Essendon has hammered Collingwood by 46 points in the traditional Anzac Day clash at the MCG in front of over 93,000 fans.
The Bombers had only won one of their previous seven Anzac Day matches against their biggest foe, but put in a consistant performance to win their fifth match of the season and stay undefeated in 2013.
Bomber midfielder David Zaharakis took out the Anzac Day Medal kicking four goals and racking up over 30 touches.
Hird’s men jumped out of the blocks booting the first two goals of the game, but the high intensity first quarter only saw three goals with Blair kicking the Pies only for the quarter.
Essendon took control in the second term as they kicked four of the first five goals of the term to give them a handy lead. It would be the 22 minute mark before the Pies goaled through Blair and a late long bomb from Quinten Lynch cut the margin to just four points at the main break.
The third quarter was a similar story as the Dons slammed on four goals in the first 12 minutes of the term before Collingwood hit back with three of their own. This time, however, the Bombers stood up and didn’t let the Pies back in, kicking two goals before three quarter time to open up a four goal buffer with a quarter to play.
When the Pies kicked the first two goals of the final term it was game on, but it was all the Pies had with the Bombers piling on six of the last seven goals of the match.
ESSENDON 2.3 6.4 12.8 18.13 (121)
COLLINGWOOD 1.5 4.12 7.14 10.15 (75)
GOALS
Essendon: Zaharakis 4, Winderlich 3, Gumbleton 2, Merrett 2, Watson 2, Davey 2, Bellchambers 2, Crameri
Collingwood: Blair 2, Pendlebury 2, Goldsack 2, Cloke 2, Sidebottom, Elliott
BEST
Essendon: Zaharakis, Watson, Winderlich, Stanton, Goddard, Carlisle, Hibberd
Collingwood: Swan, Pendlebury, Reid, Sidebottom, Shaw
INJURIES
Essendon: TBC
Collingwood: Alan Toovey (left knee)
