Jamie Elliott screamer: Collingwood star recalls mark of the year contender against Essendon
Jamie Elliott has spoken of his shock after providing the highlight of an epic Anzac Day contest with a mark of the year contender which had fans out of their seats. Watch it here.
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Jamie Elliott could think of only one thing as he hung on the shoulders of Essendon defender Ben McKay.
“I was sh.tting myself, I was thinking don’t drop it as I have got the perfect sit,” Elliott said. “I’m up there and just watching it come into my hands, then it was like just keep my eyes on the ball. It felt like it was in slow-motion.”
Elliott has previously won the mark-of-the-year award, back in 2013 when he received $10,000 for his effort.
“That’s my best, 100 per cent,” he said about his third-quarter hanger on McKay.
“I am surprised I can still jump that high but that is definitely the best, I felt like I was up there.”
He then added: “I don’t think it’s (mark-of-the-year) worth as much these days.”
Eliott revealed he’d been frustrated by the close-checking of Essendon defender Jake Kelly in the first half and it was in a rare moment of freedom that he soared into the sky for the game’s most memorable moment.
“McKay was just sitting there and it’s nice to just get a free run at the ball so I just jumped at it and fortunately it stuck,” Elliott said.
“Normally I have a defender on my back, bodying me and checking me so I don’t get a clean run at it but with that one I felt like I had prime position, there was no-one behind me, I was the deepest and I had a good sit.”
He managed to collect his thoughts and drill the goal from 45m out but while acknowledging the mark, the Pies veteran was livid at himself for blowing a chance to win the game in the final 30 seconds.
“I am a little bit flat, I dropped a chest mark but what a game of football, it was an incredible game of football on a really special day,” Elliott said. “As a supporter and spectator you couldn’t ask for much more.”
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Originally published as Jamie Elliott screamer: Collingwood star recalls mark of the year contender against Essendon