Both produced moments of sheer brilliance but Kyle Langford and Jamie Elliott will lose sleep over late missed chances as Essendon and Collingwood drew on Anzac Day for the first time in 29 years.
Langford missed a straightforward chance for his fifth goal from a set shot with 75 seconds remaining which could have delivered Essendon a stirring victory after they failed to capitalise on a blistering six-goal first term but kept the Magpies within striking distance in a tense second half.
After Langford hung his shot to the right to bring the scores level, Collingwood attacked from a stoppage on the wing with 40 seconds left and won a free kick for push in the back, with Nick Daicos taking advantage.
Daicos hung a brilliant pass in the direction of a leading Elliott but he spilt the mark diving to his right which would have given him a shot from the half-forward flank after the siren.
It came after the 31-year-old brought down one of the greatest Anzac Day marks of all time as he sat on the head of 204cm Ben McKay in front of a shellshocked crowd before kicking a trademark goal from 45m out on a tight angle.
Essendon’s daring bid to go tall provided an edge in its forward half but the Bombers had too many passengers among their younger players as Collingwood managed to gain a foothold late in the first term in a similar fashion to last week’s win over Port Adelaide.
Zach Merrett ran relentlessly and stood up with seven disposals in a crucial final term to keep the Bombers in the game, claiming an Anzac Medal amid the eerie post-draw atmosphere.
BOMBERS’ PERFECT START
With just over seven minutes on the clock in the opening term, the entire Magpies side had only four disposals to its name; Essendon had four goals.
The Bombers dominated play, and in the rare moments they weren’t in possession, harrassed Collingwood with relentless pressure – two of those four disposals were turnovers under duress.
Harry Jones buzzed around, setting up Kyle Langford for a set shot goal in the first minute before he kicked his own with a crisp left-foot snap, and Peter Wright’s touch was superb as he booted consecutive goals to open up a 27-point lead late in the first quarter.
STRINGER FROM THE FENCE
Amid the six-goal onslaught was an almighty set shot goal from Jake Stringer which will almost certainly be a finalist for Goal of the Year.
Nic Martin burst through the middle and drilled a low pass to the in-form star, who marked in front of Brayden Maynard right on the intersection of the 50m arc and boundary.
Stringer only ever had the goals on his mind and despite the shortened run-up from against the fence, let rip with a thumping drop punt which swung heavily from left to right, following it with an emphatic celebration to match.
FIVE-FIGURE PENDLES
The Magpies faithful were counting every touch and rose to their feet when Scott Pendlebury became the first player in VFL/AFL history to reach 10,000 career disposals during the first term.
It was a classic “time and space” moment as the former captain feinted to his right and handballed left, but the possession didn’t amount to much while the Pies were inundated in defence.
Far more impressive was his 10,004th disposal – a laconic torpedo from the middle of the ground which swung perfectly into Brody Mihocek’s path and led to an important second-quarter goal.
SCOREBOARD
BOMBERS 6.1, 7.6, 9.11, 12.13 (85)
MAGPIES 2.6, 6.11, 9.12, 12.13 (85)
BOURKE’S BEST Bombers: Merrett, Langford, Stringer, Parish, Martin, McGrath. Magpies: Mihocek, N Daicos, Elliott, Moore, De Goey, Noble.
GOALS Bombers: Langford 4, Wright 2, Stringer, Jones, Parish, Draper, Davey, Martin. Magpies: Mihocek 3, Elliott 2, Hoskin-Elliott, N Daicos, Lipinski, Schultz, J Daicos, Harrison, McCreery.
UMPIRES Gianfagna, Hosking, Mollison, Stephens
INJURIES Bombers: Jones (nose). Magpies: nil.
CROWD 93,644 at the MCG
BOURKE’S VOTES
3. Zach Merrett (Ess)
2. Kyle Langford (Ess)
1. Brody Mihocek (Coll)