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Well it was all but over by quarter time today, but the Pies stormed on to come home as comfortable 69 point winners.
REPORT: PIES TROUNCE DONS ON ANZAC DAY
Their first-half domination was only highlighted by the fact that they were actually beaten in the second half by their opponents.
Nonetheless, they come away with a resounding win and their season may be on its way to gaining ‘back on track’ status.
Steele Sidebottom was voted best afield for his effort, while Pendlebury was great with 35 disposals, while Taylor Adams had it 36 times for a solitary goal.
For Essendon, James Kelly stood up for his 29 touches and 1 goal, while Orazio Fantasia was busy with 25 disposals and 2 goals. Harltey was also good under a decent amount of strain down back with 8 marks.
Alex Fasolo joined Sidebottom with 4 majors, with Jarryd Blair kicking 3, and Levi Greenwood, Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe all kicking 2 each.
Fantasia and Sam Grimley were the only multiple goalkickers for Essendon with 2 each.
Well, it’s not an ANZAC Day clash we’re likely to remember, but it counts nonetheless.
Final score
Collingwood Magpies 22.10 (142)
Essendon Bombers 11.7 (73)
Both the Collingwood Magpies and Essendon Bombers will be hoping to get their second win of the season when they clash at the MCG on ANZAC Day. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 3:20pm (AEST).
Not many would have predicted that these two sides would come into this game with identical form lines, but that is how they stand after four rounds.
The ANZAC Day fixture is famous for dishing up some absolute belters, and we can expect another one here given the context of both sides’ form.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley will be well and truly feeling the heat, as his side has grossly underperformed so far, and a loss here would more than likely end their finals dream.
Their opposition have surprised many this year, as top-up players like former-Cats Matthew Stokes and James Kelly have led the way well for promising youngsters like Darcy Parish.
Few expected the Bombers to be so competitive despite the inevitable losses, so they should fancy themselves for an upset against a confidence-sapped Collingwood outfit.
Efficiency is something that is lacking in the Collingwood and Essendon lockers, with neither side able to crack 50 per cent efficiency inside their respective forward 50s, or 80 per cent overall.
Their inability to score has been telling, and it means that both defences have been heavily exposed, with both teams conceding over 90 points on average per game.
It’s this kind of form that has seen Nathan Buckley wield the axe, dropping one of his side’s most recognizable players in Travis Cloke.
The out of sorts big-man finds himself out of the line-up alongside Jesse White and Tom Langdon, with Jack Frost coming in, and two others looking to make their debuts.
Rookie Josh Smith has been named, and the big American Mason Cox will attract a lot of attention as he lines up for the first time in the Collingwood jumper.
For the Bombers, Sam Grimley comes in for his first game as a top-up player, with Courtenay Dempsey returning to replace Patrick Ambrose and Jayden Laverde.
Prediction
If Collingwood are serious about turning their season around, it must start now. While the Bombers may make for some tricky opposition, the Pies should have too much class and run away with a win.
Collingwood by 19 points.
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