Collingwood has climbed into the top eight for the first time since 2015, thrashing an injury-hit Essendon by 49 points on ANZAC Day before a crowd of 91,440 at the MCG.

The Magpies opened 2018 with two losses, but their dominant 14.7 (101) to 7.10 (52) victory over the Bombers was their third in a row and vaulted them into fifth on the ladder after five rounds.

Collingwood led by just seven points after a high-intensity first term and could only extend its lead to 17 points at the main break despite dominating the second quarter.

However, Nathan Buckley's men put the Bombers to the sword in the second half, holding them to just three goals – and none in the third term – as they piled on eight goals of their own.

Essendon's cause was not helped by the fact it lost Josh Begley (knee) and Josh Green (hamstring) to injuries in the first half, with both players sitting out the entire second half.

The Magpies were brilliantly led by captain Scott Pendlebury (27 possessions) and vice-captain Steele Sidebottom (25 possessions and three goals), who were the most influential players on the ground when the contest was alive, carving ways through the Bombers' defences with their uncommon ability to find time and space amid chaos.

Adam Treloar (34 possessions and two goals) provided Collingwood with damaging run through the middle, especially in the second half, and was a deserving winner of the ANZAC Medal.

Jaidyn Stephenson (two goals), Jordan De Goey (one) and Will Hoskin-Elliott (two) were livewires in attack, while Lynden Dunn enjoyed a decisive win over Dons spearhead Joe Daniher, and Jeremy Howe short-circuited Bomber attacks time and time again with his intercept marking.


But the performance of Mason Cox might have brought the biggest smile to Buckley's face. The 211cm American gave the Pies a strong aerial target in attack, finishing the game with two goals and eight marks – five of them inside 50 and three contested – and providing strong evidence that he can make it as a key forward.

The Bombers' loss saw them slide to 13th on the ladder, while they have yet to win consecutive games this year.

It was a dismal day for the club, but key defender Michael Hurley (29 possessions and 10 marks) battled valiantly to keep the Pies at bay, and David Zaharakis (34 possessions), Zach Merrett (33) and Darcy Parish (28) never stopped working in the midfield.


Brendon Goddard (33 possessions) was a prolific ball-winner but his animated on-field discussions with clearly frustrated teammates including Zaharakis and Daniher were a bigger talking point.

Both teams face the tough ask of preparing for their round six games off four-day breaks, but will each play opponents who've had just one day longer to prepare.

The Magpies will play Richmond at the MCG on Sunday, having lost four of their past five games against the Tigers. Earlier that day, the Bombers will host Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, where the Demons beat them by 38 points in round six last year.



Travis Varcoe, Will Hoskin-Elliott and Ben Crocker celebrate a final quarter goal.

Collingwood                 4.4    6.9    8.14     14.17 (101)
Essendon                     3.3    4.4     4.9          7.10 (52)

Goals – Collingwood: Sidebottom 3, Treloar 2, Hoskin-Elliott 2, Stephenson 2, Cox 2, De Goey, Reid, Phillips
Essendon: Stringer 2, Daniher, Stewart, Heppell, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Hooker

Best – Collingwood: Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Treloar, Grundy, Dunn, Howe
Essendon: Hurley, Heppell, Z.Merrett, Zaharakis

Injuries – Collingwood: TBC
Essendon: Begley (knee), Green (hamstring)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Deboy, Hosking, Chamberlain

Official crowd: 91,440 at the MCG