VelvetSledge
Brownlow Medallist
- May 24, 2007
- 18,298
- 38,398
- AFL Club
- Essendon
- Other Teams
- Liverpool FC, Melbourne Storm
COLLINGWOOD
The Pies defeated a previously rampaging Brisbane by 52 points at the Gabba last week, ending the Lions' 10-match unbeaten streak.
Nick Daicos starred with 38 disposals, eight clearances, and a goal, dominating despite a third-quarter tag.
Bobby Hill shone with multiple goals and a crucial chase-down tackle on Dayne Zorko, sparking a key moment that inspired a Collingwood pile-on.
Jamie Elliott celebrated his 200th game, kicking two goals, and will certainly kick a miraculous ass-up goal today too.
Dan McStay, against his former club, kicked three goals, with two from strong contested marks in the first quarter.
Collingwood's clearance dominance (36-26) and efficiency inside 50 stifled Brisbane’s ball movement.
The Magpies led by 10 points at quarter-time, 19 at half-time, and 42 late in the third, sealing the game well before the final siren.
Brisbane struggled with 37 inside 50s and poor goal conversion, unable to mount their usual comeback.
Darcy Moore left the field late after a knee to the head from teammate Jeremy Howe, and will miss the annual ANZAC game with vertigo.
The win marked Collingwood’s fifth straight victory, positioning them as genuine 2025 premiership contenders. Pricks.
Round 6
BRISBANE 7.11 53
def. by
COLLINGWOOD 16.9 105
BEST: N. Daicos, J. Daicos, McStay, Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Elliott
GOALS: McStay 3, Mihocek, Hill, Elliott, De Goey 2, McCreery, Long, Hoskin-Elliott, N. Daicos, J. Daicos
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ESSENDON
Essendon just edged out West Coast by 2 points at Optus Stadium, winning 11.11 (77) to 11.9 (75).
2-Metre Peter Wright was the hero, kicking 6 goals, including crucial majors in the final term to secure the victory.
The Bombers trailed by 25 points in the third quarter but mounted a fierce comeback to claim their third straight win.
Nic Martin led from the front with 26 disposals and a crucial goal, driving through the midfield and half-forward line.
West Coast’s Jake Waterman kicked 4 goals in the first term, keeping the Eagles in the contest with his strong marking and finishing, but was well held after quarter time.
Essendon’s clearance edge (37-22) and contested possession work rate fuelled their second-half surge.
The Eagles led 45-27 at half-time, but Essendon’s pressure after the break forced turnovers and shifted momentum.
Sam Draper’s season-ending Achilles injury in the final term left Essendon without a recognized ruck, making the win even more resilient.
The victory strengthened Essendon’s early season push, placing them just outside the top eight with momentum building.
If you had told me we'd win 3 in a row early in the season I'd be shocked. Not a good game, but we'll take it.
Round 6
WEST COAST 11.9 75
def. by
ESSENDON 11.11 77
BEST: Wright, Draper, Martin, Merrett, McGrath, Setterfield
GOALS: Wright 6, Perkins 2, Shiel, Draper, Martin
COLLINGWOOD OUTS: Darcy Moore (Vertigo), Mason Cox (Shit), Ed Allan
COLLINGWOOD INS: Dan Houston, Tim Membrey, Lachlan Sullivan
ESSENDON OUTS: Sam Draper (Achilles), Saad El-Hawli (Omit)
ESSENDON INS: Todd Goldstein, Kyle Langford
ROUND 17, 2024
MCG
5/7/2024
COLLINGWOOD 12.8 80
def. by
ESSENDON 13.14 92
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COLLINGWOOD GOALS: Crisp 3, Howe, Kreuger, Harrison 2, Pendlebury, Mihocek, Schulz
ESSENDON GOALS: Wright, Langford 2, Stringer, Merrett, Gresham, Draper, Guelfi, Caldwell, Duursma, Jones, Caddy
COLLINGWOOD BEST: Pendlebury, N. Daicos, Sidebottom, Crisp, Hoskin-Elliott
ESSENDON BEST: Caldwell, Merrett, Ridley, Shiel, Durham, Martin
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CHANGES SINCE LAST TIME:
COLLINGWOOD OUTS: Moore, Markov, Harrison, Schultz, Dean, Kreuger, Richards
COLLINGWOOD INS: Houston, Membrey, Sullivan, McStay, Elliott, Perryman, McCreery
ESSENDON OUTS: Draper, Caldwell, Kelly, Stringer, Guelfi, Laverde, Cox, Hind
ESSENDON INS: Kako, Reid, Prior, Roberts, Goldstein, Hobbs, Setterfield, Menzie
Not exactly a footy feature this week, but apt given the day. A brief synopsis of the struggles of those on Gallipoli and how their sacrifice has led to the life we all live today.
On April 25, 1915, Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) troops landed on the rugged beaches of Gallipoli, a peninsula in modern-day Turkey, as part of a broader Allied campaign during World War I. This event, known as the Gallipoli Campaign, was a military failure but became a cornerstone of national identity for Australia. The landing and the subsequent eight-month campaign left an indelible mark on the Australian psyche, shaping its sense of nationhood, resilience, and mateship. Today, the legacy of Gallipoli is deeply embedded in Australia’s cultural and historical fabric, commemorated annually on ANZAC Day, a day that transcends its military origins to embody national pride, remembrance, and reflection.
The Gallipoli Campaign was conceived by the Allies, primarily Britain and France, to weaken the Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany, and secure a supply route to Russia via the Dardanelles Strait. The plan involved a naval assault followed by an amphibious landing to capture the peninsula and ultimately Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). Australian and New Zealand troops, eager to prove their loyalty to the British Empire and their worth as a newly federated nation (Australia had become a nation in 1901), were among the forces tasked with the landing.
On the morning of April 25, 1915, ANZAC troops disembarked from transport ships and rowed toward the beaches under cover of darkness. However, navigational errors led them to land at a steep, rocky cove—later named ANZAC Cove—rather than the intended flatter terrain. The troops faced immediate resistance from Ottoman defenders, who held the high ground. The rugged cliffs and narrow beaches became a brutal battleground, with the ANZACs enduring heavy machine-gun fire and artillery bombardment. Despite their courage and determination, the troops could not advance far beyond the beachhead.
The campaign dragged on for eight months, marked by trench warfare, extreme weather, disease, and staggering losses. By December 1915, the Allies decided to evacuate, having failed to achieve their objectives. Of the approximately 44,000 Allied troops killed, over 8,700 were Australians, with another 19,000 wounded. The Ottoman forces suffered even greater losses, with estimates of over 86,000 dead. The campaign was a strategic defeat, but for Australia, it was a moment of profound transformation.
In 1915, Australia was a young nation, only 14 years old, still closely tied to Britain and seeking to define its place in the world. The Gallipoli Campaign was the first major military engagement for the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), and it thrust the nation into the global spotlight. The bravery and endurance of the ANZACs, despite the campaign’s failure, were widely reported in Australia and abroad, fostering a sense of pride and unity.
The losses at Gallipoli, however, were devastating. With a population of just under 5 million, Australia’s contribution of over 400,000 volunteers to the war effort (and the loss of over 60,000 lives by the war’s end) meant that few families were untouched by grief. The Gallipoli campaign, as the first major test of Australian troops, became a symbol of sacrifice. Stories of heroism, such as the actions of Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick, who used a donkey to evacuate wounded soldiers under fire, became legendary and reinforced the image of the ANZAC soldier as selfless and courageous.
The campaign also highlighted the concept of “mateship,” a uniquely Australian value emphasizing camaraderie, loyalty, and mutual support. In the trenches of Gallipoli, soldiers relied on one another to survive, forging bonds that became a defining characteristic of the ANZAC spirit. This ethos resonated deeply with Australians at home, shaping national identity in a way that transcended class, region, or background.
Politically, Gallipoli raised questions about Australia’s relationship with Britain. While Australian troops fought under British command, the high casualties and strategic blunders (such as the poorly planned landing) led some to question the competence of British leadership. This planted seeds of a more independent national consciousness, which would grow in the decades following the war.
The Gallipoli Campaign became a foundational myth for Australia, a narrative that helped define what it meant to be Australian. The “ANZAC legend” emerged, portraying Australian soldiers as larrikins—cheeky, irreverent, yet fiercely loyal and brave. This image contrasted with the more rigid, class-bound stereotypes of British soldiers and gave Australians a sense of distinctiveness within the British Empire.
The campaign also marked a shift in Australia’s self-perception. Before Gallipoli, Australia was often seen (and saw itself) as a remote, colonial outpost. The courage displayed by the ANZACs, coupled with their sacrifice, earned international respect and fostered a growing sense of national pride. Gallipoli became a symbol of Australia’s coming of age, a moment when the nation proved itself on the world stage.
The ANZAC legend was not without its complexities. While it celebrated heroism, it also glorified war, sometimes overshadowing the horrors and futility of the Gallipoli Campaign. In recent decades, historians and scholars have debated the extent to which the legend was constructed by government propaganda or media narratives to boost morale and recruitment during the war. Nonetheless, its emotional resonance with Australians has endured.
The legacy of Gallipoli is most vividly expressed through ANZAC Day, observed annually on April 25. First commemorated in 1916, ANZAC Day initially served as a day of mourning and remembrance for those lost at Gallipoli and other battlefields of World War I. Over time, it evolved into a broader tribute to all Australians who have served in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping missions.
Today, ANZAC Day is one of Australia’s most significant national holidays, marked by dawn services, marches, and ceremonies across the country and at Gallipoli itself. The dawn service, held at first light to commemorate the timing of the 1915 landing, is a solemn ritual that draws thousands, from veterans to young families. The Last Post, a bugle call played at military funerals, evokes a powerful sense of loss and gratitude.
For contemporary Australians, ANZAC Day is more than a historical commemoration; it is a moment to reflect on national values. The “ANZAC spirit”—encompassing courage, sacrifice, and mateship—remains a touchstone for Australian identity. It is invoked in times of crisis, such as natural disasters, when communities come together to support one another. The inclusivity of ANZAC Day has also grown, with greater recognition of Indigenous soldiers, women in the armed forces, and multicultural contributions to Australia’s military history.
The ANZAC landing at Gallipoli was a military defeat, but its impact on Australia was transformative. It forged a sense of national identity rooted in courage, sacrifice, and mateship, giving Australians a narrative to rally around as a young nation. The campaign’s legacy, enshrined in the ANZAC legend and commemorated through ANZAC Day, continues to shape Australia’s cultural and historical consciousness. While the meaning of Gallipoli has evolved, its significance as a symbol of resilience and unity endures. For Australians today, the landing at ANZAC Cove is not just a historical event but a reminder of the values that define their nation—and a call to honour those who have served, while striving for a future of peace and understanding.
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.
Lest we Forget.
ANZAC Day is an enigma of an event. Form, ladder position, injuries; they often become irrelevant on days like today. If it rains, I'm lead to believe that will help us, as we are a better ground ball team than the Pies, but they cover us in almost every other aspect. I can't see a way in which we get a result today. Whilst Darcy Cameron is in no way a top tier ruck, we're having to rely on a 36-year old Todd Goldstein now, and we will have to for the rest of the season. They have the two Daicos boys in unreal form, and Sidebottom and Pendlebury still playing great footy. They're a danger side, and are absolutely worthy of a potential flag-favourite tag. Regardless, footy is the sideshow today.
This is a proud day for our country, honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us to live the lives we do today. Ultimately, football is a distant second to that and the respect we have to show to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us and our freedoms.
Collingwood by 18.
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