Collingwood have mauled Essendon by 49 points for their 14th AFL Anzac Day win.
Midfielders Adam Treloar, Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom were outstanding on Wednesday for the Magpies in their 14.17 (101) to 7.10 (52) win in front of 91,440 fans at the MCG.
Treloar won his first Anzac Medal for best afield with 34 possessions and two goals.
The Magpies are on a three-game winning streak, while there are fresh question marks over Essendon after wilting under relentless Magpies pressure.
Bombers defender Brendon Goddard, notorious for his hot temper, was seen arguing with teammates in the third term as Essendon’s game fell apart.
Collingwood look ahead to a massive Sunday game against reigning premiers Richmond at the MCG.
Essendon are at Etihad Stadium, also on Sunday, against Melbourne in a must-win game for those two teams.
The Demons lost the Anzac Eve match to the Tigers.
Collingwood have a 14-9 advantage over Essendon in the Anzac Day blockbusters, first held in 1995.
The Magpies and Bombers traded goals through the first quarter, before two brilliant moments from Sidebottom put Collingwood ahead at the first break.
He soccered through a goal and, with seconds left in the quarter, he won a contest in the pocket and snapped another.
It looked as though the ball might have been out of bounds before Sidebottom’s second goal, but he capitalised brilliantly on the moment.
Essendon’s troubles deepened when they lost Josh Green (knee) and Josh Bagley (hamstring strain) before halftime, putting them at a major disadvantage for rotations.
With Pendlebury and Sidebottom prominent, Treloar rapidly gaining momentum and the Collingwood defence in control, the Magpies extended their lead to 17 points at the main break.
Goalkicking inaccuracy was about the only thing the Magpies were doing wrong and they strangled Essendon in the third term.
Jake Stringer had a bad miss in front of goal at the start of the second half – had he kicked truly, the margin would have been only 11 points after Dyson Heppell booted the last goal of the second quarter.
It was that sort of day for the Bombers – Joe Daniher dragged Jack Crisp to the ground with a tackle early in the third quarter, but somehow was not paid a holding-the-ball free kick.
The Bombers had enough ball in the third quarter, but were flat-footed and their ball movement was static.
Essendon only managed four behinds in the third term and the game was over at the last change, with Collingwood in charge by 30 points.
They extended their lead to 61 points in the last quarter, before two late consolation goals for the disappointing Dons.
