The AFL’s first Anzac Day medallist has reflected on the chaos of that iconic clash between Collingwood and Essendon in 1995 that saw fans locked out of the MCG and ended in a draw.
Saverio Rocca kicked nine goals that day and told 3AW podcast Footy: Then and Now the Magpies got a bus together because they had an “inkling” the match was going to be big, but admits they had no idea it would go on to become the biggest annual match of the home and away season.
A staggering 94,825 people attended the 1995 clash, the second highest home and away attendance on record.
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Thousands more were locked out of the stadium before the game.
“Because the bus arrived late, we could see there were still a stack of people trying to get in,” Rocca explained.
“There would have been like 10-15,000 people locked out of the game that weren’t able to get in.
“We didn’t know that was going on, but we certainly knew it was jam-packed, just by the noise that was created in that stadium.”
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Rocca’s performance in the first modern Anzac Day clash between the Magpies and Bombers was incredible, booting nine goals including the major that tied scores up late in the game.
Essendon star Michael Long was famously pictured giving Rocca a few words of advice as he went back to take the shot at goal.
“He was trying to tell me that I don’t really want to kick this goal,” Rocca said with a laugh.
“In the end, you’ve just got to focus on what’s got you the other goals and that’s technique and preparation.”
Despite booting nine goals and being retrospectively awarded the Anzac Medal, Rocca didn’t get the three votes on Brownlow night.
They went to Nathan Buckley.
“I don’t know how that happened,” Rocca said with a chuckle.
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