicked his forth, and after that glut of behinds, we’ve had three goals in four minutes!

Under ten to play, and the decibel level inside the MCG has just ratcheted up! We’re at fever pitch. It’s febrile. It’s Anzac Day, and there are 90,000+ roaring!

Goal – Pies! Essendon 9.9 (63) v Collingwood 10.12 (72) De Goey

Smart stuff, and he slots his 100th career goal – and is that the match-winner?!

Poor decision making from the Bombers, perhaps – a handful of key moments in this match they’ve just not found the best way to get out, and on this occasion they’ve been caught again.

Goal – Bombers! Essendon 9.9 (63) v Collingwood 9.12 (66) Baguley

Would you believe it, it’s a third for Baguley! Some grumbling from the black and white shirts in the crowd, they reckon that was a harsh penalty on their side, but it’s well finished by the veteran.

And with just over ten to play – we have a THREE point game!

15 min gone: Stringer looks to bust through the pack – he had runners, was the hand pass the better option? He curls one goalwards – but it swerves away late. Another behind, 2.2 for the Package.

At the half-way point of the final quarter, and no goals – as yet. The next one could be decisive, you feel.

10 min gone: They’re doing it in dribbles now – as a fifth consecutive one-pointer wobbles over; two to the Dons, three to the Pies, with one-a-piece rushed.

They’re pressured at the back, Collingwood, but Brown slips his tackle and is able to run it out comfortably. A close thing, though.

Once again the home fans are irate, after Daniher doesn’t get the decision his way – but finally an Essendon freekick! They’ve been letting it go, the umpires. Don’t mind that, truth be told.

5 min gone: It’s another effort on goal from Shiel – would you believe, that elusive first Bomber’s goal continues to evade him, so just another one pointer.

At the other end Josh Thomas tries one, but again it’s a minor.

Now Cox rises – he thinks he’s marked, but they tell him play on! It’s a mad few minutes, with tackles flying in everywhere. A few bodies looking weary already. Keep fighting, lads.

Final quarter!

We fly out of the blocks, and it’s AMT driving the Bombers on, who get the first score – but it’s a punch behind for just the one. Less than a minute gone!

My, my. It wasn’t looking much of a contest early on, but this one is really bubbling nicely!

What’s changed at the back for the Pies? Darcy Moore and pals seem to have Stringer and friends well under control, but they’ve really come to life, Essendon.

Who wins from here?

Goal – Bombers! Essendon 8.6 (54) v Collingwood 9.9 (63) Baguley

Just heard the stat that he’s never scored in an Anzac Day clash – and this is his seventh, Baguley – and all of a sudden, he’s got two!

An easy finish as the Dons go poll-to-poll. Great string of kicks and passes. They’ve got some moxey about them now, the Bombers!

25 min gone: Hoskin-Elliot with a chance from the set shot, but he pushes it right. Just the one more for Collingwood.

BALL – roar the crowd, suspecting Moore of holding on. And then it’s the Bombers that get pinned with a freekick for an alleged high tackle.

Now Essendon look to break swiftly on transition. Its AMT – to Stringer – who marks inside 30, but handballs off to Baguley. We’ve seen this before!

Goal – Pies! Essendon 7.6 (48) v Collingwood 9.8 (62) Stephenson

Ooph! Great touch on the line by Ambrose – he’s saved five for his side there, after Stephenson lined up from long range.

He won’t be denied for long however, as great skill from Varcoe allows the youngster a second chance, and from unbroken play he fires home! 1.2 for the 20-year-old, and the Pies leap back out to 14.

Goal – Bombers! Essendon 7.5 (47) v Collingwood 8.7 (55) Baguley

Allo, allo! It’s a goal, and they’re just eight behind! They haven’t been this close since midway through the first.

Now it’s Shiel chasing his first ever goal as a Bomber.. but he’s not managed it! Four consecutive scoring shots to Essendon though – if they can keep this momentum building we’re in for a cracking finish.

20 min gone: Lovely work from McDonald-Tipungwuti (back on the field) who finds Stringer with a slinking run. He lines up his third set shot of the day – but it’s the easiest of the three, and he’s only managed the behind.

Moments later he almost marks again, but it’s a terrific spoil from the Pies defence forces the behind.

Now Stringer wins possession and plays off to Baguley. Clever, unselfish play. Can he make it count?

14 min gone: Grundy tries to bring out of the ruck, but he’s tackled well. Both Daniher and McDonald-Tipungwuti temporarily off the ground, as the Bombers front line looks a little shorn of top-end talent.

Shiel and Pendlebury almost carbon copies in the stats department – 22 disposals, three marks, seven tackles plays 22, four, six.

Goal – Pies! Essendon 6.3 (39) v Collingwood 8.7 (55) Sidebottom

It was De Goey with a set shot, but he couldn’t manage the distance!

If they thought they’d got away with it, the Bombers, the Pies vice-captain had other ideas. A terrific snap, and there’s an important goal. He stops a run of four straight Essendon goals, and takes the lead back out to 16.

Goal – Bombers! Essendon 6.3 (39) v Collingwood 7.6 (48) Daniher

He’s already won an Anzac Day medal, but does Joe Daniher fancy another?! He’s just kicked his third, and suddenly, the Bombers are just nine behind. What a mark, and he’s earned himself an important six there.

Groans from the crowd as Cox claims a mark, but they’re not happy with the umps decision there, the home crowd. The big Texan lines up his shot – but he’s dragged it! A fair outcome, perhaps, and just the one for the Pies.

5 min gone: Cox flies high, but can’t claim. Meanwhile, De Goey has a quick chat with the Collingwood doctor after a head knock. Appears to be okay. It’s a scratchy and scrappy start to the third quarter, but it’s been full-blooded stuff.

Essendon string a few and now it’s Shiel about sixty out. Can he find anyone? Oh, hello – it’s Daniher with a huge leap out of a contested pack – and he marks!

Second half!

We’re up, and we’re underway once again. The rucks fly, and it’s finger in eye – ouch. That’s some start to the second stanza. Inadvertent, of course between Grundy and Bellchambers.

The hooter sounds, but not that Daniher was listening. He lines one up from after the siren – it sails, sails.. 50+ metres out – is it touched? No! It’s a goal, and they roar, those in red and black in the crowd! Three majors in seven minutes to end the half. A big morale booster!

Trailing by 33 points with seven to play in the half, and they’ve brought it back to just 15! Daniher and Stringer taking things into their own hands – and we might just have life in this fixture yet!

Goal – Bombers! Essendon 4.3 (27) v Collingwood 7.6 (48) Stringer

He was lining one out from outside the arc, 55m or so, and right on the sideline, but he’s backed himself, Stringer, and that’s a huge, HUGE, goal for the Dons!

Two majors in three minutes – or as many as they managed in the first 53! Is it on? Is it coming? Is this Bomb-mentum?

Goal – Bombers! Essendon 3.3 (21) v Collingwood 7.6 (48) Daniher

23 min gone: A good response from Joe Daniher, and that might settle some nerves for those beclad in red and black. They need more like it though, they’re still more than double their score, the Pies.

Now it’s Stringer looking to fire another, but he’s a long way out..

Goal – Pies! Essendon 2.3 (15) v Collingwood 7.6 (48) Cox

We mentioned it as a key match up pre-game, but I wasn’t expecting “uncontested mark” to be the reality. Cox with no mistake from the set shot for his second, but really from 20-odd out he was never going to miss.

They need to stem the bleeding here, Essendon. We’re eight from the break, and it could get very ugly.

Goal – Pies! Essendon 2.1 (13) v Collingwood 6.6 (42) Thomas

They’ve kicked four of the last five, and it’s a sixth different goalscorer as Josh Thomas slots the major for the Pies!

They try to lift again, the Bombers, and they force a rushed behind, before Myers slides one just wide. Two quick points, but they’ll be doing it the hard way if they think that’s the way back into this one.

15 min gone: He led for disposals at the quarter, but we’ve hardly sighted Shiel so far in the second. A bit stop-start at the moment, with neither side stringing the flowing transitions.

23 the lead for Collingwood, an equal game high.

Goal – Pies! Essendon 2.1 (13) v Collingwood 5.6 (36) Cox

Ooh, big let off for the home side – it’s Stephenson who looks to roll one in from far out. It comes down to the bounce.. and it’s into the post! Just the one for the Pies, 17 the difference.

And now it’s Cox with a first set shot of the day. They try to put him off, the Big American, but he’s slotted that cool as a cucumber. His 50th game today, and a lovely goal to mark the occasion.

Goal – Bombers! Essendon 2.1 (13) v Collingwood 4.5 (29) Guelfi

Ach, big chance for the Dons, and the skipper Heppell lines up – but it’s a poster! Just a like of the post, and it’s just the one.

A poor kickout from the Pies, and they’ve almost gifted their opponents an easy goal, but they can’t punish them. A bit of scrap inside the 50, it’s not the calm start we saw from the Pies first quarter.

And finally, with almost five played in the second, they get their reward – a Bombers major, and it’s no mistake from the set shot for Guelfi.

Second quarter!

It’s the Pies heading towards the Punt Rd end, as a few seagulls chance a landing in an otherwise packed MCG. Probably safer at AAMI Park, lads.

What can Worsfold’s men muster? After his six-goal blitz we haven’t seen much from McDonald-Tipungwuti; not his fault, they just haven’t found him yet. Smith and Zaharakis also a bit quiet.

Just the solitary goal for birthday boy Jake Stringer, as the Dons struggle to match the Pies across the park.

Four separate goalscorers for Collingwood, whose senior leadership are already leading the way. Pendlebury and Sidebottom with 10+ disposals, but they were far more incisive, 18-9 on the inside 50s as they created shooting opportunities at will.

Goal – Pies! Essendon 1.0 (6) v Collingwood 4.4 (28) Hoskin-Elliot

De Goey snaps another effort – but it’s just the one-pointer. He’s looking lively though, and minutes later he sparks a transition again, as the Pies fly forward. Will Hoskin-Elliot is on the end of the sequence – and he makes no mistake!

Goal – Pies! Essendon 1.0 (6) v Collingwood 3.3 (21) Adams

19 min gone: Collingwood with an overlap, and Taylor Adams won’t score an easier one – he’s slotted that from about 3m out, after the Pies swarm with numbers. Are they in the mood? You’d have to say, yes.

Still – don’t count your chickens yet, after all, we’ve seen pretty impressive first quarter showings from the Pies go wrong in big games.. (too soon?)

Goal – Pies! Essendon 1.0 (6) v Collingwood 2.3 (15) De Goey

Oh my! Great pressure from a swarming Pies midfield, and Shiel tries the no-look handpass, but he’s only picked out De Goey. Can he slot his 15th goal of the season? Yes he can! Big error from the Dons star recruit, and one of the rapidly rising talents of the whole competition says, yes please.

Goal – Bombers! Essendon 1.0 (6) v Collingwood 1.3 (9) Stringer

Callum Brown looks to make it two goals in three minutes for the Pies, but he can only manage the minor. Essendon still scoreless, and they trail by nine.

Moore doing what he’s more accustomed to, keeping a close eye on Stringer, and he’s winning that personal battle at this stage. But we’ve put the mocker on him there, as the next time they go forward, it’s Stringer who marks! It’s a tricky angle, surely he can’t – nearly 40 out.

Au contraire! The package – and they’re smiling again, Dons fans.

Goal – Pies! Essendon 0.0 (0) v Collingwood 1.2 (8) Mihocek

10 min gone: An early injury concern as Brayden Maynard limps off with injury and is replaced for the Pies. Essendon with eight tackles already in the first five minutes.

Defender Moore now with a chance to become the unlikely first goal-scorer – but he’s hooked that effort as well. 0.2 for Collingwood.

But Brody Mihocek goes one better – and there’s our opening goal of the contest!

6 min gone: A first look at goal for Sidebottom, but he’s shot across the face and it’s a behind for Collingwood.

The Bombers look to fashion their first effort at goal but can’t find the clear opportunity. Fair noise coming out of the crowd, they’re right on the edge of their seats already. Stringer active early, whizzing here and there for Essendon.

3 min gone: Some poor early hands from the Bombers, nerves perhaps as they only find black and white shirts with multiple attempted handballs. Cox rises for his first mark … but he can’t claim it!

Here come Danniher and Shiel for the Bombers, but the kick goes long and onto the chest of the Pies skipper Pendlebury. No early scores.

They’re saying 90,000+ already – so hardly an empty seat in the Gee. And there’s the siren!

It’s tapped out of the ruck early and some early scrappy contestations. But we’re live: the Anzac Day clash – Essendon v Collingwood!

They’ve won four of the last five Anzac Day clashes, the Pies. But is their luck about to turn?

Much will depend upon the defensive job the Bombers can do on American lightning rod Mason Cox – will it be Michael Hurley or Cale Hooker tasked with those duties today? (Or both?)

Or can Dylan Shiel and Jake “the package” Stringer spark the Essendon midfield? We’ll find out very, very shortly!

The last post sounds inside the MCG, as both sides observe the now tradition Anzac pre-game ceremony. It’s a haunting sound and never fails to lay claims upon the emotions. We’re not too far away from first bounce in this one.

A less common reveille (bugle enthusiasts, can you enlighten me?) sounds, and now it’s anthems. Aotearoa/New Zealand first, then the Australian.

Hi all! Best of greetings to you and yours, from wherever you’re following our coverage today. As always shoot us a line or tweet to join the coverage. Got some killer stats? Key insights? Send them our way to get your name up in lights.

But first some late news. A big blow for Bombers fans with star forward Orazio Fantasia a late scratching. They do see David Zaharakis and Devon Smith back elsewhere across the paddock. No changes for the Pies.

And if you were in any doubt what the weather was like down in Melbourne, here’s the view insight the ‘Gee. It really is one of the great stadia of the world. Glorious.