Daniher stars as Dons down wearying Magpies

???Joe Daniher could have won the game for his team early and didn't. Then he could have won the game for his team late. And did.

Throughout he was the player who got his team in the game, then kept them there and found ways. He was the player Collingwood didn't have. He was part of a forward line and system that Collingwood didn't have.

He kicked the first goal then missed three and slewed another out on the full. He was the player who drew the game to him even when he was not exploiting those moments. Then he did. He slapped a ball on his boot at a centre bounce and it tumbled and skidded and found the goals from 70 m.

He had a lot of half moments, as did his side, and eventually it fell for him and them. Essendon had control of much of the match without being able to kick their way comfortably clear.

Collingwood had its chance in the third quarter when they edged back to three points, catching up on Essendon by stealth with five points in a row. Their ineptitude at kicking for goal and moving the ball through the field has created the self-inflicted situation they are in.

Essendon were smarter in how they played and moved the ball. When the game hung in that balance in the last - just a kick between them at the final turn - twice Essendon took the ball uninterrupted from Collingwood misses at goal for goals at the other end. It magnified the difference in the teams- one unable to kick accurately when it mattered, the other able to move the bal quickly and with purpose.

Essendon exploited Collingwood all day with a game that pushed their forwards deep up the ground and outpaced them on the rebound with speed. The quick transition goal was smart and effective.

Orazio Fantasia and McDonald-Tipungwuti are a fretful presence. Busy, fast, and threatening they manufacture goals. Josh Green is not quick but has an agile mind, a solid hold on the ground over the ball and a red-head's cheekiness around goal (don't take that the wrong way).

McDonald-Tipungwuti's steal from Brayden Maynard on the outer wing mid-spin was half thievery, half ballet. He lifted the ball clear and turned to have the ball moved long to Fantasia alone with Travis Varcoe. Fantasia cleverly shifted Varcoe off the drop of the ball as he doubled back for where he was sure it would go. It did. He goaled. In the last, Fantasia outmarked Jackson Ramsay to mark and goal.

Whatever Essendon's forwards did it was done with purpose and confidence. Which meant it was utterly unlike Collingwood's forward line which looked better for Jamie Elliott's presence and for Daniel Wells arrival, but it still looks lost. Collingwood had 66 inside 50s to Essendon 43. Essendon scored from 30 of those entries which is a solid efficiency. Collingwood's 27 shots - again far more points than goals - not so much.

Michael Hurley enjoyed the way Collingwood kicked the ball into their forward line more than Collingwood did. Ambrose beat Darcy Moore but as he is presently playing Moore is doing half the job for his opponents, such is his confidence but Ambrose was good. Alex Fasolo approaches everything but set shot goal kicking with confidence - he has the yips on set shots.

Collingwood's ball movement was as sloppy as it was muddle-headed. The choice to turn backwards and sideways with a handball was as silly as the skewed kick to two on one.

Essendon two weeks ago against Carlton played wet weather football like a duck plays tennis on Anzac Day they played with smarts, strength over the ball and speed. They were cleaner by hand - Darcy Parish, Zach Merrett, Jobe Watson, Dyson Heppell - had speed on the outside Travis Colyer and McDonald-Tipungwuti - but in he end it was the forwards and Daniher who were the difference.

Votes: Daniher 8, Fantasia 8, Heppell 7, Merrett 7, Sidebottom 7