Returning stars, prized new recruits and a bevy of new faces awaited eager Essendon supporters on Thursday night as the freshest iteration of the red and black team lined up for the first time.
And Bombers fans would have left Etihad Stadium pleased with what they saw on every front – well, that was at least until Collingwood's barnstorming finish ruined what looked like being a perfect night for the Dons as they enter their new era.
That the Bombers gave up a 27-point lead in the third quarter to be defeated by 11 points at the hands of Collingwood in the opening JLT Community Series match on Thursday night was not the most significant takeaway from the game. Nor would it have been had the Bombers held on, with both sides missing important players.
Within the 2.13.9 (105) to 0.14.10 (94) win for Collingwood was a number of more telling storylines for both clubs – one aiming to get back into the finals for the first time after a poor year in 2016 and the other aiming to lift itself off the bottom of the ladder.
The losers were the centre of attention, and for obvious reasons. For one, there was the six (midfielder Heath Hocking did not make the final squad) Bombers who played their first games after serving anti-doping bans last year – a comeback that finally puts a full stop on football's longest and worst saga.
Jobe Watson, perhaps the face of the scandal over the past four years, took no time to get involved with the first kick of the game and opening two centre clearances. The former skipper was also given a rapturous reception when he lined up for goal in the second term (a moment that would have drawn an even bigger cheer had his shot not sailed wide).
Of the other returning Dons, new skipper Dyson Heppell (17 disposals) was his busy self, Travis Colyer kicked two goals in a lively showing up forward, and Michael Hurley was composed across half-back. Ben Howlett also hit the scoreboard, while David Myers didn't really get into the game until the third term after spending most of the first half on the bench.
The Pies, though, had their own comeback stories to tell, which made their impressive fourth-quarter fightback (which included two supergoals and four regular majors) all the more encouraging.
Jamie Elliott did not get much of the ball – he finished with eight disposals and a goal in a half – but proved his importance to the Pies' hopes this season. After not playing a game last year due to a debilitating back injury, the star small forward showed glimpses of his ability with a high-flying grab early on and his presence will be important if the Magpies are to return to the finals.
Lachlan Keeffe, returning after his own anti-doping ban, was solid as a forward and pinch-hitting ruckman, while Matt Scharenberg, after his well-publicised knee struggles, was quiet but looked comfortable for the Pies.
After a scrappy first half, the Pies looked set to drop their opening pre-season encounter when they trailed by 21 points at the final change, but two supergoals early in the last term – to former Demons defender Lynden Dunn and ex-Cat Travis Varcoe – sprung them into action and they overrun the Bombers.
The last-quarter lift came from a young midfield group that was without skipper Scott Pendlebury, Adam Treloar, Brodie Grundy and Taylor Adams for the night.
Tom Phillips was in everything early – he had 15 disposals to half-time in an effort to razz his teammates into action – and he finished as the Pies' leading possession winner.
But just as positively, it was Jordan De Goey's two-goal last term that all but iced the win for the Pies. On Thursday night's evidence, both will be important in shaping the Pies' fortunes this season.
WHAT WE LEARNED
Collingwood
The Pies have some impressive youth, but they will be relied upon plenty this year. In the midfield Jordan De Goey and Tom Phillips went well against Essendon, and Brayden Maynard is a powerful unit wherever he goes. James Aish is still only about to head into his fourth season, while Darcy Moore will enter his third. Moore, in particular, will have plenty of pressure on him this season to be the Pies' main man in attack and he was quiet against the Dons. But his athleticism and marking ability will make him a constant danger, and he is one of a group of young Pies who will get valuable experience in 2017 as they attempt to push up the ladder.
Essendon
Zach Merrett and Darcy Parish are only going to get better this year. The young Essendon midfield duo shouldered a bigger load last year than they would have in normal circumstances – with Merrett winning the best and fairest and Parish playing 20 games in his debut year. But being around the likes of Jobe Watson, Dyson Heppell, Travis Colyer and David Myers will only make Merrett and Parish advance quicker into elite midfielders. That was on show on Thursday night against the Pies, with Parish's outside game more prominent (he had 24 touches) and Merrett again racking up nice numbers (25 disposals). They will only improve as a midfield unit with more time – after all, it was the first time Watson and Heppell had played alongside Parish.
NEW FACES
Collingwood
The Pies' free agent signing, Chris Mayne, played in attack but was largely quiet aside from a third-quarter goal. Former Giant Will Hoskin-Elliott's run and carry showed he should be able to bring something different to the club this season. There have been questions on who will hold down the Pies' key position posts in defence this season, but the addition of former Gold Coast backman Henry Schade added some size and strength there against the Dons. Father-son pick-up Josh Daicos spent the first half on the bench before being introduced to the game in the third quarter. He finished with seven touches playing across half-forward. Former Demon Lynden Dunn will add some stability to the back half and highlighted his long kick with a vital supergoal as well.
Essendon
Former Brisbane Lion Josh Green didn't have much of the ball (11 disposals), but was active in attack and kicked a nice snap in the third term. His verve will bring something different to Essendon's front half. Ex-GWS big man James Stewart competed hard as the Bombers' main marking target near goal, while No.1 pick Andy McGrath's clean hands (he had nine disposals) at ground level stood out in his composed debut. McGrath has not done all the work over pre-season after being managed carefully, but looked comfortable under the Etihad Stadium lights.
NEXT UP
The Bombers hit the road for their next clash, heading to Mackay to take on Gold Coast on February 26. Collingwood has an even bigger break between games, having more than two weeks off before traveling to Western Australian to play Fremantle at Rushton Park on March 4.
COLLINGWOOD 0.3.0 0.5.4 0.9.4 2.13.9 (105)
ESSENDON 0.2.2 0.6.5 0.12.9 0.14.10 (94)
SUPERGOALS
Collingwood: Dunn, Varcoe
Essendon: Nil
GOALS
Collingwood: Hoskin-Elliott 2, Crisp 2, De Goey 2, White, Varcoe, Phillips, Moore, Mayne, Elliott, Aish
Essendon: Fantasia 4, McKernan 3, Colyer 2, Green 2, Stewart, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Howlett
BEST
Collingwood: Phillips, De Goey, Smith, Sidebottom, Greenwood, Ramsay
Essendon: Fantasia, Parish, Z.Merrett, Watson, McKernan, Dea
INJURIES
Collingwood: Sinclair (hamstring)
Essendon: Nil
Reports
Nil
Umpires
Nicholls, Fisher, Mollison, Hocking
Official crowd
16,521 at Etihad Stadium
