Hilman Hambali

Originally submitted in Semester 1 2019 for the subject of Sports Reporting.

Collingwood 10.13 (73) have moved to second place after edging Essendon 10.9 (69) by four points in a classic 25th running of the Anzac Day match in front of a 92,241 crowd at the MCG.

Scott Pendlebury has matched James Hird in winning three Anzac Medals with 38 disposals but was booed on stage by the massive crowd.

Only one change was made for both teams with Essendon who had a late inclusion of Darcy Parish replacing Orazio Fantasia, who has scored eight goals so far this season, out with illness.

The Magpies, who were favourites, came in strong in the first quarter but the Bombers slowly made their way back to be in contention for the club’s tenth Anzac Day win.

Daniher’s efforts of four goals and 16 disposals were not enough to win Essendon the game after the Bombers found form in the past few weeks.

The game got underway after a controversial performance by Perth rock band Birds of Tokyo which drew criticism from players, fans and the media towards the AFL for being tone-deaf in what is usually a sombre pre-game.

The first quarter saw Collingwood rush ahead with a 23-point lead after a slow start by both teams.

The first goal of the match came from Collingwood’s Brody Mihocek in the tenth minute after he took a mark in the pocket.

Essendon’s only goal in the quarter was scored by Jake Stringer, who kicked his 200th career goal, from the boundary just inside the 50 metre line.

Essendon’s Dylan Shiel had the most disposals in the first period but was ineffective with the ball as the quarter went on.

Essendon clawed back Collingwood’s lead to fifteen points in the second quarter.

The Bombers started fast but could only convert one goal which was scored by the now bleached Matt Guelfi.

American Mason Cox, who was celebrating his 50th game in the AFL after his spectacular debut on Anzac Day three years ago, scored two goals in the quarter using his height to his advantage to tower over the Essendon defence to bring their lead to 33 points.

Stringer scored an almost carbon copy of his goal in the first quarter after Adam Saad’s heroic chase on Josh Thomas and delivering his second lunging tackle of the game.

In the final minutes of the first half Hoskin-Elliott entertained the third largest Anzac Day crowd with a specky over Guelfi.

Joe Daniher, after his shock addition last week, also scored two goals in the second quarter contributing to Essendon’s three consecutive goals at the end of the second quarter with a massive 60 metre kick after the siren.

Essendon closed the gap to nine points at the end of the third quarter after a back and forth of goals from both teams.

Stringer was key in helping Essendon’s strong performance in the quarter including scoring one goal and setting up Mark Baguley’s first goal.

Saad was also key in the comeback stopping attacks by Collingwood chasing down their forwards with his speed.

It was a tight contest in the last quarter with all to play for.

The first goal only coming in the sixteenth minute courtesy of Baguley after a flurry of behinds for both teams.

Essendon brought the gap to three points twice with Baguley’s goal and a snap from Daniher.

But it was all in Collingwood’s attacking half in the crucial dying moments for Essendon.

Essendon struggled to bring the ball down to their goal after last ditch efforts from Saad but their chances of a win were killed off with Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’s miskick to a Collingwood player at the centre square.

Callum Brown had two opportunities to kill the game off but could not convert.

Nonetheless Collingwood comes away with four point win and an Anzac Day to remember.

The win secures Collingwood’s fifth win in six Anzac Day matches as Essendon end their three game winning streak this season.

---

Photo: Hilman Hambali