KYLE Langford's late point was enough to tie the game with Collingwood.

In a strange final 10 minutes, both sides threw everything they could at each other but just couldn't find a path to goal, until four-goal Langford found himself in some space with 1.50 left on the clock.

His set shot drifted wide, tying up the score at 12.13 (85) apiece, and the 93,000-strong crowd was left restless on the final siren.

It was an odd game, played at a frenetic pace or a snail's pace, with very little in between – the Bombers bursting out of the pack with some scintillating footy, the Pies grinding their way back into the mix, a dogged third term before the floodgates opened, with a series of stunning goals from both teams.

Collingwood had 80 fewer disposals, moving the ball at pace down the field, while the Bombers worked the ball around the ground to get around the Mapgies' defence.

Essendon produced arguably its best quarter of the season, kicking the first four goals for the game in an astonishingly quick seven-and-a-half minutes, and six for the full term, led by Peter Wright on return from a four-week ban.

The clear highlight of the opening term for the premiers was a superb 45m kick from Bobby Hill, on the outside of his boot, onto the chest of a running Jamie Elliott, who drew the margin back to 19.

Scott Pendlebury brought up his 10,000th disposal during the first quarter – a simple handball in his defensive 50 – the first player in the V/AFL to do so.

The Bombers couldn't quite maintain their scintillating start as the Pies lifted their pressure after a successive slow start, trapping the ball in their attacking half and slowly but steadily chipping away at the lead.

The "COLLLLINGWOOOOD" chant began to ring out towards the tail end of the term, which Bomber fans attempted to drown out with a chorus of boos.

Nick Daicos had pinched the lead and celebrated faster than the umpire could signal a holding-the-ball free kick, but the Bombers rallied.

The third term was an old-fashioned slog, and aside from a spectacular Jamie Elliott leap, it was more akin to a boxing round where the points were shared, as both sides struggled with composure, particularly entering their respective forward 50s.

Essendon started the final term in confused fashion, Darcy Parish pushed out to the wing when it was realised the Bombers were a defender short in the 6-6-6 formation, sending Dyson Heppell behind the footy.

Harry Jones was on the wrong side of a painful head clash at the start of the last quarter, leaving the field with a heavily bleeding nose and was subbed out for Nick Hind's pace.

Nik Cox appeared to suffer a leg injury in the final minutes of the game, hobbling from the field.

Mark of the year contender
Do yourself a favour, and watch Jamie Elliott's specky a few times to appreciate an absolute classic of the genre. In a game riddled with mistakes from both sides, Elliott timed his leap onto Ben McKay's head to perfection, kneeling tall on his shoulders.

We've seen a number of high grabs not paid this year due to players fumbling the ball to the ground, but the Pie held firm – and most importantly – kicked the resulting set shot after the Bombers had started the third term brightly.

ESSENDON              6.1     7.6       9.11     12.13     (85)
COLLINGWOOD      2.6     6.11     9.12     12.13     (85)

GOALS
Essendon: Langford 4, Wright 2, Stringer, Jones, Parish, Draper, A. Davey, Martin
Collingwood: Mihocek 3, Elliott 2, Hoskin-Elliott, N. Daicos, Lipinski, Schultz, J. Daicos, Harrison, McCreery

INJURIES
Essendon: Jones (nose)
Collingwood: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Nick Hind (replaced Jones in the fourth term)
Collingwood: Harvey Harrison (replaced Mitchell in the fourth term)

Crowd: 93,644 at the MCG