Collingwood has recovered from 28 points down at three-quarter time to win an epic Anzac Day encounter over traditional rivals Essendon in front of a record crowd of 95,179 at the MCG.

After kicking only six goals across the first three quarters – and after conceding six goals to one in a third-quarter blitz from the Bombers – the Magpies booted the final seven goals of the game to be the side that jumped to 5-1 with the 13.12 (90) to 11.11 (77) win.

The Magpies looked done at the final change. With a makeshift ruck division and key options missing at either ground, Essendon had the momentum and looked home.

With Sam Draper and Andrew Phillips dominating across the past fortnight, it was always going to be a massive ask for ruckman-turned-forward-turned-defender Billy Frampton to limit the influence of the emerging star and the journeyman, but he did.

Despite losing the hit-out count comfortably to the Bombers, Collingwood’s midfield won the midfield battle, amassing 19 more inside 50s and 21 more contested possessions.

Essendon will look ahead to this weekend, where they face Geelong in their annual Country Game.

Weideman stands tall
The former top-ten pick has endured an interrupted start to his new life in red and black, but on Anzac Day, against the side where his famous grandfather, Murray Weideman, was a member of the team of the century and a two-time premiership player, Sam Weideman showed the first signs that his decision to change clubs might work. Weideman slotted 2.2 from 18 disposals and eight marks, including three contested – the most on the ground.

Record crowd for blockbuster fixture
With two sides humming at 4-1 and sublime April weather – 25 and sunny – there was no excuse not to turn up on Tuesday. And turn up they did. The record crowd was set in the first encounter back in 1995 when 94,825 crammed into the MCG. Since then, the crowd has eclipsed 90,000 seven times. 84,205 turned up last year when Jack Ginnivan claimed the Anzac Day Medal. But on Tuesday, a new record was set with 95,179 people flocking to the MCG.

COLLINGWOOD     1.4     5.7     6.10     13.12    (90)
ESSENDON             3.2     5.5     11.8     11.11     (77)

GOALS
Collingwood: De Goey 2, N. Daicos 2, Johnson 2, Ginnivan 2, McCreery 2, Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Frampton
Essendon: Langford 3, Weideman 2, Stringer, Martin, Draper, Perkins, Davey Jnr, Menzie

BEST
Collingwood:  N.Daicos, De Goey, Moore, Maynard, J.Daicos, Sidebottom, Frampton
Essendon: Redman, Langford, Martin, Parish, Draper, Weideman

INJURIES
Collingwood: Pendlebury (head)
Essendon: Laverde (shoulder)

SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Will Kelly (replaced Nathan Kreuger in the third quarter)
Essendon: Ben Hobbs (replaced Jayden Laverde in the third quarter)

Crowd: 95,179 at the MCG