Anzac Day analysis: Glenn McFarlane on Bobby Hill’s heroics and Essendon’s future

The Daicos brothers started it and Bobby Hill ended it. But, in between, two young Bombers showed just what future Anzac Days might look like. GLENN McFARLANE dissects how it played out.

Collingwood small forward Bobby Hill says he prefers a snap-shot from the boundary line rather than a set-shot from dead in front, as his extraordinary goal of the round contender showed in the Magpies’ 41-point Anzac Day victory over Essendon.

Hill was in desperate need of a second-half spark after his only stat in the first two quarters was a free kick against.

That spark came early in the third term as he was working to extricate himself from the clamp that Essendon vice-captain Andrew McGrath had put on him in the first half.

After getting two quick touches straight after half-time, he finally found some space out the back of a pack and slotted through a trademark around the body boundary line snap that put the Magpies back in front again after briefly losing the lead.

And the 25-year-old couldn’t help himself but produce a theatrical bow to the crowd in the forward pocket at the Punt Rd end.

Bobby Hill boots the 'impossible' goal

“I reckon I prefer kicking then (angle shots from the boundary) than set shots,” Hill said in the rooms after the game.

“I remember getting front and centre and to the side. I am more comfortable kicking those types of kicks and it just flushed off my boot really well.

“It ended up coming off pretty sweet.”

Hill hadn’t planned on the bow goal celebrations, but said it was his natural instincts kicking in, even though he was worried it might have made him look “silly” if the Bombers had won the match.

“For the kick to come off, (the bow) was the first thing to come to my mind,” he said. “I was very lucky we won, or else I would probably have looked a bit silly.”

Bobby Hill kicks a remarkable goal from the boundary line. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

And he celebrated appropriately. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Hill conceded McGrath had his measure in the first half and he tried to play a little further up the field in the second half to get himself into the play.

“It’s hard to play on McGrath, I wish he would play on someone else (other) than me,” Hill joked in the rooms. “He is a great player and I think he is a great person as well.

“It will only make me a better player to play on defenders like that … I was just trying to get up the ground a bit more (after half-time). It was more about playing to my strengths.”

The 2023 Norm Smith Medal winner said the Magpies’ forward line was all about sharing the goals, with 11 individual goalkickers, even though Jamie Elliott was the star of the show with five goals.

“In our forward line, everyone has their moments … if it’s not my day, then it is Jamie’s or ‘Checkers’ (Brody Mihocek),” Hill said.

“We are a pretty mature group and the more we work together, the more settled we are.”

Sam Durham kickstarted the Essendon surge on Friday. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

DURHAM, THE FIRESTARTER

This 30th anniversary Anzac Day game looked set to be a Collingwood procession early before Essendon young gun Sam Durham turned firestarter early in the second term.

In the space of seven minutes, Durham, Dylan Shiel and a handful of Bombers did their utmost to wrench the game at least back on their terms.

Essendon kicked four goals between the nine-minute-mark and the 16-minute-mark of the second term.

Shiel helped to set up Kyle Langford’s goal before then playing a part in the first of back to back majors for Durham.

Durham’s two goals came in just under a two-minute period and emphasised the sort of player that he already is now, but also what scope he has for the future.

He doesn’t mind doing it the hard way, with 12 of his 19 disposals being contested and he had six clearances, more than any other Essendon player on the day.

Durham spent a fair portion of the day duelling with Nick Daicos, with Essendon coach Brad Scott saying it would be a great learning experience.

“Durham had the matchup with Daicos for most of the day and we’re trying to do what we did in Round 17 last year, limit the damage,” Scott said.

“Nick’s added another element to his game which is centre bounce work, it’s pretty hard to stop in there when you’re four on four with 50 metres of space.

“Clearly Daicos, if he’s not the best player in the comp. he’s in the conversation with a couple of others.

“We rate Durham pretty highly too, I think he showed – certainly in patches – across the game his capability.”

Zach Reid competes with Dan Houston. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

The Bombers were also delighted with Zach Reid’s game in defence, as he continues to get more continuity and confidence in his game.

Reid has endured a wretched run with injury since being drafted but is now getting a clear run at it, and growing as a player.

Originally published as Anzac Day analysis: Glenn McFarlane on Bobby Hill’s heroics and Essendon’s future