Garry Lyon’s Anzac Day preview: The 10 players who will decide Collingwood vs Essendon

It doesn’t come much bigger than Anzac Day football at the MCG. Fox Footy expert Garry Lyon pinpoints the 10 players who will have the biggest say in 2025.

There are a lot of sayings in football. Some ring more true than others: “You’re only as good as your bottom 6” is not one I’ve been on board with.

I get the thinking behind it. That depth is important and if you can bat deep, then it increases your chances of success. Plus with constant rotations throughout a match, it is imperative that the workload is shared.

All totally reasonable and arguable positions to take. But the more football I watch, the more inclined I am to subscribe to the “you’re only as good as your top 6” theory, if indeed there is one.

The influence of our superstars has never been more profound, and the way the modern day coach deploys his most important assets, even further enhances that notion.

Put simply, the stars of the game go where the games demand they go. If the Bulldogs are getting hammered at centre clearance, Marcus Bontempelli will make sure he is there for the next one. If they have struggled to convert inside 50 opportunities, Bontempelli will be put to the goalsquare.

Melbourne aren’t dangerous or creative enough in the forward 50? Kozzie Pickett is your man. Need some explosiveness out of the middle? The Dees No. 36 goes in. Want some extra run and drive off half back? Josh Daicos will deliver. Do you need to upset the rhythm and structure of the opposition? Nick Daicos can take his tag wherever he wants to. Patrick Cripps the clearance beast or Patrick Cripps the wildcard forward.

And never has it been better demonstrated than at the Cattery. Patrick Dangerfield the centre half forward, Jeremy Cameron the wingman, Mark Blicavs the ruckman, or the full back, Tom Stewart the half back or Tom Stewart the on baller.

Its important to have a strong bottom 6, but the stars of the game have never been more important.

So, the exercise was to look to at this magnificent Anzac Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon and rate in order, the 10 best or most valuable players on the ground from either side.

The players that influence the results of game, with the ball or without the ball, contributing to goals or defending them.

30 years ago this week, Sav Rocca booted nine goals in the inaugural Anzac Day clash with the Bombers which ended in a draw. It's this week's La Trobe Financial Legendary Moment 🤩

Sav also had 13 disposals and 10 marks, taking home the first Anzac Day Medal 🎖️ pic.twitter.com/XKheVLf4tx

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) April 22, 2025

That have the flexibility to play a multiple of roles, the leaders who remain calm among the tempest, the ball winners who don’t deviate off the line, the gut runners that push to the next contest when everything inside them tells them they can’t, the ones that go back with the flight, knowing what’s coming, but refuse to flinch.

The ones that welcome the chance to test themselves on the biggest home and away stage the game produces, and to walk away, win or lose, with reputations enhanced.

There is no right or wrong. It is a judgement call on what you value most in the game. Here are my 10:

The Bombers face a huge job to curtail Nick Daicos, Collingwood’s stand-in captain.

NICK DAICOS

There is no stage or occasion that he hasn’t conquered, yet he is just 22 years of age. He will have been the subject of so much of Essendon’s planning and will have to contend with a myriad of opponents, but as he has demonstrated to such clinical degree in recent weeks, he is largely unstoppable. Cool, calm, creative and as competitive as any player on the ground, Combine that with his freakish skill set and you have the complete package.

Essendon needs its captain at his best to stand a chance.

ZACH MERRETT

I can’t talk highly enough of the Bombers captain. His willingness and desire to do whatever it takes to make his side better is as strong as any player in the competition. He has arrived at a place in his career where individual accolades are of no significance to him. His team first mentality is on display every time he takes the field, and is a testament to his development as a footballer and a leader.

Darcy Cameron has been one of the AFL’s premier ruckmen this year.

DARCY CAMERON

What an outstanding season Cameron is having. A pivotal component of this Collingwood defensive vice that has been applied to opposition sides in the last month. Provides outstanding support for his defensive six, rucks tirelessly for most of the game and has probably got his nose in front, at this early stage, for the All Australian ruck position.

Steele Sidebottom has been in vintage form this year.

STEELE SIDEBOTTOM

Why do we even bother referring to his age, but I will anyway. At 34 he is playing as good a football as I’ve seen him play for his entire career. He is everything we spoke about at the start of this article; Craig McRae can use him in the role that the game demands at any given time. And he will respond. Whether that be going into the centre square, playing behind the ball, running with an opposition player that has caught fire or kick a match winning goal when that is the only thing that matters.

Sam Durham is likely to have the job on Nick Daicos.

SAM DURHAM

Is the embodiment of everything I rate in the game. His want to compete is almost unnatural and demands respect from everyone he comes up against. And while that is universally admired, it can sometimes overshadow a skill set that sees him a powerful presence in the air and a threat when he goes forward. Will thrive on the Anzac Day stage.

Josh Daicos has become a key weapon off halfback for the Magpies.

JOSH DAICOS

The shadow cast by his younger brother is as big as any, but he no longer stands under it. Best and Fairest in a Premiership year is as good as it gets and he has been superb again this year in a new role across half back. He consistently plays at a very high level and the gap between his best and worst is negligible. Presents huge issues for opposition clubs as they try to contend with his elite reading of the play which allows him to strike the right balance between when to go and when to defend.

Brody Mihocek marks against the Bombers.

BRODY MIHOCEK

An unabashed fan, he is to the Collingwood forward line what Darcy Moore is to the backline. His fellow forwards are able to take their cues from big Brody because he is so consistent with his efforts. For the Pies to be coming out of defence under pressure, knowing that, without fail, Mihocek will be pushing up the ground to present as a target is so reassuring. He is so honest in the air that he is rarely outworked and Bobby Hill, Beau McCreery and Lachie Schultz should be forever grateful for that.

Dan Houston will return to the Collingwood side on Anzac Day. Picture: Michael Klein

DAN HOUSTON

The two-time all-Australian cannot be ignored, despite his recent absence through suspension. With Josh Daicos and Isaac Quaynor alongside him, the Pies have devastating weapons capable of kicking or running their way through opposition defences. As this season unfolds his value to this side will be fully realised, and the lighter workload, self inflicted, to this stage of the year may turn out to be a blessing.

Scott Pendlebury has long flourished on the big stage.

SCOTT PENDLEBURY

I couldn’t go past the games most experienced current day player. De Goey hasn’t quite clicked into gear, it could have been Jack Crisp, Bobby Hill, Nic Martin or Brayden Maynard, but for sheer consistency, reliability, class and leadership, Pendlebury has to be in the top 10. What a weapon for McRae to have, and like Sidebottom, he does not have to be told to recognise challenges out on the ground and adjust his position accordingly. Three Anzac Day Medals to his name already, a 4th would not surprise.

Jordan De Goey hasn’t been at his best but still poses a huge threat. Picture: Michael Klein

JORDAN DE GOEY

Much disrupted season to date but remains the player with the greatest upside and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was to pull out a best on ground performance.

So that’s my 10. For interests sake I went back to my five most trusted and respected media colleagues and asked them for their rankings. On the basis that 10 votes is awarded to the number 1 choice, down to 1 vote for their 10th, this is how it came out;

The beauty of Anzac Day, of course, is it doesn’t discriminate, and while the medallist may well come from this group, who can ever forget the deeds of Mark McGough as a schoolboy, or Paul Seedsman and a young Jack Ginnivan or David Zaharakis and a young Paddy Ryder.

It is a truly magnificent day of football, and one where the stars are sure to shine again.