Rampant Pies take Anzac honours
Updated
Collingwood wreaked havoc at the MCG to record its third successive Anzac Day triumph with an emphatic 11-goal victory over traditional rivals Essendon on Friday afternoon.
Essendon was clearly overawed in the second most prestigious match of the AFL season, Mick Malthouse's Collingwood side far better equipped at handling the big occasion to record a resounding 23.16 (154) to 12.9 (81) victory.
The Magpies were rocked by the withdrawal of key big man Anthony Rocca prior to kick-off, leaving their frontline relatively threadbare with Travis Cloke promoted to full-forward.
Cloke stood up strong to kick 5.4, but it was Paul Medhurst's persistent drives in to the forward 50 that garnered an incredible six majors and the Anzac Day Medal.
The significance of Collingwood's 14th annual Anzac Day clash with Essendon was not lost on Medhurst, who paid tribute to Australia's war veterans.
"I'd like to say what a special privilege it is to play in this game for one, and to wear this medal is something I'm going to treasure for the rest of my life," he said.
"On behalf of everyone who played today, I'd like to say how privileged we are to be able to come out and demonstrate the values that the Anzacs hold so dear to them.
"Teamwork, honesty and sacrifice - hopefully that shone through in the way we played today, so thanks a lot."
The elusive Medhurst found support in Tarkyn Lockyer (3.1), with the impressive trio of Shane O'Bree, Alan Didak and Scott Pendlebury supplying the forward line with quality ball.
Collingwood's relentless attacking display provided the historical occasion with its highest ever individual team score.
The Magpies broke free from a tightly-bound first quarter to lead comfortably at the long change by five goals, and continued to compound the Bombers' woes after half-time.
Collingwood led by only a minor score at quarter-time after going goal for goal with Essendon in the opening term.
But the emergence of Medhurst in the second quarter inspired a six goals to one term, with Angus Monfries missing an opportunity to restore a semblance of respectability to the Bombers' score in the shadows of the long change.
The rampant Magpies restricted their opponents to just six more goals in the latter quarters whilst piling on another 12 themselves, saving their best for last in an 8.4 final term.
Collingwood: 23.16 (154) - P Medhurst 6, T Cloke 5, T Lockyer 3, L Davis 3, B Johnson, D Thomas, T Goldsack, D Swan, C Wood, A Didak.
Essendon:12.9 (81) - M Lloyd 3, J Laycock, J Nash, D Fletcher, K Reimers, A Welsh, B Stanton, R Dyson, M Michael, C Johns.
Topics: australian-football-league, sport, melbourne-3000, australia, vic, collingwood-3066, essendon-3040
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