Collingwood have steered to a 41-point Anzac Day win over Essendon in front of a packed and very soggy MCG crowd of 92,044.
Early days, Essendon fumbled and was messy trying to travel over the ground, and even when sure hands were finally found, was then too slow and uncertain, allowing Collingwood's defence to comfortably fold back and structure up.
By contrast, Collingwood's forward handball game is one that thrives on confidence, momentum and connection, and the Pies had that in spades, Josh Daicos even celebrating Harry Perryman's eventual goal two handballs before the kick was executed.
It was only the Magpies' inaccuracy that kept the Bombers in touch at quarter-time, trailing by 15 after the Pies recorded 3.4 from their 18 inside 50s.
Things needed to go wrong before they went right for Essendon. Jeremy Howe needed to fumble the footy for Kyle Langford to finally kick the Bombers' second, before Isaac Kako needed to have his missed shot on goal land in Sam Durham's lap, 40m on a slight angle.
45 seconds later, Durham's wobbling ball on the run found the middle of the goals for Essendon's third in quick succession, before Archie Perkins secured the fourth in seven minutes.
Underpinning that was a rise in contested possession, turning the tide on Collingwood's pressure.
It was the stars of the future – Nate Caddy and Kako – that kicked the Bombers into the lead for the first time at the start of the third, with the previously injury-prone pair Zach Reid and Jordan Ridley intercepting at will behind the footy.
But the Pies stiffened their resolve, the veteran pairing of Sidebottom and former skipper Scott Pendlebury (31) steadying the ship and finding a path forward.
Bobby Hill had a shocker of a first half, barely sighted and giving away frees when the ball came his way. His first sighter in the third drifted away, before he nailed the tougher option, hemmed on the boundary.
It was a tough day for forwards in general, but Jamie Elliott (five goals) starred in the wet conditions, knowing he needed three goals on Friday to reach 300 and celebrating in style when he reached the milestone, signalling a three and two zeroes to the crowd.
The Bombers threatened in the last – Caddy having two quick shots at goal – but the Pies just had one gear too many, the margin well and truly blowing out in the last few minutes.
Dan McStay was subbed off in the third term with a knee complaint, appearing to slip in a marking contest, while Harry Jones suffered an ankle injury just before the final break.
COLLINGWOOD 3.4 6.5 11.9 16.11 (107)
ESSENDON 1.1 5.3 8.3 10.6 (66)
GOALS
Collingwood: Elliott 5, Membrey 2, Perryman, Mihocek, Maynard, Long, Hoskin-Elliott, Hill, De Goey, N.Daicos, Cameron
Essendon: Wright 2, Durham 2, Caddy 2, Perkins, Langford, Kako, Hobbs
BEST
Collingwood: Sidebottom, J.Daicos, N.Daicos, Elliott, Pendlebury, Long
Essendon: Merrett, Setterfield, Reid, Shiel, Roberts, Durham, Goldstein
INJURIES
Collingwood: McStay (knee)
Essendon: Jones (ankle)
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Lachie Sullivan (replaced Dan McStay in the third quarter)
Essendon: Jye Menzie (replaced Harry Jones at three-quarter time)
Crowd: 92,044 at the MCG
