By Greg Baum
How big is this?
If it was any bigger, they’d have to set up a live site for fans in Gosch’s Paddock and sell souvenir bronze mini MCGs. This is only the second time since the whole Kevin Sheedy-inspired Essendon-Collingwood Anzac Day gig began in 1995 that they’ve both been in the top four on the big day. The last time was in 2000 and it proved to be a watershed. The Bombers won that day and romped through the rest of the season for the loss of only one game total. The Magpies slumped, winning only two more games after Anzac Day. Whatever happens, you suspect there’ll still be plenty on the line when they meet again in round 24. The bidding on the crowd for this year’s edition starts at 90,000.
Essendon and Collingwood clash on Anzac Day 2022.Credit: Paul Rovere
Who is worse off for unavailable players?
The suspension of Zach Merrett is a severe setback for the Bombers; the new captain has been in inspired form, averaging nearly 30 touches per game. Taylor Adams is also suspended for the Magpies, and he will be missed, but that doesn’t quite amount to an exchange of hostages. The most telling difference will be in the ruck. The decimated Magpies have had to ad lib against Brisbane and St Kilda, and today will mock up a ruck division out of full-back Billy Frampton and the utility Nathan Kreuger on his return from shoulder surgery; the best you can say of him is that he will be fresh. Essendon pair Sam Draper and Andrew Phillips had their wicked way last week in their shock defeat of Melbourne, wearing down Brodie Grundy and kicking five match-winning goals between them. A repeat is on the cards.
What’s up with Jamie Elliott?
It’s a moment imprinted on the minds of the hundreds of thousands of supporters of both clubs. When the final siren rang the last time these clubs met in round 19 last year, Essendon were in front, but Jamie Elliott was in the act of kicking the boundary-line goal that would snatch the points for the Pies. The little big man stood tall and kicked straight for his team as it made its charmed run to the preliminary final. But he has been by his standards strangely awry this year, kicking 5.8. The Magpies will say that their high tempo does not depend on any one player to kick their goals, but there’s no doubt that Elliott is something of a talisman and barometer. And he does like the big occasion.
Sam Draper was one of the Bombers’ best in their win over the Dees.Credit: AFL Photos
To tag or not to tag? The Nick Daicos question
He’s only played 30 games, but it’s fair to surmise that the first name on opposition whiteboards each week is the young Magpie’s and a plan for him. Modern coaches are loath to deploy pure stoppers, preferring to invest their faith in their various systems. Nick Daicos is so quick of mind and slick of hand and foot that there is a risk that a tagger becomes merely a spectator. But the Swans did successfully sit on Daicos when they beat the Magpies at the SCG late last home-and-away season, and St Kilda coach Ross Lyon second-guessed himself after the free-wheeling Daicos picked up 42 touches against the Saints last week. “It’s an interesting question. It’s not as simple as it seems,” Essendon coach Brad Scott said last week. “If anyone thinks it’s easy, they need to look a bit closer because Nick is really, really important, obviously, but he also fits into a very good system.” If tag it is, the likeliest man is Will Setterfield.
Collingwood celebrate Jamie Elliott’s post-siren match-winner against Essendon in round 19 last year.Credit: Getty Images
Which player will thrive most on the biggest stage?
It’s the biggest home and away fixture in any season, there’s nowhere to hide and that suits some footballers just fine. But who? They’re not always obvious. Jamie Elliott has been mentioned already, Jack Ginnivan already has won an Anzac Medal, Scott Pendlebury plays the MCG as you might expect of a man who has made more appearances there than any other, but Halls Creek’s Ash Johnson, who had not set foot there until a couple of years ago, looks just as at home. For the Bombers, Sam Draper has shown already that he has the larger-than-life personality for the larger-than-life occasion, but the man you just know is itching to strut his stuff is Jake Stringer. And his best stuff is match-winning.
Tip: Bombers to seize the moment. Essendon by 10 points.
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