AFL live: History repeats after stunning Anzac Day draw; Lions’ huge test against GWS

Are The Pies The Real Deal?

This is very much a question we do not yet have an answer for. The Pies were awful for the first 20 minutes yet if Jamie Elliott holds on to a diving mark in the final seconds they probably sneak over the line.

The Bombers probably have a majority of the best 10 players on the field but the Pies hung tough. They remain very much up for the fight. Next week’s blockbuster against Carlton will be one of the most anticipated for many decades, excepting the final-round encounter in 2022.

The Pies’ pressure is back and that has been the cornerstone of their game. Darcy Moore has improved markedly from a horror first month. Nick Daicos had periods where he was the best player on the field. Jordan De Goey got going after a slow start.

To be 50-50 after seven rounds is not a bad spot to be in for the Pies, who can reasonably believe they will improve considerably second half of the season once they catch up on conditioning after a shorter preseason.

Essendon Edge

The Essendon edge is real. We now have a sample size of seven games and in all but one the Bombers have lived up to the football department phrase their marketing department would have been happy to come up with.

There were numerous occasions where the Dons could have wilted, not least when the Pies stormed back after their slow start, but they showed resilience seldom seen of the red and black since Kevin Sheedy departed.

Their leaders stood up. Andrew McGrath was excellent in defence on Bobby Hill. Zach Merrett was one of the most influential players on the field, and a worthy Anzac Day Medal winner, even if I did not hand him the maximum votes. Darcy Parish played arguably his best game for the season.

Kyle Langford will like to have his last kick for goal again but his only sin really was missing with the last shot of the game. With a fifth goal, he would have been a fitting match-winner.

The Rucks

There was much discussion leading into this game whether Brad Scott should leave out one of his ruckmen, Sam Draper and Todd Goldstein.

Scott stuck to his guns, keeping with the two-ruck model he has used since arriving at The Hangar.

Neither Draper or Goldstein were prolific ball-winners but the Dons were dominant at the clearances, which they may not have been without two competitive rucks.

The other factor was Peter Wright’s form after four games out with suspension. The man they call Two-Metre Peter was red-hot in the first quarter with two goals though his influence diminished after that.

On a busy day of footy, we’ll be swinging out attention towards GWS Giants v Brisbane Lions shortly.

This was Essendon’s greatest test since Brad Scott since over a club that was divided, if not broken in key respects.

The Bombers cannot win a final and break that embarrassing 20-year drought until September. But if that benchmark cannot be negotiated for months, if they make the eight – Collingwood on Anzac Day represented another benchmark.

This Bombers outfit could win the home and away game that most closely resembles a final.

Read more from Jake Niall

Are The Pies The Real Deal?

This is very much a question we do not yet have an answer for. The Pies were awful for the first 20 minutes yet if Jamie Elliott holds on to a diving mark in the final seconds they probably sneak over the line.

The Bombers probably have a majority of the best 10 players on the field but the Pies hung tough. They remain very much up for the fight. Next week’s blockbuster against Carlton will be one of the most anticipated for many decades, excepting the final-round encounter in 2022.

The Pies’ pressure is back and that has been the cornerstone of their game. Darcy Moore has improved markedly from a horror first month. Nick Daicos had periods where he was the best player on the field. Jordan De Goey got going after a slow start.

To be 50-50 after seven rounds is not a bad spot to be in for the Pies, who can reasonably believe they will improve considerably second half of the season once they catch up on conditioning after a shorter preseason.

Essendon Edge

The Essendon edge is real. We now have a sample size of seven games and in all but one the Bombers have lived up to the football department phrase their marketing department would have been happy to come up with.

There were numerous occasions where the Dons could have wilted, not least when the Pies stormed back after their slow start, but they showed resilience seldom seen of the red and black since Kevin Sheedy departed.

Their leaders stood up. Andrew McGrath was excellent in defence on Bobby Hill. Zach Merrett was one of the most influential players on the field, and a worthy Anzac Day Medal winner, even if I did not hand him the maximum votes. Darcy Parish played arguably his best game for the season.

Kyle Langford will like to have his last kick for goal again but his only sin really was missing with the last shot of the game. With a fifth goal, he would have been a fitting match-winner.

The Rucks

There was much discussion leading into this game whether Brad Scott should leave out one of his ruckmen, Sam Draper and Todd Goldstein.

Scott stuck to his guns, keeping with the two-ruck model he has used since arriving at The Hangar.

Neither Draper or Goldstein were prolific ball-winners but the Dons were dominant at the clearances, which they may not have been without two competitive rucks.

The other factor was Peter Wright’s form after four games out with suspension. The man they call Two-Metre Peter was red-hot in the first quarter with two goals though his influence diminished after that.

Essendon’s Nic Martin doesn’t know how to feel after the draw. “You’re not disappointed but you’re not happy, it’s a sinking feeling right now,” he tells Fox Footy.

Martin went forward and kicked a critical goal in the last quarter and his versatility has been so important for the Bombers, but it looks like a strange atmosphere in the rooms.

ESSENDON
6.1 7.6 9.11 12.13 (85)
COLLINGWOOD
2.6 6.11 9.12 12.13 (85)

GOALS
Essendon: Langford 4, Wright 2, Martin, Parish, Davey Jnr, Draper, Jones, Stringer
Collingwood: Mihocek 3, Elliott 2, Lipinski, Schultz, Daicos, Daicos, McCreery, Hoskin-Elliott, Harrison

BEST
Essendon: McGrath, Parish, Martin, Merrett
Collingwood: Daicos, Moore, Pendlebury, Howe

UMPIRES
Stephens, Hosking, Gianfagna, Mollison

VENUE MCG

CROWD 93644

The Collingwood skipper took his moment on the podium to remind all and sundry about the importance of the Anzac Day appeal.

The Essendon champion is this year’s Anzac Day medallist.

Quite a few contenders perhaps, but Merrett is a worthy winner.

THE VOTING

Dale Thomas (Channel Seven – chairperson)
3. Zach Merrett
2. Nick Martin
1. Nick Daicos

Eddie Betts (Fox Footy)
3. Zach Merrett
2. Nick Daicos
1. Andrew McGrath

Sarah Black (AFL Media)
3. Zach Merrett
2. Darcy Parish
1. Kyle Langford

Cameron Ling (ABC Sport)
3. Andrew McGrath
2. Nick Daicos
1. Kyle Langford

Andrew Wu (The Age)
3. Andrew McGrath
2. Zach Merrett
1. Nick Daicos