Jamie Elliott bags five goals as the Pies claim Anzac Day honours over the Bombers

Early in the second half, Essendon dared to dream of a stunning Anzac Day upset. The optimism lasted just a few minutes.

Collingwood reigned supreme on the biggest occasion day of the home-and-away campaign, and they look as good as any team to be back at the MCG in five months’ time for the most important game of the season.

The Magpies overcame a plucky Bombers team to win by 41 points – 16.11 (107) to 10.6 (66) – in front of 92,044 fans, who braved teeming rain to see Fly’s Pies consolidate themselves at the top of both the ladder and premiership calculations.

This was a game the Pies had to win twice. A smashing beckoned early in the second term when the Pies’ lead blew out to 27 points only for Essendon to mount a surprising revival that took them briefly into the lead in the third quarter.

From the moment Isaac Kako put the Dons in front five minutes into the third term, the Pies slammed on 10 goals to three.

Veteran Steele Sidebottom claimed the medal for best afield with 15 clearances among his 36 disposals, though either of the Daicos brothers, Josh and Nick, and Jamie Elliott, the best forward on the field with five goals, would also have been worthy winners.

Ironman Jack Crisp earned himself an early finish and is set to break Jim Stynes’ record for most consecutive games next week when he plays his 245th match in a row.

The only concern for the Magpies is a left knee injury to key forward Dan McStay, who was subbed out of the game. It is the same knee in which McStay suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in the 2023 preliminary final.

The Bombers were game but ultimately outclassed, unable to match the Pies’ intensity and pressure at the contest, though it took until the final quarter for the Magpies to finally shake them off.

Zach Merrett was their best while youngster Zach Reid’s stocks continue to rise after a steely display in defence.

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Essendon, whatever their shortcomings, have found reserves of belief and pluck on Anzac Day in Brad Scott’s time, drawing a stunning game last year and getting overrun late in a ballistic 2023 match.

This game was viewed less optimistically than last year’s, not so much because of what the Bombers might produce, but due to Collingwood’s potent previous five games, among them an imposing defensive strangulation of the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.

If you considered the names on paper – many premiership players, multiple Daicoses and seasoned pros on the Collingwood side compared to a much less experienced or capable Essendon – there was more cause to think the Magpies were capable of another demolition. There was one caveat – Anzac Day games have their own strange twists, and the underdog has a knack for rising and mounting an insurrection.

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The Magpies are confident Dan McStay has avoided damage to his anterior cruciate ligament and that he had hurt his medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

Scans over the weekend will reveal the extent of the injury though it’s likely the Pies will have to make do without McStay for at least the short-term future.

Collingwood’s advantage in experience – evident in the contributions of Sidebottom, Pendlebury, Crisp, and Elliott’s five goals – was always the biggest reason that Essendon were long odds to win this game.

The Dons were spirited, and, as ever, were well led by Zach Merrett, but they didn’t have the even spread of performers across the field and were beaten in the clearances, for forward-half turnovers (43 points to 19) and for territory overall.

The outcome was pretty much on budget for what these clubs have produced to date this year. Collingwood are strong again, and will be involved in another huge clash against the Cats in eight days.

Their major concern, though, is the knee injury to Daniel McStay.

We’re awaiting an update on the level and nature of McStay’s injury, with the Pies hopeful it is “only” a medial ligament sprain to his left knee.