[View the story "How you saw it: Pies v Dons" on Storify ]How you saw it: Pies v Dons The annual Anzac Day clash between the Magpies and the Bombers is one of the biggest games of the home and away season seeing up to 90,000 fans flock to the MCG. Storified by AFL · Mon, Apr 25 2016 08:58:07
Mother Nature must've been in a good mood as sunshine bathed the ground on a beautiful autumn afternoon. Melburnians young and old were counting down the hours to the start of the traditional Anzac Day match with many making their way in from this morning's dawn services.
And we're on the move... @MCC_Members #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/PhNpb8htxLJ
So excited for my first ANZAC game today! #GoDons #AFLPiesDons #ANZACDay #LestWeForget @EssendonFC https://t.co/jFSZbgkmyjlauren rogers
The calm before the roar #AFLPiesDons @EssendonFC https://t.co/biNxUhw2tHPaul Orford
The tradition on #AnzacDay with the #FamBam #AFLPiesDons #GoBombers https://t.co/vPJqRR1NvVAdri
The rivalry begins #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/qJ9kKqQ4rDLiz Pattison
@AFL Modern Anzac Day story. 4 brothers and sisters. Pic cred to friends of mine who don't have Twitter #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/Fos3LijTpythearayshow
Couldn't ask for a better day, can't wait! My first Anzac Day #AFLPiesDons match! #LestWeForget #AnzacDay2016 https://t.co/CWitC6KJlEJacob Bevis
#AFLPiesDons 522 on my back as Pa's enlistment number. He was at Gallipolli 101 years ago.#GO PIES https://t.co/nD7Ya7evccKaylene Waters
With Dyson!!!! #ohwhatafeeling #AFLPiesDons @DysonHeppell https://t.co/6zei2tNHUoKristie Wilkins
Can't wait to sing with @leekernaghan and the @AustArmyBand afl halftime live on 7 today #AnzacDay #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/NdxDfWRvAnLiz Cherry
What a beautiful day for a game of football #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/IEAu5Gm7cdAFL
Fave footy day. #godons #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/4XV7mqmBog12
Meanwhile, Anzac Day was commemorated in Hong Kong last Saturday in the biggest day in the South China Australian Rules Football League's history. Hosted by the Hong Kong Dragons Australian Rules Football Club and Hong Kong Auskick, it was the first time such an event has been held. About 140 senior players were involved, 40 of whom were Chinese nationals. In addition, 120 Auskick children took part. An estimated 1,000 people watched on despite the weather turning sour at times. Hong Kong Auskick has more than 400 children registered in five centres across the territory.
AFL
AFL
A year 11 student from the Australian International School Band performed the Last Post. “Through these community initiatives, the Hong Kong Dragons hope to drive growing interest and participation as we continue to take Australia’s indigenous game to Hong Kong, Macau and Greater China," Dragons president Mark Mastores said. "We are prioritising giving back to the local community." Could football's next international star come from Hong Kong?
AFL
AFL
Back in Melbourne and Nathan Buckley was front and centre during Collingwood's warm up before his side paused to present Josh Smith and Mason Cox with their debut jumpers.
American Mason Cox is presented with his jumper on debut #AFLPiesDons #ohwhatafeeling https://t.co/pMfSXYMPG6AFL
Bucks is front and centre during the Magpies' warm up #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/hoc7RNUF86AFL
Side by side, always ✔️ #AFLPiesDonsAFL
While in the Essendon rooms Sam Grimley was presented with his first red sash ahead of his debut for the Bombers.
Always a proud moment to get your first Sash, even more proud when you get it on #ANZACDay. https://t.co/8sA9rva1oWEssendon FC
Getting in the zone. #DonTheSash https://t.co/0ZvtcRoz1UEssendon FC
It's Yoga time again. #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/lgEJNZImsqEssendon FC
Game face on for Goddard #AFLPiesDonsAFL
Pre-match proceedings out on the 'G included a performance from The Australian Army Band and the Veterans Motorcade. Both teams entered the ground through a joint banner displaying the names of footballers from Collingwood and Essendon who lost their lives in war.
#AnzacDay #AFLPiesDons #Respect #GoPies #sidebyside #lestweforget #mcg @CollingwoodFC https://t.co/yZORdIdwF8Lisa Erin Lyons
The Veterans Motorcade is welcomed onto the MCG #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/TS1AfmgLqYAFL
#AnzacDay2016 #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/r1KEiuydhICarmel
Always remembered #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/ElR1dn63JRAFL
A moment that draws us together.#lestweforget https://t.co/V9GJAkKmoZCollingwood FC
85,000 in complete silence at the MCG. Gets you every time. #AnzacDay2016 #AFLPiesDonsAshley Browne
This moment #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/Lu3TiIPulqAFL
NOW.#gopies https://t.co/2ukAi47k1nCollingwood FC
The fairytale story continued for Magpie Mason Cox who took a strong contested mark before cooly slotting the first goal of the game.
Mason Cox kicks the first and the Magpie army loves it. #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/D7SSfVyTNaJake Bourke
Well done Mason Cox https://t.co/ELz8IOLxCGMark Savage
So happy Mason Cox playing today - loved watching in the VFL last year, hope his career continues the way he's started!! #AFLPiesDonsMel Beggsy ❤️
Mason Cox is going to be a player.Bjorn Ironside
Mason Cox's been playing for 2 years and kicks the first goal on ANZAC day. I've been playing for 15 years and still can't kick a drop punt.The Local Footballer
Mason Cox is one of five Americans to kick a goal in an AFL sanctioned match: Armstrong, McNamara, Holmes, and Hemenway the others.USAFL
From there it was a dominant first term display from the Magpies as they piled on eight goals to the Bombers' one.
QT: @CollingwoodFC 8.4 (52) lead @EssendonFC 1.1 (7). Mason Cox made history and Sidebottom has three. #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/VOyfanOVbQAFL
Steele Sidebottom kicked his fourth goal early in the second term as Collingwood went on to consolidate on their comfortable lead.
Collingwood all over the inexperienced bombers! Steele Sidebottom on fire! #AFLPiesDonsbrendanproud
Sidebottom is best in ground by some way #AFLPiesDonsDAMIAN CHANDLER
Present Sidebottom with the Anzac medal at halftimeDec
Steele Sidebottom up to 84 possessions midway through second qtr. #AFLPiesDonsBruce
Steele Sidebottom's on fire here! Someone stop him! #AFLPiesDons #ANZACDAYRyan Essen
HT: @CollingwoodFC 14.6 (90) lead @EssendonFC 2.2 (14). #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/zVn6xNBqJYAFL
The Magpies head into the rooms to plenty of applause from the @CollingwoodFC faithful at half-time #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/3G0ghSL0D8AFL
Big second half needed from the Bombers! #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/cE0XfJUQ9UAFL
There were plenty of happy faces in the crowd at half-time despite the scoreline, supporters were lapping up the Anzac Day football tradition.
#footy #anzacday #aflpiesdons #gopies #mcg #melbourneebbie07
What a half of footy #AFLPiesDons #gopies https://t.co/uIwTCeX151Luke H
the game is bad, but the company is pretty rad ❤️ #AFLPiesDons #anzacday2016Jahde Sumner
Sitting in the pies members was a horrible choice ⚫️ #outnumbered #aflpiesdons #lestweforget #anzacday #donthesash ohwhatafeeling @livwoody @lozwalsh24Carley
ANZAC DAY #AFLPiesDons #LestWeForget #donthesash https://t.co/Tex1ZmzcExDanielle Kaitu
It's all black and white#aflpiesdons #anzacdaygame2016 #afl #anzacdayrob heinjus
#ohwhatafeeling #gopies #AFLPiesDons #MCG #AFL https://t.co/iZK6mTW9igJames Sotirakis
The Bombers picked up their game in the third term but were still heavily outscored by the Magpies. Alex Fasolo soon joined Sidebottom in the four-goal club, while Grimley had kicked two goals for the Dons.
Alex Fasolo for the #AnzacDay2016 medal. I'm so proud of you Faz ❤️ #AnzacDay2016 #AFLPiesDons #gopiesS
Is Alex Fasolo Sav Rocca reincarnated? #AFLPiesDonsFrances Rose
3QT: @CollingwoodFC 19.8 (122) lead @EssendonFC 7.4 (46). Sidebottom and Fasolo have four goals each. #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/cEIhTyRIGbAFL
Essendon picked up where they left off in the third term, kicking the first two goals of the fourth quarter.
Using Leigh Matthews' theory of a goal per minute, Essendon are still in this.... #AFLPiesDons and BT would be Woweeing galoreMatt Field
Pies feeling sorry for Essendon, letting them catch up a bit. #AFLPiesDonsRichard S L
Starting to look like last week's cold pies. Keep it up boys! #AFLPiesDonsCoburg Girl
But the game was well and truly over as the Magpies went on to record a 69-point win.
FT: @CollingwoodFC 22.10 (142) defeat @EssendonFC 11.7 (73). #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/294UfJwaTNAFL
A very happy Magpie crowd! #ohwhatafeeling #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/RCgBh8CFMaAFL
Steele Sidebottom was awarded the Anzac Day Medal for his 33 disposals and four-goal game.
Steele Sidebottom is a genuine big game player ! #AFLTrent
Steele Sidebottom making everyone smile.. Well deserved winner of the Anzac medal Kayla
Anzac Day Medal Goes to: Steele Sidebottom, congrats legend#GoPies #LestWeForget ❤️⚫️⚪️ https://t.co/oBjFgCVwJ3⚫️⚪️
Mason Cox and his family were in the thick of celebrations as winning festivities were in full swing in the Collingwood rooms.
Good old Collingwood forever #AFLPiesDons #ohwhatafeeling https://t.co/NilViOiP30AFL
Winners on #ANZACDay https://t.co/ZWS807F5tvCollingwood FC
For the love of footy ❤️ #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/UZ1zK05TaYAFL
A family photo @gopies https://t.co/5vNkpcxvJpCollingwood FC
Magpie fans shared the winning love around on social media after the game.
That was better! Always good winning on Anzac Day #AFLPiesDons Kristen Alebakis
not getting carried away but, good win by @CollingwoodFC ... haven't been this happy since NAB 3 #AFLPiesDonsSteve Guarnaccia
How good was that performance #AFLPiesDons #sidebysideJai Aspinall
Eamon's ditched the Dockers gear for today and decided to support his Collingwood mad mate Caleb at the Anzac Day game. Lucky they are smashing it! (The Essendon fans around them don't look too happy )Ash Alexandra
Favourite game of the season #anzacday #gopies #aflpiesdons #ohwhatafeeling #exceptbecAlexis Sarris
Loving the win on Anzac Day#gopies #aflpiesdons #anzacdayfooty #anzacday #collingwoodfc #celebration #astonwilliamspark #mcgDan Spark