AFL 2024: Relive updates, SuperCoach scores from Essendon v Collingwood, GWS Giants v Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions had no answers for a Tom Green-led GWS Giants in Canberra after the Dons and Pies played out a classic at the MCG. Relive the updates and see the SuperCoach takeaways from an action-packed Anzac Day.
SuperCoach
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperCoach. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Nothing could separate Collingwood and Essendon but there was plenty to distinguish the GWS Giants and Brisbane Lions in Canberra.
GWS’ Tom Green reached new heights, as did Collingwood’s Jamie Elliott.
Relive updates and SuperCoach analysis here.
THE THREE TAKEAWAYS
TOM GREEN!
Tom Green reaffirmed he is one of the best players in the competition, and a must-have in your SuperCoach side, with a herculean performance against Brisbane.
Green is owned by a nudge under half of SuperCoaches and they will all be celebrating his second-best career return of 159.
In the absence of his namesake, Toby, Green carried the Giants when the game was on the line in the third quarter.
He had 14 disposals that term as the Giants kicked five unanswered goals.
If he wasn’t the favourite for the Brownlow before tonight, he is sure to be now.
IS $386,200 WORTH THE RISK?
It’s the question SuperCoaches across the country will be asking themselves after Finn Callaghan’s sensational game against Brisbane.
The smooth-moving left-footer cracked the second SuperCoach century of his career with 114 points.
He had nine disposals in the third term and each of them found a teammate.
Nick Dal Santo said Callaghan reminded him of Marcus Bontempelli on the Fox Footy post game.
THE GIANTS HAVE FOUND ONE
SuperCoaches will be rushing to inspect debutant Darcy Jones this week after his excellent introduction into the AFL.
With a break even of just 24, Jones kicked two goals to produce a score of 77.
He costs only $123,900 and will be worth every cent if Thursday night is just a sign of what’s to come.
10:13: FT — ORANGE TSUNAMI OVERWHELMS SLUGGISH LIONS
The GWS Giants have put the grand finalists of last year to the sword in a Canberra clinic, comprehensively defeating the Brisbane Lions by nine goals on Anzac Day.
Giant Tom Green was simply superb, gathering 36 disposals and 159 SuperCoach points.
The Lions were Green’s bogey side before tonight, having a high score of just 77 against Chris Fagan’s men before tonight.
Finn Callaghan was alongside Green as one of the Giants’ best with a career-best 114 points.
9:55: A CULT HERO EMERGES
He’s played less than four quarters of footy but it’s hard to see AFL fans not falling in love with Darcy Jones.
He’s had an exceptional game for a small forward on debut, kicking a goal and looking dangerous whenever he’s got near it.
Jones has 62 SuperCoach points but you can expect that to rise, as the Giants will look for him late in this one.
That’s it, I’m buying a @GWSGIANTS Helmet tomorrow!!
— David King (@davidking34) April 25, 2024
9:50: GIANTS INFLICT MORE PAIN FROM RANGE
The GWS Giants have hurried to a 51-point lead after Harry Perryman’s long-range major.
Perryman took the intercept mark from a misexecuted kick in and immediately pointed towards goal.
He went back without hesitation and slotted it, kicking the Giants eighth goal from 40 or further out.
Tom Green is still running amok with 134 SuperCoach points.
9:39: 3QT — GIANTS SLOT FIVE ON THE TROT
A goal on the three-quarter time siren from Jake Riccardi has capped a clinical term from the GWS Giants.
The hosts kicked five unanswered goals to scoot out to a 38-point lead.
Tom Green led the charge and has 118 SuperCoach points at the final break.
The Lions’ engine room had no answers for Green, Josh Kelly and the emerging Finn Callaghan.
Josh Dunkley has been the only Lion who has looked able to match the Giants.
9:30: IT’S EASY OWNING GREEN!
Tom Green is putting in another sensational performance in Canberra.
He has nine disposals this quarter alone but has rocketed to a game-high 109 SuperCoach points.
He has a monstrous break even of 183 but he’s going to give it an almighty shake at this rate.
The Giants have rushed out to a 31-point lead.
9:22: HOGAN BOOSTS GIANTS
Jesse Hogan’s first goal of the night has pushed the Giants’ lead out to a game-high 20 points.
Hogan took a strong mark in the pocket before going back and converting his third look at goal.
Tom Green, Josh Kelly, Harry Himmelberg and Lachie Whitfield have all led the Giants this term and all are closing in on triple-figure SuperCoach scores.
9:13: COAST-TO-COAST
GWS has extended its lead early in the third quarter with a slick cost-to-coast goal.
Darcy Jones, Toby Bedford and Callum Brown linked up to allow Aaron Cadman to walk into an open goal.
Lachie Whitfield has surged ahead of Josh Dunkley in SuperCoach rankings with 88 points.
9:08: GREEN BREAKS GROUND
GWS Giants superstar Tom Green is making way against an opponent he has previously had difficulty against.
Green has 69 SuperCoach points at the main break, which is close to eclipsing his full game scores against the Lions in his previous three meetings.
Tom Green career #supercoach scores v Brisbane:
— Al Paton (@al_superfooty) April 25, 2024
60
49
77
69* at halftime
8:49: HT — GIANTS POST-SIREN GOAL ADDS TO LEAD
For all Brisbane’s dominance early in the second term, the Giants still hold an eight-point half-time lead.
Rayner kicked two goals to get the Lions going before GWS responded to take back and add to their lead.
Josh Dunkley is having a big night with 74 points, which would have been more if he didn’t give away a soft free kick defending Lachie Neale in his battle with Callan Ward.
8:46: NEALE LOSES HIS COOL
Lachie Neale has lost his cool with opponent Callan Ward a couple of times late in the second quarter.
Ward grabbed at Neale’s leg after a contest and pushed him a couple times before Neale retaliated and gave away a free kick off the ball.
The two-time Brownlow Medallist has 13 disposals (10 handballs) and 35 SuperCoach points.
8:30: THE GIANTS NOW...
The GWS Giants have made stopping the Lions’ momentum look easy with two snappy goals.
Trailing after the Lions kicked three consecutive goals, the Giants put through two of their own inside a minute to pinch the lead back.
Lion Josh Dunkley is on his way to a big SuperCoach night, already recording 71 points.
8:22: THE MILESTONE MIRACLE!
Brisbane Lion Lincoln McCarthy has kicked an absolute stunner in his 150th match.
Roving from the stoppage, the opportunistic forward snapped on his opposing left-foot hard against the boundary line and pierced the small gap between the posts.
The Lions have kicked the past three goals to hurry out to an eight point lead.
SHEESH how good is that from Linc McCarthy in game 150!#AFLGiantsLionspic.twitter.com/1RamViM3tV
— AFL (@AFL) April 25, 2024
8:20: RAYNER LIGHTS UP
Brisbane has hit the front for the first time in this match, courtesy of two quick goals from Cam Rayner.
Rayner went off in the first term after a head clash with GWS star Callan Ward, but he has since returned without a scratch to impact the game.
He has raced to 42 SuperCoach points.
8:15: LIONS MAKE PROMPT START TO SECOND TERM
Brisbane has made a busy start to the second quarter.
Cam Rayner kicked the first before Kai Lohmann realistically should have put his side in front, but ultimately hit the post.
Josh Dunkley has jumped Lachie Whitfield to lead the ground with 51 SuperCoach points.
8:08: QT — GIANTS HOLD ADVANTAGE
GWS has the early advantage over Brisbane, leading by 11 points in Canberra.
Giant Lachie Whitfield is looking dangerous with 11 disposals and 48 SuperCoach points to the first change.
He is closely followed by teammate Harry Himmelberg, who has 43.
Josh Dunkley has started well for the Lions but, concerningly, his only teammates inside the top 10 are defenders.
First-gamer Darcy Jones 26 at quarter time.
7:58: CHARLIE HAS A COUPLE
Charlie Cameron is keeping Brisbane in the contest with two first-quarter goals.
He has both of Brisbane’s majors and they both have been against the flow of the match.
Cameron kicked seven goals at this venue last year and has made a good start tonight.
The Lions’ star has 27 SuperCoach points while Giant Harry Himmelberg has a game-high 31.
7:50: FIRST-GAMER SHOWS A CLEAN SET OF HEELS
GWS Giants’ first-game Darcy Jones has had his moments already in this match, and now he’s got a goal to his name.
He stormed inside 50 and backed himself to finish, which he did superbly.
Jones has already equalled his break even of 24.
A stunning goal on debut for Darcy Jones!
— AFL (@AFL) April 25, 2024
And that's the best helmet we've ever seen just quietly!#AFLGiantsLionspic.twitter.com/AURqg3bUOp
7:42: GIANTS MAKE QUICK START
GWS has hit the scoreboard first in the important Anzac Day match against Brisbane.
Callum Brown took a neat contested mark and converted from the paint of 50.
Tom Green quickly followed Brown with a second major, his from well beyond the arc.
7:13: LIONS’ BACK SIX ‘HAS TO BE ON’ SAYS FAGAN
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan says the Lions’ “defensive game has to be on” if they are to take down the GWS Giants.
Chatting to Fox Footy’s Cam Mooney pre-game, Fagan outlined where his side will need to improve to win tonight.
“The Giants are a very talented team and they always have been,” he said.
“They (GWS) are in great form, we were going well but had a hiccup against Geelong.
“Tonight is a big game for us, as it will be for them.
“They’re good at taking it from one end to the other ... our defensive game has to be on.”
7:03: KINGSLEY EXPECTS BIG FROM MIDS
GWS Giants’ coach Adam Kingsley is expecting a response from his midfielders against Brisbane tonight.
Speaking to Fox Footy pre-game, Kingsley revealed the “proud midfield group” was seething after a disappointing performance against Carlton last week.
“We’ve got a proud midfield group who I think will respond tonight,” he said.
6:47: FINAL TEAMS IN CANBERRA
Small forward Brent Daniels will be GWS’ substitute for its clash with Brisbane in Canberra while James Tunstill will be the Lions’ sub.
Darcy Jones will start on debut for the Giants.
Neither team has had a late change.
THE THREE TAKEAWAYS
THE SUPER SUB
Harvey Harrison was only injected into the match at three-quarter time but he still managed to scoop up 47 SuperCoach points.
Harrison is owned by only 213 SuperCoaches, all of whom would have thought he would finish a mile away from his break even of 37 when announced as sub.
His seven disposals and a goal will give a lot of SuperCoaches something to think about, particular at his cost of just $180,000.
MCGRATH GOES MASSIVE
Andy McGrath has gone nuclear at the MCG.
He finished with a game-high 146 SuperCoach points, which is his career-best score.
McGrath nearly doubled his career average of 74 against the Pies and smashed his break even of 85.
KELLY FIGHTS BACK
Essendon’s Jake Kelly was one of the better SuperCoach scorers late in the match after a nightmare opening half.
Kelly had -6 SuperCoach points at the main break but finished with 59.
His fluctuation makes him hard to trust as an option for SuperCoaches but, after being down and out of the game, his resurgence in the third and fourth term was honourable.
6:02: MERRETT TAKES HOME THE MEDAL
Essendon’s Zach Merrett has taken home the coveted Anzac Day Medal for his 31-disposal, 124-SuperCoach point performance.
The Dons had six players reach triple figures while the Pies had three.
5:58: FT — IT’S A DRAW
Just like they did in 1995, Collingwood and Essendon have shared points on Anzac Day.
Jamie Elliott dropped a diving mark with 10 seconds left but he would have been deep in the pocket and a long way out.
Kyle Langford also could have kicked the Bombers home with 70 seconds left in the game but missed right.
A crowd of close to 100,000 have once again fallen silent.
5:56: LANGFORD MISSES
Shooting for his fifth goal with just 70 seconds left, Kyle Langford has missed to level the scores.
There’s less than a minute left now and the Pies have the footy.
5:53: THREE MINUTES!
Collingwood still leads by just one point with three minutes left on the clock.
Daicos has 119 SuperCoach points for the Pies while Andrew McGrath has 140 for the Dons.
5:48: 10-MINUTE WARNING
Collingwood leads Essendon by a solitary behind with 10 minutes left in the match.
A trio of goals to either side has resulted in no change in the three-quarter time margin.
Nick Daicos is lifting for the Pies while Nic Martin has done the same for the Bombers.
Martin leads all comers with 118 SuperCoach points.
5:42: PIES BACK IN FONT
Beau McCreery has now kicked Collingwood back in front.
Activated sub Nick Hind had an unfortunate slip in the back pocket and the Pies’ forward pounced.
The Dons have six players with a SuperCoach ton while the Pies have none.
5:38: SUBS MADE
Collingwood and Essendon have made their respective substitutes.
Harvey Harrison has come in for Tom Mitchell while Nick Hind has come in for Harrison Jones.
Mitchell was a tactical while Jones has a nose injury.
Harrison wasted no time by kicking a goal to bring the Pies back within five points.
5:36: MARTIN!!
Nic Martin’s rise is showing no signs of slowing down with an important goal and goal assist to help Essendon to a fourth-quarter lead.
Martin’s clever snap — which resulted in a goal — and his centreing kick to Kyle Langford has propelled the Bombers ahead by two goals.
Martin has 102 SuperCoach points with 15 minutes left.
5:34: IT’S ALL TIED UP
Goals to Collingwood’s Josh Daicos and Essendon’s Kyle Langford has this game all square with 17 minutes left.
The first Anzac Day clash in 1995 ended in a draw and that’s where this one sits now.
5:20: 3QT — PIES TAKE SLIMMEST OF LEADS
Collingwood has the smallest of leads at the final change of Anzac Day.
The Magpies turned their one-point half-time deficit into a one-point lead.
Bombers Andrew McGrath and Darcy Parish lead the SuperCoach scores but Collingwood captain Darcy Moore is closing in.
Jamie Elliott isn’t in the top 10 but he won’t ever forget this Anzac Day match.
5:01: ELLIOTT BRINGS DOWN CLASSIC!
Collingwood’s Jamie Elliott has brought down the frontrunner for mark of the year with a massive climb over Essendon’s Ben McKay.
The Magpie had both knees on the shoulders of the 201cm-tall McKay.
It was fittingly in the pocket he sunk the Bombers after the siren in 2022.
He importantly went back and kicked the goal too.
JAMIE ELLIOTT WITH ONE OF THE BEST GRABS YOU'LL EVER SEE!@VirginAustralia | #AFLDonsPiespic.twitter.com/YGlMXx7A98
— AFL (@AFL) April 25, 2024
4:57: DONS STRIKE FIRST
The second half started in huge contrast to the first half, with the first goal coming four minutes in.
Essendon has owned the footy and finally got some reward for it through a goal to Alwyn Davey Jnr.
Andrew McGrath has grabbed the top perch on the SuperCoach leaderboard with 84.
4:40: IT HASN’T BEEN JAKE’S DAY
Essendon’s Jake Kelly is not having his greatest SuperCoach day.
He has been near the footy, gathering four kicks and three marks, but has got -7 SuperCoach points to half time.
Kelly gave away a 100-metre penalty late in the second quarter by putting the ball on the ground when a free kick was given away before not clearing the restricted area.
Jake Kelly is on -6 #SuperCoach at half time despite three marks and four possessions and, if anything, that's being too kind. Should be on -60 and subbed out.
— patch (@PatchToTheMax) April 25, 2024
4:32: HT — DONS HOLD MINOR LEAD AFTER PIES PUSH
Essendon holds the smallest of leads to half time after Collingwood propelled itself back into the match.
The Magpies, trailing by 27 points at one stage, kicked four goals to take the lead.
Bomber Sam Draper kicked a goal to stop the Pies from running into the main break in front.
Darcy Parish leads on the SuperCoach leaderboard but it was forward Brody Mihocek who changed the game in that second quarter.
4:25: DRAPER BREAKS THE DROUGHT
It wasn’t his most fluent disposal but Bomber Sam Draper has kicked an important goal for his side.
After the Magpies kicked back into and then ahead of the Anzac Day clash, Draper’s snap has kept the Dons level with the hot Pies.
Draper is one of three talls are rotating through the Dons’ forward line.
4:20: THE COMEBACK KINGS!
Collingwood’s stunning second term has eliminated Essendon’s early buffer.
After giving up the first four goals of the match inside four minutes, the Pies are now back level.
Brody Mihocek has kicked three majors to bring his side back into the match.
4:12: MIHOCEK SPARKS THE PIES
Brody Mihocek has ignited Collingwood in this second term.
Mihocek has already had five shots on goal for a return of 2.3.
The Pies have kicked three of the past five goal to trim Essendon’s lead to 12 points.
Mihocek has 54 SuperCoach points — his career best is 127.
4:06: WHERE’S STEELE?
Collingwood veteran Steele Sidebottom is yet to be sighted.
Sidebottom is one of two players on the ground yet to touch the football.
He appeared to have copped a corky in the first quarter but has not left the game.
He is only owned by 653 SuperCoaches but he looks a long way from his break even of 71.
3:55: QT — PIES WORK BACK INTO IT LATE
Collingwood has worked its way back into the match with a late goal from Jamie Elliott.
It could have been two goals in the final minute if it wasn't for a miss from Brody Mihocek.
Scott Pendlebury reached his disposal milestone and leads the ground with 41 SuperCoach points.
Essendon’s Sam Durham is doing a great job on Nick Daicos, restricting him to just 18 points to the first change.
3:46: HISTORY FOR PENDLES
Scott Pendlebury has made history with his fourth disposal on Anzac Day.
The classy Magpie becomes the first player to reach 10,000 disposals.
He reached the milestone with a handball out of the Magpies’ under-fire defence.
Scott Pendlebury the first V/@AFL player to 10,000 disposals
— Swamp (@sirswampthing) April 25, 2024
2006 R10 - #1
2008 R21 - #1000
2010 R15 - #2000
2011 PF - #3000
2013 R12 - #4000
2015 R02 - #5000
2016 R16 - #6000
2018 R15 - #7000
2020 R01 - #8000
2022 R02 - #9000
2024 R07 - #10000
@CollingwoodFC#AFLDonsPies
3:40: SLICK KICKING FROM THE DONS
Essendon has made Collingwood pay with five goals without a blemish.
The Magpies have worked their way back into the contest around the ball but their 1.3 is vastly different to the Dons’ efficient 5.0.
The returning Peter Wright was the Bombers’ fifth individual goal kicker.
3:30: BOMBER BLITZ!
Essendon has four goals in as many minutes to start Anzac Day.
The Bombers have stun the reigning premiers, with goals to Kyle Langford, Jake Stringer, Harrison Jones and now Darcy Parish.
When the Dons kicked their fourth, the Pies had just four disposals.
Jones has 35 SuperCoach points.
3:26: JAKE LAUNCHES FROM THE MEMBERS
Jake Stringer has kicked Essendon’s second goal of Anzac Day, virtually from the second row of the MCC Members.
With the man on the mark standing on the line of 50, Stringer struck a long and precise drop punt right through the middle.
Stringer has raced to 25 SuperCoach points just three minutes in.
3:22: DURHAM LOCKS ON
Essendon stopper Sam Durham has gone right to Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos.
Durham has had roles on Marcus Bontempelli and Jordan Dawson this year.
Daicos is owned by 73 per cent of SuperCoaches and has a break even of 95 today.
Kyle Langford kicked the opening goal for Essendon.
2:45: LINE-IN-THE-SAND PIES TO CONTINUE TURN OF FORM
Collingwood coach Craig McRae said his side’s turn of form has come from a “line in the sand” moment after the Magpies’ third consecutive loss to start the season.
“I think we drew a line in the sand about a couple of losses, we went up to Brisbane to raise the bar ... hopefully you’ll see it again today,” he said.
McRae also referred to Scott Pendlebury’s imminent milestone as an “incredible journey”.
2:37: PIES ‘ONE OF THE TEAMS TO BEAT’ SAYS SCOTT
Essendon coach Brad Scott won’t be judging Collingwood on its ladder position.
Speaking to Fox Footy’s Brad Johnson pre-game, Scott said he saw the Magpies “flick the switch” last week.
“They’re still one of the teams to beat, interestingly they kicked 6.1 from Port’s kick ins,” he said.
2:25: FINAL TEAMS
The returning Harvey Harrison will be Collingwood’s substitute in the annual Anzac Day blockbuster while Essendon will use dasher Nick Hind again.
Harrison was selected to play his fifth game of AFL during the week.
Neither side has had a late change.
Originally published as AFL 2024: Relive updates, SuperCoach scores from Essendon v Collingwood, GWS Giants v Brisbane Lions
Five moves that won me $50,000 in SuperCoach
The 20-year-old winner of SuperCoach AFL 2024 reveals the tactics that led him to the game’s top prize, beating out more than 180,000 players across the country.
SuperCoach wrap: Norm-worthy stars and grand final flops
Who stood up on the biggest SuperCoach stage and who disappointed when it counted most? Check out round 24’s heroes and villains – and some hot tips for 2025.