Collingwood V Essendon: MCG Saturday 2.40pm
A recap of this historical blockbuster:
The historic Anzac Day blockbuster between Collingwood and Essendon can be regarded as the biggest game of the home-and-away season.
On 13 of 17 occasions this contest has attracted a crowd of over 80,000 to the MCG.
In the inaugural 1995 clash, 94,825 spectators turned out in what is still the second biggest home and away crowd on record.
Today, when over 90,000 people are silenced as the last-post rings out against the MCG walls, hairs will stand on end.
While the parallels between footballers and war heroes are too often falsely attributed, this fixture has provided moments of courage and individual brilliance.
Memories go back to Saverio Rocca’s nine-goal haul for the Magpies in the 1995 drawn encounter. More recent feats turn to Paddy Ryder’s solo effort in the ruck for the Bombers in 2009.
Ryder gathered 16 disposals, 27 hit-outs and 13 tackles that day to collect the Anzac medal and inspire the Bombers to a five-point win.
In that very game, with the margin reduced to a single point with seconds remaining, Bombers’ midfielder, David Zaharakis, playing in just his fourth game, goaled from 45m out to send Essendon supporters into ecstasy.
However, no player has owned the Anzac Day stage more than Essendon champion and current coach James Hird. He was awarded the Anzac Day medal on three occasions (2000, 2003, 2004).
The fixture’s modern day equivalent is Collingwood’s vice-captain Scott Pendlebury, winner of the last two Anzac Day medals. The Magpie midfielder has averaged 31 disposals in his last three games on this day.
The present day:
Today’s clash has shaped up in a way few would have thought at the start of the year.
Essendon remains undefeated after four rounds, while Collingwood has scrapped to a miserly 2-2 record, displaying only glimpses of the side it was in previous seasons.
Several key Magpies recaptured some form in last week’s win over Port Adelaide.
Pendlebury gathered 29 disposals (17 contested), Dane Swan had 36 and half-back dasher Harry O’Brien received a much needed confidence boost gathering 29 possessions.
Essendon is clearly a team that is coached well to its strengths. They have begun the 2012 season with a fast break style of play that has caught every opponent off guard so far.
The Bombers’ ability to break forward at pace after winning a stoppage has become a cornerstone of their game. The direct result of this rapid ball movement is a high efficiency going forward.
In last week’s win over Carlton, Essendon generated a shot on goal from 63 per cent of inside 50s and in the second quarter the Bombers went inside 50 on 11 occasions for 10 scoring shots.
Teams:
Both teams have their injury concerns, compounded by the short four-day turnaround.
The Bombers will be without spearhead Michael Hurley, with the club choosing to take the cautious approach with their 21-year old star after his hamstring tightened up in last week’s win over Carlton.
While Hurley is currently Essendon’s only change to last week’s side, the three-day turnaround may yet result in one or two emergencies being called upon should players fail to beat the recovery clock.
Collingwood welcomes back full-back Nathan Brown for his first game since the club’s 2010 grand final triumph. He has been named alongside 19-year old Kirk Ugle, who is set to become the tenth player to debut in an Anzac Day game.
The Anzac Day ledger currently sits at 9-7 in favour of the Magpies.
With the stage set on a cold and rainy Melbourne afternoon, the football world will be watching to see who will be the hero of Anzac Day 2012.
Prediction: Both sides have injuries but those in the Magpie camp appear more important.. Bombers by 7 points.
William Botoulas is a third-year Bachelor of Journalism student andupstart’s footy writer. You can follow him on Twitter @botoulas43.
