AFL Anzac Day LIVE 2024: Essendon Bombers v Collingwood ...

Wow. The Bombers are away on Anzac Day. Everything they have touched has turned to gold. The foremost is the gamble to play all the big men. Sam Draper has been commanding in the ruck, Peter Wright on his return from suspension has kicked two goals and Harrison Jones has one, too, augmenting his link-up play.

It’s hard to know what to make of Collingwood because they’ve hardly had the ball.

Essendon had four goals before Collingwood had four disposals. The Bombers had five goals before Jordan deGoey had a touch. Perhaps that’s all there is to make of them: not very much.

The Pies produce their best passage of play, thanks to a gem of a kick from Bobby Hill.

Hill got goal side of Dyson Heppell, then with the outside of his boot kicked long to find a free Jamie Elliott in front of goal.

Moments later, Brody Mihocek misses from long range, but the Pies have at least avoided being blown out of th water.

At quarter time, it’s the Dons in front by 19 points - 6.1 (37) to 2.6 (18).

I like the look of Sam Durham. It’s the little things about him. He just went in to remonstrate with Brayden Maynard, who gave a sly bump in the back of an opponent. You can’t let that sort of nonsense go unpunished.

A ripple of applause goes around the MCG as Scott Pendlebury registers his 10,000th disposal, but there has not been much else to cheer about for the reigning premiers.

Peter Wright is flushing them. In his first game back from suspension, Wright is on fire. He’s just booted his second goal. Everything he’s doing is pure. His marking is one-grab, and his kicking is so sweet.

This is a magnificent start for the Bombers, whose fans must be having one of their best days at the footy for quite some time.

Bombers 6.0 (36) to Pies 1.3 (9).

Sam Durham, after an intercept mark on the wing, finds Peter Wright, who marks strongly on the lead. The many they call two-metre Peter makes no mistake from 25 metres out. Dons 5.0 (30) to Pies 1.3 (9).

The Pies blow what appeared a certain goal. Beau McCreery fumbled twice with an open goal beckoning, and from the clearing kick Josh Daicos was stiff not to get a free kick after being cannoned into front on.

After a frenetic opening, the pace of the game has settled.

The Pies are on the board. They cash in an unforced error from Nic Martin, whose kick was chopped off, leading to a goal to Brody Mihocek. Didn’t the Pies need that one. Dons by three goals. 24-6.

How’s this for a stat! When the Dons put their fourth goal on the board after eight minutes, the Pies had just four possessions.