Rocca, who was retrospectively awarded the 1995 medal for his nine goal display, was the overwhelming favourite for the three-person judging panel made up of Rod Austin (AFL), Mark Stevens (Herald Sun) and Malcolm Blight (Channel 10).
Surprisingly, Rocca was left out of the Brownlow votes with Nathan Buckley (3 votes - 26 disposals), Stephen Patterson (2 votes - 24 disposals) and Alex McDonald (1 vote - 24 disposals/1 goal) in the umpires’ best.
Collingwood has now claimed the first four ANZAC Day medals with Scott Russell (1996) and Damian Monkhorst (1997) joining Rocca as winners of the prestigious individual award. The final medal will be announced on Sunday for the 1999 match, which saw the Magpies go down by eight points.
As announced earlier in the week, the AFL, the two clubs as well as the Herald Sun and Channel 10 collaborated to award medals for the first five ANZAC Day matches the sides contested.
Click here to view previous medal winners.
The retrospective ANZAC Medals are recognised as official awards by the AFL. Recipients will be presented with their medals at Monday's ANZAC Day match at the MCG.
Match summary
Round 5, MCG
Saturday 25 April, 1998
Collingwood: 3.6 6.12 11.17 15.18 (108)
Essendon: 4.3 9.6 9.12 12.16 (88)
Attendance: 81,542
ANZAC medal voting
Rod Austin (AFL)
3. Saverio Rocca (Coll), 2. Gavin Crosisca (Coll), 1. Justin Blumfield (Ess)
Mark Stevens (Herald Sun)
3. Saverio Rocca (Coll), 2. Sean Wellman (Ess), 1. Nathan Buckley (Coll)
Malcolm Blight (Channel 10)
3. Saverio Rocca (Coll), 2. Stephen Patterson (Coll), 1. Nathan Buckley (Coll)
Total
9 - Saverio Rocca (Coll)
2 - Gavin Crosisca (Coll)
2 - Stephen Patterson (Coll)
2 - Nathan Buckley (Coll)
2 - Sean Wellman (Ess)
1 - Justin Blumfield (Ess)
