Round 7 – Essendon v Collingwood: Bombers crash as Magpies swoop

Essendon v Collingwood
Round 7
Saturday 25 April 2026
MCG

 

After a relatively stress free trip to Melbourne from Colac via car and train I was excited and full of expectation for a good showing by the Bombers after improved performances in recent weeks as I entered the MCG.

 

A moving and emotional Welcome to Country, the traditional ANZAC Day ceremony, and the singing of the national anthems ensured the atmosphere reached fever pitch as the 92,000 plus crowd cheered to start the game. 

 

It was imperative for the Bombers to bounce off to a good start but it did not happen. Collingwood, looking very quick and slick against a flat-footed fumbling Essendon scored the first goal with ease. The roar from the Collingwood faithful was thunderous, as loud as I’ve ever heard at a footy match – an ominous sign for what lay ahead I thought to myself.

 

The Bombers, although struggling, remained within striking distance until half-time. 

 

Brad Scott indicated after the match Essendon were ‘reacting to a perceived pressure that wasn’t there’. Players fumbled, turned the ball over easily, dropped easy marks, and gave up ground highlighting the skill errors they were forced into. Zach Merrett obtained many possessions but his delivery of the ball was not as we expect from an elite player. It was not one of his better games I thought. Errors without a lot pressure was indeed noticeable!

 

We struggled in the clearances,  the Magpies constant bombardment of the ball forward was putting our already undermanned backs under further pressure and were not match for seemingly quick moving forwards.

 

Archie Roberts had another superb game and must be scoring a lot of Brownlow votes at the moment but he is a lone hand in the side. We are not getting a full 100% effort from the players who should be providing drive for the Bombers. I don’t what is happening with Sam Durham but so far this year we have only seen flashes of the play we know he is capable of. Flashing in and and out of the game is not good enough from a player of his calibre.

 

Our young players struggled, perhaps they were overawed by the occasion but could not get in the game. I think on the stats sheet it showed only 4 or 5 Bombers in the top 20 for possessions on the day. We just did not get the ball.

 

Scott Pendlebury was a worthy winner of the ANZAC Day medal for best player on the ground. From the middle of the ground he directed all aspects of Collingwood’s play, and without an Essendon player near him for most of the game. He truly is a marvel and an inspiration to his team.

 

It was a very disappointing game for the Bombers, a soul destroying one, and one they must quickly learn from if they are to move forwards. Next week’s game against Brisbane will be telling.

 

 

ESSENDON              2.3    3.4    5.6         9.6 (60)
COLLINGWOOD       4.0    5.6    11.13     20.17 (137)

 

GOALS
Essendon: Caddy 3, Day-Wicks 2, Langford 2, Durham, Kako
Collingwood: De Goey 3, Steele 2, Anderson 2, McCreery 2, McStay 2, Elliott 2, Pendlebury 2, Schultz, Hayes, Lipinski, Crisp, Sidebottom

 

BEST
Essendon: Roberts, Merrett, Day-Wicks, El-Hawli
Collingwood: Pendlebury, De Goey, N.Daicos, Howe, Houston, Crisp, J.Daicos

 

INJURIES
Essendon: May (knee)
Collingwood: Nil

 

Crowd: 92,231 at the MCG