Glenn McFarlane rates the 10 best matches between Collingwood and Essendon on Anzac Day
Footy's Anzac Day tradition started with an epic draw and most of the Collingwood-Essendon blockbusters have lived up to their billing since 1995. Glenn McFarlane rates the 10 best matches on April 25 between the Pies and Bombers.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
ESSENDON and Collingwood have played some Anzac Day epics since 1995.
From Sav Rocca’s nine-goal haul in the original draw to David Zaharakis’ stunning match-winner in 2009 and James Hird’s dominance on multiple occasions.
Anzac Day football never fails to disappoint and it’s not just the Bombers and Magpies, check out some of the other classics on this day in VFL/AFL history.
1. 1995, THE DRAMATIC DRAW
Collingwood 17.9 (111) drew with Essendon 16.15 (111)
The original and the best. Almost 95,000 fans attended the inaugural Collingwood and Essendon Anzac Day match, which had been dreamt up by Kevin Sheedy and Graeme Allan along with the help of then Victorian president of the RSL, Bruce Ruxton. Saverio Rocca kicked an incredible nine goals in a best afield performance. Such was his dominance that Nathan Buckley - in his second year in black and white - unselfishly looked to pass off to Rocca in the dying seconds instead of having a shot himself. Scores were level when the siren sounded. Still, a great tradition had been born.
2. 2009, ZAHARAKIS BLISS
Essendon 13.15 (93) defeated Collingwood 12.16 (88)
Few Essendon-Collingwood games have had as dramatic a conclusion as this remarkable game. The Bombers lost David Hille early, leaving Patrick Ryder to ruck alone, and trailed by 14 points with less than five minutes remaining. Three goals came almost in the blink of an eye. The last one was from 19-year-old David Zaharakis - in only his fourth game - which wrested the game back for his team. It was, incredibly, Zaharakis’ first career goal - and remains his most important. A first-gamer Brent Macaffer lunged at Zaharakis, but couldn’t claim him, as the Bomber coolly slotted home the match-winning major.
3. 2012, BLAIR’S SWITCH PROJECT
Collingwood 11.14 (80) defeated Essendon 11.13 (79)
Brent Stanton looked to have locked in a win for the Bombers when he nailed a goal with two minutes left in a classic contest. But the last act had yet to be written as Collingwood went forward one last time. Jarryd Blair found himself in the goal square and he threw his boot at the ball. The drama of a goal review followed, but Blair’s kick in the dying seconds was given the green light.
"Shame on anyone that booed a champion."
— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 25, 2019
- Nathan Buckley#AFLDonsPies pic.twitter.com/HOsJ04zz7p
4. 2019, 'SHAME ON ANYONE WHO BOOED A CHAMPION'
Collingwood 10.13 (73) defeated Essendon 10.9 (69)
It had been tipped to be a Magpie cakewalk but the Bombers made sure this was a serious contest which went right to the end. Collingwood led at every change and shot out to a 33-point lead at one stage. But Essendon fought back and just couldn't run down the Magpies in the dying moments. Collingwood won by four points with Scott Pendlebury winning his third Anzac Medal. Some Bombers fans booed when Pendlebury accepted his medal, which prompted his coach Nathan Buckley to say: "Shame on anyone who booed a champion" when he and Pendlebury accepted the Anzac Trophy.
5. 2001, “ANOTHER EPIC”
Essendon 15.13 (103) defeated Collingwood 14.11 (95)
Caller Anthony Hudson said of this game: “What a match, it is certainly another epic, and will go down with all the others we have seen.” The reigning premiers had been dubbed one of the best teams of the modern era at that stage yet battling Collingwood took the game right up to them. With five minutes remaining, only one point separated the teams. Paul Barnard’s fourth goal gave the Bombers a little gap but the Magpies kept coming until the final siren beat them. Even though he was in a losing side, Chris Tarrant’s five goals earned him an Anzac Medal.
MORE AFL NEWS:
MALTHOUSE, SHEEDY NAME THEIR BEST ANZAC DAY TEAMS AFTER 25 YEARS
SACKED: HOW CROSISCA TURNED HIS LIFE AROUND
SUPERCOACH HALL OF FAME: WHO MAKES THE CUT?
6. 1999, BOMBERS ON THE BOARD
Essendon 15.18 (108) defeated Collingwood 15.10 (100)
Collingwood finished last that season, but reserved one of its best performances for a gutsy eight-point loss to Essendon on Anzac Day. The Bombers dominated early with a seven-goal to one first term, leading by 38 points at the first change. Even at three-quarter-time the match threatened to be a blow out. The difference was still 26 points at the last change before the Magpies staged a late revival. This was Essendon’s first win over Collingwood on Anzac Day.
7. 1996, THE SECOND INSTALMENT
Collingwood 17.15 (117) defeated Essendon 16.9 (105)
If the Anzac Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon was to become a tradition, it needed a good follow-up. And that’s what happened in year two. The Bombers stole a break in the opening term, kicking seven goals to two, and leading by 27 points at quarter-time. They led at the two other changes as well. But the Magpies overpowered the Bombers in the final term, kicking six goals to two. James Hird was dominant for Essendon, kicking four goals and foreshadowed what would come when he won Anzac Medals in 2000, 2003 and 2004. Sav Rocca kicked six goals and Scott Russell won the retrospective Anzac Medal.
8. 2005, REPORTED BUT REMARKABLE
Essendon 11.17 (83) defeated Collingwood 10.9 (69)
James Hird didn’t win a fourth Anzac Medal this time, but he still took mark of the day, kicked goal of the day and helped to set up the sealing major in a massive contribution. He was reported in the opening term when a fiery brawl took place. The medal went to Andrew Lovett - wearing No.41 - who kicked a late goal to give the Bombers some breathing space. Essendon led at every change, but the Magpies kept coming. And an 18-year-old called Travis Cloke played his first game.
9. 2006, CRAIG WHO?
Collingwood 15.16 (106) defeated Essendon 12.17 (89)
Some Alan Didak magic in the last quarter helped to secure this match for Collingwood. Ben Johnson was outstanding, even though he was announced as “Craig Johnson” when declared the winner of the Anzac Medal. Nathan Buckley had the last disposal of the match - his 19th - in what was his last Anzac Day match.
10. 2007, SIX WINS EACH
Collingwood 12.23 (95) defeated Essendon 11.13 (79)
A close-fought clash before the Magpies took the edge in the second half, despite some poor kicking for goal. Heath Shaw had been stiff to miss out on the medal the year before but made it his own in 2007. It was tight for most of the game, but Collingwood kept its edge from the third term. The win meant the two sides had six Anzac Day wins each.
AND SOME OTHER QUIRKY APRIL 25 GAMES
1914 - Exactly a year before the Gallipoli landings, Collingwood and Carlton fought out a draw at Victoria Park. It was highlighted by the first speccy captured on camera, when Magpie forward Dick Lee soared through the air to bring down a great mark.
1960 - Fitzroy beat Richmond by seven points at Brunswick St Oval in what was the first Anzac Day match. On the same day Melbourne defeated St Kilda at the Junction Oval by 24 points with Ron Barassi (whose father had died at Tobruk in 1941) kicking three goals. Both games took place after an act of parliament allowed the VFL to play for the first time on Anzac Day.
1977 - A massive crowd of 92,436 fans attended Collingwood coach Tom Hafey’s first game against his old side Richmond. It was a day when Kevin Sheedy - who would years later use this game as his template for the Collingwood-Essendon annual Anzac Day classic - admitted he had tears in his eyes playing against his former coach. The Magpies won by 26 points.
1984 - Collingwood defeated Carlton by five points in a wet but fascinating game at Waverley, but only after Blues forward Warren Ralph missed a kick after the siren that could have drawn the game.
1992 - Melbourne kicked more goals than Essendon - 19 to 18 - and led by 41 points at three-quarter time, yet missed out in this epic encounter. The Bombers won by one point, with Paul Salmon kicking seven goals for the game.
1993 - Geelong pipped the Brisbane Bears by a point in this contest at the Gabba, with Gary Ablett nailing eight goals, including his 600th goal.
2008 - Geelong stormed home from 25 points down at three-quarter-time in the Len Hall game against Fremantle to score by one point.
2013 - St Kilda and Sydney made history with the first international AFL game for premiership points, on Anzac Day, with the Swans winning by 16 points.
LIVE stream every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season on FOX SPORTS. Get your free 2-week trial & start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW >