Calls are growing for Essendon Bombers to be removed from the Anzac Day AFL match after another heavy defeat to Collingwood Magpies intensified scrutiny on the one-sided rivalry.
Collingwood’s 77-point victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground marked the largest margin in the history of the fixture, continuing a dominant stretch that has seen the Magpies control the contest in recent seasons.
The result followed a 41-point win for Collingwood in 2025, with the last two Anzac Day clashes described as non-competitive. Essendon has not won the match since 2021, while the 2024 contest ended in a draw.
The latest defeat has prompted renewed discussion about whether the Bombers should retain their permanent place in the marquee fixture, first played in 1995.
Speaking on SEN radio, Kane Cornes questioned Essendon’s position in the annual timeslot.
‘Is it time for Essendon to have a spell?’ Cornes said.
Essendon were smashed by 77 points in the most recent Anzac Round clash against Collingwood
The battling Bombers had no answers for Collingwood, leading to calls for them to be removed from the fixture
‘I know you built it but North Melbourne built Friday night footy and they don’t play Friday night every week any more.
‘I know you were instrumental in what it is today, but does that guarantee you playing on Anzac Day every year?
‘Because the Bombers are ratings kryptonite. No one watches Essendon. It’s the reason why Thursday night footy was a disaster late last year and they had to get them out of Thursday night footy.
‘So do you lose that right when you continually front up in prime time no one watches you, crowds dip and your performance isn’t there?
‘So a three-year spell for the Bombers on Anzac Day until they can get their stuff together.’
Cornes also suggested alternative match-ups for the fixture, pointing to potential clashes involving other clubs.
‘Sydney versus Collingwood at the MCG on Anzac Day would go crazy and it would go crazy around the whole country, not just in Victoria,’ he said.
‘The ratings opportunity that that would provide and then if you want to stay in Victoria, give it to Geelong who you know are going to front up and bring a crowd and perform.’
AFL commentator and analyst Kane Cornes has led the calls for Essendon to be replaced
Former Bombers coach Kevin Sheedy was the architect of the Anzac Round clash which has been contested since 1995
Fans were mostly against the suggestion, saying tradition meant more than revenue.
‘So what he’s basically saying is change the teams every year so there are only good teams playing on marquee fixtures? I’d rather tradition,’ one posted.
‘What’s the point in having these marquee matches if you just want to change it up for good teams,’ asked another.
‘Might be the most stupidest thing I’ve ever seen,’ added another.
However Kornes did have some support from non-Essendon supporters.
‘Many turned off early because Essendon are crap and AFL lose money,’ one posted.
Another brutally said: ‘Don’t worry about losing ANZAC Day. They should fold.’
The Anzac Day match was first conceived by former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy in the mid-1990s and staged for the first time in 1995 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
That inaugural clash ended in a dramatic draw in front of more than 94,000 fans and immediately established the fixture as a major event on the AFL calendar.
Since then, the annual contest has grown into one of the league’s biggest home-and-away games, regularly attracting crowds exceeding 90,000.
It is preceded each year by a formal Anzac Day ceremony, including the Last Post and recognition of Australian and New Zealand servicemen and women.
The match has remained locked in the prime-time slot since its inception, with strong television audiences reinforcing its status as a marquee fixture.
Over the past three decades, the rivalry has produced a number of memorable moments that have added to its standing within the game.
However, the competitive balance has shifted in recent seasons, with Collingwood Magpies gaining the upper hand.
The Magpies have now won multiple recent meetings, including heavy victories in the past two years.
As of 2026, Collingwood holds a clear advantage in the overall record, with 19 wins to Essendon Bombers’s 10, along with two draws from 31 matches.
The latest 77-point result stands as the biggest winning margin in the history of the fixture.
