In a poll available to 182,000 Collingwood fans, 59.36 per cent voted that the 1995 draw that created the 17-year tradition be added to our timeline.
Click to view the results.
The draw, that saw both sides locked on 111 when the final siren blew, came in ahead of the 2008 victory (21.47 per cent) in which Paul Medhurst booted six. In third place was the win in the wet in 2002 (19.14 per cent) that saw 17-year-old Mark McGough claim the ANZAC Day Medal.
Lee 'tangles' Walker gets caught up in the ruck with Essendon's Peter Somerville on ANZAC Day, 1995.
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The match is the fourth moment to be included in our new Facebook timeline, following the 2010 premiership, Mick Malthouse’s first win as coach and the Semi Final win against West Coast in extra time in 2007.
“Aaron James is on the ground. Brings it in towards the pocket…RRROOOCCCCAAAA!! WOAAAAHHH! Saverio Rocca, a BRILLIANT mark! I think it’s the big full forward’s day. A tremendous game he’s played” - Channel Seven commentator Peter McKenna.
Round Four 1995 - The ANZAC Day Draw
Collingwood 6.1, 7.3, 14.7, 17.9 (111)
Essendon 6.4, 9.7, 11.11, 16.15 (111)
Goals - Collingwood: Rocca 9, B.James 3, Brereton, Buckley, Williams, Walker, McGuane
Essendon: Cockatoo-Collins 3, Mercuri 2, Symons 2, Somerville 2, Fletcher 2, Hird, O’Donnell, Misiti, Young, Olarenshaw
Best - Collingwood: Rocca, Buckley, McGuane, Monkhorst, Watson, Wright, Brereton
Essendon: Misiti, Symons, O’Donnell, Harvey, Cockatoo-Collins, Olarenshaw, Denham
Crowd: 94,825 at the MCG.
It was the game that kick-started the tradition. A crowd of 94,825 crammed into the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the public holiday afternoon match between two of the game’s most famous clubs.
The crowd was so large (particularly by home and away standards) that up to 20,000 fans were turned away at the gates. Even Collingwood’s new recruit Dermott Brereton, a veteran of 26 finals with Hawthorn, likened the experience of running onto the ground to “being hit by a wall of sound”.
“We believe it’s a lockout. People still outside the ground with the game about to start between Collingwood and Essendon. So the crowd inside is something like 90,000 in this game which completes round four of the season.” Drew Morphett, Channel Seven commentator.
Fortunately, the game lived up to the hype. Thirty-three goals were scored between the two sides from a total of 57 scoring shots. And still they couldn’t find a winner when the siren sounded.
Wingman Graham Wright was one of the best afield, gathering 21 disposals.
Collingwood entered the match in dire straits having not won any of its first three games, languishing in 14th place on the ladder. The Bombers, though, were sitting happily in third place after three wins to open the season.
But that old adage that punters are told every year that says “it doesn’t matter where these two sides are on the ladder” rang true. The Pies and Dons went goal-for-goal for much of the day, although Collingwood opened up a 14-point buffer at the last break, reversing their 16-point half time deficit.
Magpie-turned-Bomber Mark Fraser played his first game against his old club in the ANZAC Day draw; Leigh Matthews stands the boundary line during the match in his one and only ANZAC Day as coach; Brett James, pictured against West Coast in round two, 1995, was one of Collingwood's best with three goals from a forward pocket.
The final quarter was frenetic as Kevin Sheedy’s Bombers surged home. They led courtesy of a late snap to James Hird but Sav Rocca’s ninth goal levelled the scores with a minute remaining on the clock.
“All players on the field bar four are in one half of the ground. Christian…long kick. Brereton’s there AND ROCCA! SAVERIO ROCCA! Can level the scores! He’ll be going for goal number nine!” - Drew Morphett, Channel Seven commentator.
In the final seconds, Essendon’s Michael Long was dispossessed, spilling the ball into the arms of Nathan Buckley.
“Floats one into Denham - he missed him! A chance for Buckley. There is time! Fifteen seconds left! Nathan Buckley goes short. Rocca’s there. Front of the pack - all Essendon - I reckon it’s gonna be a draw" - Drew Morphett, Channel Seven commentator.
The young champion ran to the point of the square and opted to kick to the red hot Rocca who was spoiled by an army of Essendon backmen. Bomber veteran David Grenvold ran the ball out of defence and kicked long to the wing as the siren sounded, the two sides locked at 111 apiece.
“Grenvold…time is out! Four seconds left, the kick by Grenvold…there’s the siren! Unbelieveable! The season’s first draw!” - Channel Seven commentator David Grenvold.
Sav Rocca was nothing short of outstanding for the Magpies. He kicked 9.2 in a virtuoso performance at full forward. It was a season to savour for big Sav who bagged a career-high 93 goals for the season. He received great support from Brereton in attack while underrated small man Brett James bobbed up with a handy three goals. Buckley was outstanding with 30 possessions and three Brownlow votes, while players such as Mick McGuane, Graham Wright and Gavin Brown were major contributors.
For Essendon, Smokin’ Joe Misiti had a day out with 29 disposals and fellow 1993 premiership players Ricky Olarenshaw and Gary O’Donnell as well as the inventive Michael Symons who snagged two.
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It took Collingwood another three weeks to record its first win and despite a late resurgence was unable to reach the final eight. Essendon, on the other hand, finished fourth but bombed out against the Tigers in the Semi Final.
But the match of the season was undoubtedly the ANZAC Day draw in which Collingwood and Essendon formed a lasting tradition that pays homage to the men and women who have served our country.
