COLLINGWOOD has won its second Anzac Day clash on the trot, defeating Essendon by 30 points in a thrilling contest played before 89,626 people at the MCG on Monday afternoon.

Having been down by 29 early in the second quarter, the Bombers closed to within a point 20 minutes into the third term.

But the Magpies steadied, their key forwards Travis Cloke and Chris Dawes booting five goals between them as they won 16.11 (107) to 11.11 (77).

Collingwood midfielder Scott Pendlebury was best on ground, his 34 possessions and three goals earning him his second straight Anzac Medal to go with his 2010 Norm Smith Medal.

Heath Shaw and Luke Ball were other impressive contributors for the winners, while Leon Davis was at his creative best across half-back.

Youngster Dyson Heppell was outstanding for Essendon, while Stewart Crameri, who had the better of Harry O'Brien, booted four goals.

Ruckman Tom Bellchambers, defender Dustin Fletcher and small forward Leroy Jetta were others to stand out for the Bombers.

Essendon started the match with big men Paddy Ryder, David Hille and Michael Hurley in its forward line, but the tactic backfired as Collingwood's running players dominated the opening stages.

Dayne Beams, Dane Swan and Pendlebury kicked the first three majors of the game, and by quarter-time the reigning premier was 23 points up, having held the Bombers goalless.

But Essendon refused to be blown away like last year. Thanks to a brilliant running goal from Crameri and an accurate set-shot from Watson they were within 19 points at the long break.

The Bombers continued their charge in the third term, and when Leroy Jetta brought the crowd to its feet with a 55m bomb they were only two points down.

Yet just as Mick Malthouse's men looked in trouble, Cloke stood tall. He took three big grabs and booted three goals in the last quarter, his efforts ensuring his team remains unbeaten.

The crowd of 89,626 was the sixth largest Anzac Day crowd.

Influential players
While Scott Pendlebury won the Anzac Medal, key forward Travis Cloke also had a huge influence on the contest. Such was Cloke's early dominance, he forced Essendon coach James Hird to switch Paddy Ryder and later Michael Hurley into defence to try and keep him quiet.

The impact of Leon Davis in the backline was among the afternoon's revelations. Davis enjoyed a great tussle with Essendon's Leroy Jetta and he had the better of the match-up, finishing with 28 possessions, including 13 contested.

In his first season of AFL footy, Dyson Heppell just keeps getting better. Often matched against Collingwood star Alan Didak, the youngster from Gippsland gathered 25 touches and laid five tackles.

Magic moment
In the 13th minute of the first quarter, with Collingwood already 13 points in front, a ball-up took place around 50m from the Magpies' goal. Essendon's Paddy Ryder won the hit-out, thumping the Sherrin towards the boundary. Scott Pendlebury got to it first, just inside the line, then shrugged off a tackle from Brent Stanton and snapped a brilliant goal, which had members of the black and white army dancing in the aisles.

What it means
Collingwood remains undefeated and on top of the ladder. The Magpies have also shown they can win even when gun players like Nick Maxwell and Harry O'Brien are not at their best.

Essendon has slipped back into the pack. While the Bombers have improved, the reality is they've only won two of their first five matches in 2011.

Dream Team highlight
Collingwood: Scott Pendlebury's Anzac Medal-winning performance tallied up to a huge haul of 170 Dream Team points.

Essendon: Stewart Crameri was the Bombers' leading point-scorer with 112, while another lad who was promoted from the rookie list, Ben Howlett, picked up 111.

Next four:
Collingwood: Western Bulldogs (MCG), bye, Geelong (MCG), Adelaide (Etihad Stadium)

Essendon: Gold Coast (Etihad Stadium), West Coast (Etihad Stadium), Brisbane Lions (Gabba), Richmond (MCG)

Essendon    0.3    3.8    7.10    11.11 (77)
Collingwood    4.2    7.3    10.6    16.11 (107)

GOALS
Essendon: Crameri 4, Hille 2, Zaharakis 2, Bellchambers, Watson, Jetta
Collingwood: Cloke 3, Pendlebury 3, Beams 2, Dawes 2, Swan, Jolly, Didak, Ball, Brown, Sidebottom

BEST
Essendon: Crameri, Heppell, Fletcher, Jetta, Bellchambers
Collingwood: Pendlebury, Cloke, Davis, Shaw, Ball

INJURIES
Essendon: Nil
Collingwood: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Angus Monfries replaced by Kyle Reimers during the third quarter
Collingwood: Dayne Beams replaced by Brad Dick at three-quarter-time

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Chamberlain, Ryan, Findlay

Official crowd: 89,626 at the MCG

Anzac Medal Voting
Scott Pendlebury 8
Dyson Heppell 5
Leon Davis 3
Luke Ball 1
Sharrod Wellingham 1

The views in this article represent those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or the clubs