Anzac Day thriller ends in draw between Essendon and Collingwood

In a thrilling game on Anzac Day at the MCG, Essendon’s Kyle Langford had a chance to win but ended up tying the match against Collingwood, with both teams scoring 12.13 (85) each.

Despite the efforts from both sides in the final moments, no one managed to score, leaving the huge crowd of 93,000 feeling anxious.

This draw echoed the outcome of the Anzac Day clash between these teams back in 1995.

Essendon captain Zach Merrett received the Anzac Medal for his performance with 31 disposals, six clearances, and eight tackles.

The Essendon Bombers were able to start strong with fast-paced plays, while Collingwood slowly fought their way back into contention.

Essendon’s standout quarter of the 2024 AFL season occurred when they scored four goals in just over seven minutes, boosted by Peter Wright’s return after a four-week suspension.

However, the Pies made their way back into the game with a 45-metre kick by Bobby Hill to Jamie Elliott, narrowing the gap to 19 between them.

Collingwood intensified their pressure after a while, keeping the ball in their attacking half and slowly reducing Essendon’s lead.

The chant of “COLLLLINGWOOOOD” reverberated across the stadium, met with boos from Bomber fans.

Nick Daicos briefly put the Pies in front before the Bombers fought back.

The third quarter was a hard-fought battle, with both teams struggling to stay composed in their forward areas.

Essendon’s shaky start to the last quarter forced Darcy Parish out to the wing, exposing a weakness in the 6-6-6 formation and leading to Dyson Heppell positioning himself behind the ball.

Amongst all the errors, Jamie Elliott’s impressive leap onto Ben McKay’s head was one of the standout moments, with the other standout moment coming from Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury being the first ever VFL/AFL to secure 10,000 disposals in their professional career.

Both teams will now look towards round 9.

The Collingwood Magpies are currently $2.02 outsiders against fellow premiership fancies Carlton, while Essendon Bombers have a $1.86 favouritism with the leading AFL bookmakers over the top of the ladder Geelong.

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