By Greg Baum
The second-biggest home-and-away crowd in history and the biggest Anzac Day crowd yet – 95,179 all told – was rewarded by perhaps the best game since the epic draw that launched this series 28 years ago. Essendon threw down the gauntlet with a six-goals-to-one third term to establish a 28-point three-quarter time lead and the Magpies picked it up with a vengeance by kicking seven goals to none in the last quarter to snatch victory.
The hallmark of Collingwood last season was their serial Houdini-like escapes, but this one surpassed them all.
Nick Daicos was simply sublime for the Magpies – yet again.Credit: AFL Photos
It was a day that will be remembered for many things, but not least was the performance of instant-champion-just-add-water, Nick Daicos. Not only was he as prolific as is now his wont, he went forward in the last quarter to kick two match-winning goals. This was the stuff of James Hird and Dane Swan of Anzac Days past. It was the stuff of, well, the Daicos family.
Essendon had been pleased with how they had curbed his influence in the first three quarters, but could only watch in awe in the last.
Collingwood’s win was even more meritorious considering they were grievously undermanned on the day and at times it looked like their makeshift ruck division would be overwhelmed. Essendon ruckman and cult figure Sam Draper might have regained the lead for the Bombers with minutes to play with a ruck free kick, but missed.
Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (left) and Sam Draper of Essendon spoil Ash Johnson of Collingwood.Credit: Paul Rovere
Sore of heart as they will be this night, the Bombers can hold their heads high. Backing up from last week’s upset of premiership fancy Melbourne, the Bombers matched and then shaded the Magpies for the bulk of the match. You have to remember that they started again almost from scratch under new coach Brad Scott this season and are also without important players. Scott is judging them by how they stand up against big teams in big games.
Strange to relate, they were more efficient than the Magpies, or perhaps it wasn’t so strange, since they also saw the Magpies and raised them one in terms of the pressure on which they pride themselves. As slowly, but measurably as the steps of military personnel in the Anzac Day pre-match ceremonies, Essendon are coming.
But by the last quarter, they were exhausted and Collingwood took their total football vocation to a new level. Twenty inside 50s to four weighed on and then crushed Essendon. So did the crowd, which became a palpable force. “You can just see the players growing in confidence,” said coach Craig McRae.
Steele Sidebottom bobbed up at centre bounces, a task he is usually spared these days, and made his presence felt. You would not have wanted to run into any of the other Magpies in a dark alley, even the angelic-looking captain Darcy Moore, who was again enormous this day. Personnel relief is weeks away still for the Magpies, but when it arrives, no opponent will daunt them. In the McRae era, none has.
For his part, the coach is rejoicing in the efforts of understudies like Trey Ruscoe and in the ruck, Billy Frampton. “They come in and they just look like us,” he said. Frampton won’t get votes, but he will get internal plaudits.
But really, contemplation of what it all means can wait for the cold light of Wednesday morning. For now, it’s enough to celebrate a brilliant Anzac Day of footy.
Essendon came with a plan, and it worked. As far as possible, they nursed the ball around the ground, keeping it away from Collingwood’s favourite chaos. When in range, the Bombers then launched towards their mountainous targets. They also manned the corridor, denying the Magpies their cherished fast lane.
After an even first half, a six-goals-to-one third quarter looked to have done the trick for the Bombers. In the balance of ball-getting, there wasn’t much to choose between the teams. But the Magpies were strangely sloppy. The Bombers kicked goals from everywhere, the Magpies missed from most places. Simply, the Bombers were more efficient. You could see the confidence suffusing them. Then you could see it leach away as the never-say-die Magpies asserted themselves in what is now their trademark style.
Collingwood: 1.4 5.7 6.10 13.12 (90)
Essendon: 3.2 5.5 11.8 11.11 (77)
GOALS
Collingwood: N. Daicos 2, McCreery 2, De Goey 2, Ginnivan 2, Johnson 2, Frampton, Sidebottom, Pendlebury.
Essendon: Langford 3, Weideman 2, Martin, Stringer, Perkins, Menzie, Draper, Davey jnr.
BEST
Collingwood: N. Daicos, De Goey, Sidebottom, Moore, Crisp, Pendlebury.
Essendon: Redman, Caldwell, Parish, Draper, McGrath, Langford.
VOTES
Nick Daicos (Collingwood) 9
Jordan De Goey (Collingwood) 8
Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood) 7
Mason Redman (Essendon) 7
Darcy Moore (Collingwood) 7
Anzac Day medallist: Nick Daicos (Collingwood)
How they voted for the Anzac Day Medal...
Brian Taylor (Channel 7)
Three votes: Nick Daicos (Collingwood)
Two votes: Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood)
One vote: Jordan De Goey (Collingwood)
Kate McCarthy (Triple M)
Three votes: Nick Daicos
Two votes: Jordan De Goey
One vote: Mason Redman (Essendon)
Jay Clark (Herald Sun)
Three votes: Nick Daicos
Two votes: Steele Sidebottom
One vote: Jordan De Goey
Anna Harrington (AAP)
Three votes: Nick Daicos
Two votes: Steele Sidebottom
One vote: Darcy Moore (Collingwood)
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