But as the rain teemed down at the MCG, Collingwood's old guard delivered a timely reminder of their class.
And none did it better than Anzac Day Medal winner Steele Sidebottom.
Much has been made of Collingwood having one of the oldest lists in the competition.
But when 22-year-old Daicos was named stand-in captain for unwell skipper Darcy Moore, coach Craig McRae told his players leadership wasn't solely on the shoulders of his young superstar.
It proved prophetic.
When Essendon threatened to deliver a boilover, Daicos impressed, but it was the Magpies' mature heads, led by Sidebottom and former skipper Scott Pendlebury, who took charge.
"It's nice to speak of experience as a good thing," coach Craig McRae quipped.
"Certainly it helps. It was Pendles' 18th Anzac Day. That's gotta help somewhere, doesn't it?"
Chief among the veterans in the 16.11 (107) to 10.6 (66) victory was dual premiership star Sidebottom.
The 34-year-old got to work around the stoppages with devastating effect, notching a career-high 14 clearances, along with 22 contested possessions, 36 disposals and 598 metres gained.
"I said to him in the third quarter, 'God, Steele, you're going well today," McRae said.
"He had about 13 clearances at that stage.
"He's had a terrific season to date. He's banking high performance right now, training really well, put a lot of time into his fundamentals and he's playing really good footy right now."
Teammate Patrick Lipinski told AAP: "I was talking to (Sidebottom) pre-game and he said he'd won an Anzac Day Medal before - had 33 (possessions) and kicked four in that game.
"Those clean players in the wet really stand out. He's amazing."
Sidebottom's partner in crime Scott Pendlebury, a three-time Anzac Day Medallist, also shone.
Pendlebury's composure stood out, as the 37-year-old collected 31 disposals and 13 contested possessions.
"While we're still performing it makes the job harder for younger guys, I suppose, trying to take our spot as well," Sidebottom said.
"At the end of the day, we're not going to be there forever and someone is going to take my spot.
"But while I've still got it, I'll keep doing my best."
In attack, Jamie Elliott, 32, had five goals and a game-high 11 score involvements
To top it off, 34-year-old defender Jeremy Howe had a match-high 12 intercept possessions and nine marks in the wet.
With the game in the balance, it was experience that won out.
Essendon young gun Archie Roberts, 19, told AAP: "I was speaking with Pendles after the game. It's his 18th Anzac Day.
"So it puts it into perspective. It was my first, his 18th."
Essendon coach Brad Scott said: "Just a bit of their class and elder statesmen - Pendlebury, Sidebottom - were influential."
When Sidebottom's name was announced as the unanimous Anzac Day Medallist, no-one was surprised.
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