The AFL’s comeback kings have accomplished it once more, with Collingwood producing a scintillating last-quarter surge to stun Essendon by 13 factors in entrance of a document Anzac Day crowd on the MCG.
Arguably essentially the most eagerly anticipated Anzac Day blockbuster ever, the match lived as much as the hype as younger Collingwood star Nick Daicos put in a well-known efficiency to steer his staff to their fifth victory of 2023.
Down by 28 factors at three-quarter-time, the Magpies stormed residence with 7.2 to 0.3 within the final time period to steal a basic, 13.12 (90) to 11.11 (77).
The crowd of 95,179 eclipsed the earlier document of 94,825 set in the course of the first Anzac Day blockbuster between Collingwood and Essendon again in 1995.
Daicos completed with 40 possessions, but it surely was his two very important objectives within the final quarter that really earned him his first Anzac Day Medal.
The 20-year-old, in his second season, has been prolific in virtually each recreation he has performed this 12 months to be comfortably favorite for the Brownlow Medal.
Essendon turned a two-point halftime deficit right into a 28-point benefit by the ultimate change after surging with 6.3 to 1.3 within the third.
But exhilarating comebacks have been a trademark of Collingwood since Craig McRae took over as coach forward of the 2022 season.
“I don’t know where, but it’s up there,” McRae mentioned when requested the place the win ranked in his profession.
“I’ve got to say to the record crowd, thank you to the Collingwood supporters … you can just see the players growing in confidence from the energy from the crowd.
“We have this factor that we wish to play the minutes, so you have to play the minutes to beat us and we begin the sport with that as a headline.”
The Magpies’ momentum was undeniable for Essendon, who appeared to be on track for an unlikely 5-1 start to the season under new coach Brad Scott.
Nathan Kreuger booted the first major of the final term to put Collingwood within four goals, before Ash Johnson truly got the Magpies going.
The mercurial forward took possession outside 50 on a tight angle, wheeled around onto his right boot and kicked a monster goal.
It was heartbreak again for Essendon, after Jamie Elliott had nailed an extraordinary goal after the siren to seal a Collingwood win in the most recent previous meeting between the two traditional rivals last July.
Sam Draper had an opportunity to put the Bombers back in front with six minutes remaining but the Essendon ruckman missed an easy set-shot.
Veteran Steele Sidebottom, who was outstanding with 31 disposals, made Draper pay at the other end by sealing Collingwood’s win with a goal on the run.
“We ran out of fuel a bit of bit they usually appeared to cease at a petroleum station someplace,” Scott mentioned.
“The optimistic aspect for us is that we performed two actually good sides the final two weeks and we have put ourselves in actually good positions all through the sport.
“We’ve got really high standards and we’re adhering to that for most of the time, but but not for long enough.”
Evergreen midfielder Scott Pendlebury, who was certainly one of Collingwood’s greatest, copped successful to the attention within the closing quarter and can seek the advice of a specialist to evaluate any injury.
Bombers midfielder Jye Caldwell will possible face scrutiny from the match assessment officer for a strike to the abdomen of Nick Daicos within the third quarter.
Defender Jayden Laverde was subbed out after struggling a shoulder damage within the third quarter and was changed by Essendon teammate Ben Hobbs.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
