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VELOCITY SPORTS NEWS

Dayne Beams: First Anzac Day at the MCG

Saturday, 25 April, 2009

Dayne Beams had his first taste of one of the great traditions of AFL football today the Collingwood-Essendon blockbuster at the MCG on Anzac Day.

A sellout crowd of 84,829 gathered for the annual showdown between the Magpies and the Bombers, to honor the bravery and spirit of those who have represented this nation in war.

It is the showpiece event of the AFL's annual Anzaz Round celebrations, and came complete with the pre-match cavalcade of war heroes, the last post and the astonishing quiet of the packed stadium during the minute's silence.

This year, for the first time, the two teams even entered the arena through a shared banner which carried the special Anzacs logo.

It is one of the very special moments in the game, generally rated second only to AFL finals for those who have been there before.

For Beams it was a wonderful experience even if the result wasn't what his team was looking for.

Essendon, 14 points down inside the last four points, kicked three goals with their last 10 kicks, including a fairytale winner from 19-year-old fourth-gamer David Zaharakis 10 seconds from full-time, to snatch a remarkable 13.15 (93) to 12.16 (88) win.

The Dons' effort was all the more meritorious given the loss of ruckman David Hille to what was later to diagnosed as a season-ending knee injury that would require a full reconstruction.

Patrick Ryder did a magnificent fill-in job in the ruck to collect 27 hit-outs, 16 possessions and 13 tackles to claim the Anzac Medal.

The Pies had their chances to put the match beyond the valiant Bombers late in the game, but three successive behinds were bettered by Leroy Jetta and Ricky Dyson setting up Zaharakis' heroic moment.

Brent Stanton was outstanding for Essendon with 34 possessions, while Dane Swan (37 touches) and Leon Davis (32) led the way for Collingwood while John Anthony booted four goals.

Beams had 17 possessions, four marks and four tackles, working his way into the game nicely in the second half.

Alan Didak (calf) was a late withdrawal from the Collingwood side, allowing Brent Macaffer to make his AFL debut and kick a goal with his first kick. Essendon included Dyson at the last minute for Mark McVeigh.

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse was furious after the game, suggesting his players had let down the Anzacs, and could not recall a more disappointing loss in 25 years of coaching.

It wasn't just the last five minutes, Malthouse said, but but with his players' failure to stick to team plans for the entire match.

"I didn't think we played anywhere near (well enough) to capture the spirit of the Anzacs, and I think that is what makes this one of the most disappointing games I have ever been associated with," Malthouse said.

"I can't think of a more disappointing result in a home-and-away game," Malthouse said. "Unfortunately, I reckon we let the Anzacs down. The whole game, not just (the final few minutes), the whole game, and Essendon showed true Anzac spirit, why we play here."

Match Details
Essendon              1.5   6.6   9.13   13.15 (93)
Collingwood         4.2   6.6   8.10   12.16 (88)

Goals:Essendon: Dyson 2, Lovett 2, Davey, Jetta, Lonergan, McPhee, Monfries, Ryder, Stanton, Winderlich, Zaharakis. Collingwood: Anthony 4, Davis 2, L. Brown, Cloke, Macaffer, Medhurst, Pendlebury, Rocca

Best: Essendon: Ryder, Stanton, McPhee, Watson, Fletcher, Dyson, Winderlich. Collingwood: Swan, Anthony, Prestigiacomo, Davis, Pendlebury, O'Bree

Umpires: Rosebury, Stevic, Ryan
Crowd: 84,829 at the MCG