by Michael Lambris for the Floreat Pica Society
I was privileged to be one of the 95,179 roaring fans to attend the 2023 instalment of the Collingwood v Essendon ANZAC Day match.
A balmy autumn day saw a new crowd record set, eclipsing the number at the inaugural game in 1995, which I also attended as a then 8-year-old and remember vividly. Essendon was the better team that year but Collingwood fought hard for a fitting draw. Following that tradition, this fixture has generally produced a tight contest no matter where the teams are on the ladder. It just happens this year both teams are top 4.
We took our seats high up in the Ponsford Stand and were greeted by the same Collingwood fans we met here in 2022. They asked about our baby who we had brought to the game last year. Unfortunately, the noise has been too much for him and we had needed to depart after one quarter. Having learned our lesson, we decide to leave both our little boys at home this time and enjoy one of the few games we will get to attend this season child free.
Going into the game I was not especially confident. We all know our injury problems, whilst Essendon have greatly improved their defence to be 4:1 under Brad Scott.
The game started in ominous fashion. An inexplicable free kick gifted the first goal to Draper and foretold the atrocious standard of umpiring for the rest of the afternoon. The Pies had some chances but could not make the most of our entries, meanwhile Essendon struck twice more through Weideman and Martin. A brilliant long set shot from De Goey on the quarter time siren kept us within 10 points at the break.
We started the second quarter with 3 quick goals to take the lead. AJ finished the best passage of play for the game so far with a classy bender. Daicos found Pendlebury with a pinpoint left foot pass, the former skipper finishing truly. Then Ginnivan bobbed up for a quick snap to have the Pies on top. Langford playing out of full forward struck twice to take the lead back, but De Goey kicked his second to give us a 2 point advantage at half time.
Despite the improved scoreboard I didn’t think we were playing well. We were struggling to defend transition, something that’s normally a strength, allowing Essendon to move the ball far too easily. A handful of players were dominating but many were having little to no impact. We were bombing the ball long without any real target.
The third quarter saw Essendon pile on 6 goals to 1 to take a commanding 28 point lead into the final change. Our forwards, especially Mihocek and Krueger, were completely lost. The latter was rightly subbed but with Kelly playing on a wing it was hard to see who would inject a spark in attack.
Enter Billy Frampton. A strong mark and straight kick got the margin back to 4 goals early in the last. We were getting on top in the midfield but still couldn’t hit a forward target. Suddenly, out of nowhere, AJ bombs a goal from way beyond the arc to cut it to 3. The crowd lifts, and the Collingwood chant starts ringing around the ground. Surely not again? Essendon just need a steadier.
But they don’t get it. Nick Daicos has been swung forward, and it proves to be an inspired move as he swoops on to a loose ball to kick a beauty. Ginnivan marks and boots his second, and then Nick follows with a snap to take the lead! What on earth is happening? Draper is gifted another set shot 20 metres out but misses this time, to loud cheers. Pies go forward and Sidebottom pounces from a stoppage to make the margin 7 points with 5 minutes to go! Learning from last week, we chip it around confidently to ice the game. A mark and goal after the siren to McCreery puts the exclamation point on a remarkable come from behind win.
Does it get any more Collingwood than that? Despite things not going our way, and some awful umpiring, we somehow managed to run over the top and snatch victory. They said we couldn’t win all the close games again, and yet here we are 5:1 sitting equal top of the ladder. I really love this team.
Honourable mentions – Billy Frampton was huge in the ruck and didn’t make a mistake all day. Darcy Moore was a wall. AJ was clutch.
1 vote – De Goey. Kept us in the game in the first half and kicked 2 important goals from 28 touches.
2 votes – Sidebottom. Was arguably best on. Such a clean, clever player. He is having an underrated year.
3 votes – N Daicos. The kid is just a freak. When you see him play forward like he did in the 4th qtr you wonder if he is almost wasted on half back. Just finds the ball and uses it better than anyone else in the league. Simply brilliant and deserved the medal.
Go pies.
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COLLINGWOOD 1.4 5.7 6.10 13.12 (90)
ESSENDON 3.2 5.5 11.8 11.11 (77)
GOALS
Collingwood: De Goey 2, N. Daicos 2, Johnson 2, Ginnivan 2, McCreery 2, Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Frampton
Essendon: Langford 3, Weideman 2, Stringer, Martin, Draper, Perkins, Davey Jnr, Menzie
INJURIES
Collingwood: Pendlebury (head)
Essendon: Laverde (shoulder)
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Will Kelly (replaced Nathan Kreuger in the third quarter)
Essendon: Ben Hobbs (replaced Jayden Laverde in the third quarter)
Crowd: 95,179 at the MCG
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