Live: Magpies put Bombers under early pressure in Anzac Day blockbuster

Disposals: Collingwood 112-95

Inside 50s: Collingwood 18-8

Hit outs: Essendon 9-8

Clearances: Collingwood 13-7

Centre clearances: Collingwood 3-2

Contested Possessions: 35-35

UNcontested Possessions: Collingwood 73-57

Marks Inside 50: Collingwood 5-1

Tackles: Collingwood 16-11

The siren goes, and the Bombers will be relieved to be only 15 points down after a quarter.

They were second best in all respects, with the Magpies dominating – and someone REALLY needs to get hold of Nick Daicos. Like soon.

Not sure where they can improve, but Essendon has to lift.

Another quarter like that and this could be out of sight.

The Magpies are still controlling the ball and they go inside 50 again – Bobby Hill takes a mark left of the goals, but it’s overturned for a fairly obvious push by the Pies forward.

The Magpies are certainly putting plenty of pressure on the Bombers – they were in again there after a tackle forced a turnover in the middle.

They fed the ball forward for a mark for Jamie Elliott.

That’s the fourth mark inside 50 to just one for Essendon.

But he misses!

A rare forward entry sees the ball kicked long to the square – Nate Caddy tries to kick the goal but it’s smothered by Brayden Maynard.

It goes through for a behind.

The Magpies are proving hard to stop for the Bombers right now.

So far they have 10 inside 50s for five scores. This could be a distance already.

Essendon have one goal straight so far – they need to try and somehow lock the ball inside their forward half.

Just how they do that remains to be seen.

Nick Daicos may have kicked the opening goal – but it’s his brother Josh who is starring for the Magpies.

We’re not even halfway through the opening quarter, and the Pies’ number seven has 10 disposals already!

The boost for the Bombers didn’t last long – the Magpies swept downfield and Harry Perryman kicked another from distance.

It’s three goals to one, and Essendon need to find a way to stop the Magpies’ go forward – and quickly. 

The Bombers have struggled in attack so far, but they manage an inside 50, forcing a stoppage deep in the pocket.

It comes around and there is a lovely centering ball from Kyle Langford, who finds Peter Wright in front!

Two-metre Peter marks and kicks the goal, to follow on from his six last week against the Eagles! Good news for Essendon.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Essendon are finding it hard to get the ball forward, and the Pies are in again with a turnover. They go down the left forward pocket, and Tim Membrey has a set shot.

He nails it!

The Magpies have the first two goals.

It’s a tight opening exchange at the MCG – Collingwood thought they had a free kick to Scott Pendlebury when they forced the ball inside 50, but it was play on.

However the Pies just got the ball back and Nick Daicos flushes it from outside 50! Pies by 6.

• R8, 2024: Draw (MCG)

• R6, 2023: Collingwood by 13 (MCG)

• R6, 2022: Collingwood by 11 (MCG)

• R6, 2021: Essendon by 24 (MCG)

• R6, 2019: Collingwood by 4 (MCG)

• R5, 2018: Collingwood by 49 (MCG)

If we follow recent history, we could be in for a close one on Anzac Day. Four of the last six — indeed four of the last five — have been decided by 13 points or less. Overall, the Pies have won four of the last six encounters, but could we have another draw like this time last year on the MCG?

Here we go!

What a ceremony, what a prelude!

Who will live up to the intensity of this day?

We have a flypast by the Roulettes aerobatics team.

A stirring rendition of the New Zealand National Anthem by Private Hettie Adams of the New Zealand Army Band.

Warm applause greets the anthem, and now it’s time for Advance Australia Fair, sung by Able Seaman Laura Kennedy from the Royal Australian Navy Band.

And then the roar of the crowd sends a tingle up the spine!

The president of the Victorian RSL, Robert Webster, delivers the famous Ode taken from the poem For the Fallen, by English poet Laurence Binyon.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.

And now the trumpet echoes out over the MCG with the Last Post. And then stillness and silence, broken by the playing of the Rouse.

We are 15 minutes from the bounce, and we are ready for the Anzac Day remembrance observance ceremony.

A catafalque party marches onto the ground, paced by a drummer. They are the only things moving in the MCG, as rain gently falls.

Uncle Colin Hunter Jr gives the Welcome to Country.