Despite going into Thursday's clash with an impressive 4-0 start to the season, many didn't rate the Bombers' chances as high given Dustin Fletcher and Michael Hurley would miss through injury. But the Bombers were able to fill the considerable hole that Fletcher left in defence, with Jake Carlisle, Cale Hooker and the undersized Michael Hibberd stepping up. In attack, Scott Gumbleton, Stewart Crameri and resting ruckmen Tom Bellchambers and David Hille ably covered Hurley's absence. All of which speaks volumes of the depth and quality of the Bombers' big man stocks.
2. Carlisle takes points over Cloke
Jake Carlisle was conceding 10kg and nearly 150 games' experience when he lined up on Collingwood spearhead Travis Cloke at the opening bounce. But the 21-year-old key defender had started 2013 in impressive fashion and was clearly not daunted by Cloke's seven-goal haul against Richmond just five days earlier. Cloke had his chances early in Thursday's game, but could not hang on to his marks. He finally marked on the lead at the 13-minute mark of the first term, but could manage only a behind from outside 50m. Time and time again in the second term, Carlisle got his fist in to spoil Cloke's marking attempts. Cloke did not score his first goal of the game until the 18-minute mark of the third term after taking a chest mark in front of Carlisle. An entertaining one-on-one contest was nearly cut short late in the third term when Carlisle hurt his ankle in a marking contest. But the Bomber resumed his duties on Cloke early in the final term and, despite a late consolation goal to the Magpie, comfortably finished the game with the points.
3. Ex-Saint at home on Anzac Day
As a St Kilda player from 2003-12, Brendon Goddard was used to being a spectator on Anzac Day. But the former Saint was far from overawed when he got his first taste of the high-pressure stakes of the home and away season's biggest annual game. Goddard hit the ground running in a blinding pair of fluorescent green boots, racking up an equal team-high eight possessions for the Bombers in the first term. Goddard finished the game one of the Bombers' best players with 27 possessions.
4. Third biggest home and away crowd
The crowd of 93,373 that packed into the MCG to watch Thursday's game was the third biggest home and away crowd in VFL/AFL history. The record home and away attendance remains 99,257, which was set when Melbourne hosted Collingwood at the MCG in round 10, 1958. The only larger crowd outside the finals was the 94,825 that packed into the MCG to watch the inaugural Anzac Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon in round four, 1995.
5. How good is Essendon?
The Bombers now sit 5-0 and have claimed the scalps of 2012 finalists Adelaide, Fremantle and Collingwood. So how good are the Bombers? Will this year's fast start ultimately fizzle out like their 8-2 opening to 2012 (admittedly under the strain of a horrible run of injuries). Or is the 2013 version of the Bombers made of sterner stuff and a genuine top-four contender. After Thursday's match, Essendon coach James Hird said it was too early to tell, but he said the most pleasing part of the season to date had been his team's improved defensive focus.
