How the fans saw it: Collingwood v Essendon Pies rejoice as footy's Anzac Day tradition is continued near and far [View the story "How you saw it: Pies v Dons" on Storify]How you saw it: Pies v DonsThe 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 08:58:07Mother 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/PhNpb8htxLJSo excited for my first ANZAC game today! #GoDons #AFLPiesDons #ANZACDay #LestWeForget @EssendonFC https://t.co/jFSZbgkmyjlauren rogersThe calm before the roar #AFLPiesDons @EssendonFC https://t.co/biNxUhw2tHPaul OrfordThe tradition on #AnzacDay with the #FamBam #AFLPiesDons #GoBombers https://t.co/vPJqRR1NvVAdriThe 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/Fos3LijTpythearayshowCouldn'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 WatersWith Dyson!!!! #ohwhatafeeling #AFLPiesDons @DysonHeppell https://t.co/6zei2tNHUoKristie WilkinsCan't wait to sing with @leekernaghan and the @AustArmyBand afl halftime live on 7 today #AnzacDay #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/NdxDfWRvAnLiz CherryWhat a beautiful day for a game of football #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/IEAu5Gm7cdAFLFave footy day. #godons #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/4XV7mqmBog12Meanwhile, 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.AFLAFLA 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?AFLAFLBack 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/pMfSXYMPG6AFLBucks is front and centre during the Magpies' warm up #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/hoc7RNUF86AFLSide by side, always ✔️ #AFLPiesDonsAFLWhile 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 FCGetting in the zone. #DonTheSash https://t.co/0ZvtcRoz1UEssendon FCIt's Yoga time again. #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/lgEJNZImsqEssendon FCGame face on for Goddard #AFLPiesDonsAFLPre-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 LyonsThe Veterans Motorcade is welcomed onto the MCG #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/TS1AfmgLqYAFL#AnzacDay2016 #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/r1KEiuydhICarmelAlways remembered #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/ElR1dn63JRAFLA moment that draws us together.#lestweforget https://t.co/V9GJAkKmoZCollingwood FC85,000 in complete silence at the MCG. Gets you every time. #AnzacDay2016 #AFLPiesDonsAshley BrowneThis moment #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/Lu3TiIPulqAFLNOW.#gopies https://t.co/2ukAi47k1nCollingwood FCThe 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 BourkeWell done Mason Cox https://t.co/ELz8IOLxCGMark SavageSo 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 IronsideMason 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 FootballerMason Cox is one of five Americans to kick a goal in an AFL sanctioned match: Armstrong, McNamara, Holmes, and Hemenway the others.USAFLFrom 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/VOyfanOVbQAFLSteele 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! #AFLPiesDonsbrendanproudSidebottom is best in ground by some way #AFLPiesDonsDAMIAN CHANDLERPresent Sidebottom with the Anzac medal at halftimeDecSteele Sidebottom up to 84 possessions midway through second qtr. #AFLPiesDonsBruceSteele Sidebottom's on fire here! Someone stop him! #AFLPiesDons #ANZACDAYRyan EssenHT: @CollingwoodFC 14.6 (90) lead @EssendonFC 2.2 (14). #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/zVn6xNBqJYAFLThe Magpies head into the rooms to plenty of applause from the @CollingwoodFC faithful at half-time #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/3G0ghSL0D8AFLBig second half needed from the Bombers! #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/cE0XfJUQ9UAFLThere 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 #melbourneebbie07What a half of footy #AFLPiesDons #gopies https://t.co/uIwTCeX151Luke Hthe game is bad, but the company is pretty rad ❤️ #AFLPiesDons #anzacday2016Jahde SumnerSitting in the pies members was a horrible choice ⚫️ #outnumbered #aflpiesdons #lestweforget #anzacday #donthesash ohwhatafeeling @livwoody @lozwalsh24CarleyANZAC DAY #AFLPiesDons #LestWeForget #donthesash https://t.co/Tex1ZmzcExDanielle KaituIt's all black and white#aflpiesdons #anzacdaygame2016 #afl #anzacdayrob heinjus#ohwhatafeeling #gopies #AFLPiesDons #MCG #AFL https://t.co/iZK6mTW9igJames SotirakisThe 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 #gopiesSIs Alex Fasolo Sav Rocca reincarnated? #AFLPiesDonsFrances Rose3QT: @CollingwoodFC 19.8 (122) lead @EssendonFC 7.4 (46). Sidebottom and Fasolo have four goals each. #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/cEIhTyRIGbAFLEssendon 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 FieldPies feeling sorry for Essendon, letting them catch up a bit. #AFLPiesDonsRichard S LStarting to look like last week's cold pies. Keep it up boys! #AFLPiesDonsCoburg GirlBut 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/294UfJwaTNAFLA very happy Magpie crowd! #ohwhatafeeling #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/RCgBh8CFMaAFLSteele Sidebottom was awarded the Anzac Day Medal for his 33 disposals and four-goal game. Steele Sidebottom is a genuine big game player ! #AFLTrentSteele Sidebottom making everyone smile.. Well deserved winner of the Anzac medal KaylaAnzac 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/NilViOiP30AFLWinners on #ANZACDay https://t.co/ZWS807F5tvCollingwood FCFor the love of footy ❤️ #AFLPiesDons https://t.co/UZ1zK05TaYAFLA family photo @gopies https://t.co/5vNkpcxvJpCollingwood FCMagpie fans shared the winning love around on social media after the game.That was better! Always good winning on Anzac Day #AFLPiesDons Kristen Alebakisnot getting carried away but, good win by @CollingwoodFC ... haven't been this happy since NAB 3 #AFLPiesDonsSteve GuarnacciaHow good was that performance #AFLPiesDons #sidebysideJai AspinallEamon'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 AlexandraFavourite game of the season #anzacday #gopies #aflpiesdons #ohwhatafeeling #exceptbecAlexis SarrisLoving the win on Anzac Day#gopies #aflpiesdons #anzacdayfooty #anzacday #collingwoodfc #celebration #astonwilliamspark #mcgDan Spark
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