1. Magpies' relentless tackling pressure
Paul Seedsman gained more than 800 metres, kicked a goal and was involved in eight scoring involvements to be a deserving winner of the ANZAC Day medal. But the day will be remembered for the Magpies' defensive pressure. They had 11 forward half tackles to Essendon's one in the first 20 minutes of the game and everyone wondered whether they could keep the intense pressure up for rest of the game. They did. In the end Essendon beat the Magpies for tackle numbers (81-73) but there was no comparison between the two teams with Collingwood making all the most important tackles and running hard to cover the outlets at every opportunity. The Magpies' defensive pressure restricted the Bombers to just 49 points, their lowest score since round 14, 2010.
VOTE: Your 3-2-1 in the Magpie Army Player of the Year Award.
2. Jack Crisp quells Jobe Watson
The biggest job on the day was handed to Collingwood recruit Jack Crisp. The 21-year-old ran with Essendon captain Jobe Watson and subdued him. He restricted Watson to just 23 disposals purely through work rate. He topped off the day with a brilliant goal from 50 metres when the game was at its hottest during the third quarter. Crisp has managed to step in for the absent Brent Macaffer as he recovers from a knee reconstruction and along with Travis Varcoe and Jordan De Goey is shaping as good compensation for Dayne Beams.
3. Elliott's first goal from outside the boundary
For the second time in consecutive weeks, Collingwood sharpshooter Jamie Elliott benefited from an umpiring error. This time it was the boundary umpire who didn't blow his whistle when Elliott ran out of bounds as he took a flying shot for goal. That Elliott managed to kick a brilliant goal – from the same pocket as Carlton's Wayne Harmes famously knocked the ball back in during the 1979 Grand Final – must have blinded the umpire as it was given the all clear. Elliott might have to add the umpires to his Christmas card list after last week getting paid a mark that he barely controlled.
4. The Fletcher Bomb
The 39-year-old veteran has been known for his long kicking throughout his 395 games so when he marked a Brendon Goddard pass inside the centre square 60 metres out the crowd immediately roared at him to have a shot. Fletcher waited and assessed his options before going with the crowd and unleashing a shot. The drop punt sailed through for the 71st goal of his career, his fourth on ANZAC Day and his first on the big day since 2008. When Fletcher turns 40 in 10 days he will be set to become the second player in the game's history to play at that age with only Melbourne and St Kilda's Vic Cumberland playing at a later age. He was 43 years and 48 days old.
5. Is Dane Swan back?
The Brownlow Medallist returned to form against St Kilda and franked it with another outstanding performance on ANZAC Day. Such is the level of respect with which he is still held, he attracted Essendon's run-with player Jake Melsham but from the moment Swan won the opening clearance Essendon was on the back foot worrying about Swan. The 30-year-old chased like he wanted to prove he could work both ways and moved forward to kick an important goal in the third quarter. He had 21 disposals and four inside 50s but it was his intent that showed he has plenty more to offer.
SONG: Watch the Magpies belt out Good Old Collingwood Forever.
