A difficult afternoon unfolded for Essendon in front of a packed MCG, with the Bombers unable to match Collingwood after halftime in a 77‑point loss on Anzac Day.

Despite remaining competitive early, the margin quickly widened as the Magpies asserted control through the contest and at centre bounce.

Senior Coach Brad Scott reflected on the intensity, momentum swings and the challenges his group faced as the pressure grew in his post‑game press conference.

Scott on… overall performance

There was a real sense that the game was going to break open in the second half one way or the other, and we didn't handle the occasion well at all.

Even though pressure and everything was okay early, it's incredibly frustrating because we came to a really important day and big occasion, and an opportunity to play in games like that where, outside finals, you don't get bigger games, bigger crowds, a bigger stage, which creates big moments, and repeatedly, we weren't able to handle those moments.

So, we weren't able to handle the occasion, and we weren't able to handle Collingwood’s pressure, we weren't able to stand up under perceived pressure that wasn't even there.

Scott on… experience

I was looking forward to the occasion to see our inexperienced players under pressure, and it's not to put it at the feet of the inexperienced players, because the inability to absorb the pressure and stand up and show some composure, was right across the board, it wasn't just young players.

You want your best experienced players to play well every single week.

I wouldn't put it at the feet of our experienced players and leaders either, because it's hard for them too, they're trying to carry a fairly heavy load at the moment and they're being supported by some really capable, talented young players who need more exposure to games like this.

Brad on… contest and ball movement

If you look at clearance, it's pretty even, but we just got absolutely obliterated out of centre bounce.

The last quarter margin is almost entirely attributed to centre bounce territory, and you lose contest forward.

The times we did get it forward, we were able to score. So, we just couldn't get it forward really after half-time.

When we got the ball forward, they were able to transition the ball too easily.

We got touched up in contest and centre bounce, not clearance overall, and they're a quality ball use team.

Brad on… preparation, pressure and execution

We had a seven-day break, they (Collingwood) had a nine-day break, but I actually preferred the seven to keep the momentum going of what we were doing well.

Again, we didn't handle the occasion, but we didn't handle their pressure.

And the third layer to that was then we fumbled and coughed up the ball under no pressure.

So, we'll just keep working on that because it hasn't looked like that last couple of weeks, but it did today.

Brad on… Archie May injury update

I haven’t got a full report yet, but when he came off, they pretty quickly said he wouldn't come back on with a medial ligament soreness.

So, we'll get that checked and give you an update once we know.