There’s no comparing war to football, but there were plenty across the competition who stood up to be counted when it mattered across round seven. Here are the key takeouts from Anzac round.

Friday afternoon, MCG
Collingwood defeated Essendon by 41 points
Justin Leppitsch, presumably, felt the heat from all directions late last year.

The Dan Houston trade is working out just fine for Collingwood.Credit: AFL Photos

Collingwood’s then-new list boss went “all-in” to recruit Port Adelaide’s sweet-kicking All-Australian defender Dan Houston for the price of another first-round draft pick.

“Another” is appropriate because the Magpies also handed over their first-rounder 12 months earlier for ex-Docker Lachie Schultz, who subsequently finished outside the top 10 of the club’s best and fairest as Craig McRae’s side failed to make finals.

Being an underperforming dad’s army is a shocking place to be, so Collingwood endured a summer of doom-and-gloom coverage centred on their future being bleak, particularly with Tasmania’s impending entry.

Houston turns 28 in May, while Schultz is the same age in November.

Leppitsch faced scrutiny for the latest trade call – with criticism focused on the ageing list demographic, and the lack of emerging stars beyond the game’s best Nick Daicos – and developed a reputation with rival list chiefs for being difficult to work with.

The Pies were considered no certainties to return to September action in 2025, then suffered an opening-round disaster, when flag fancies GWS doubled Collingwood’s score in a 52-point rout. All the fearmongering seemed well-placed.

McRae, once likened to fictional soccer coach Ted Lasso for his genial ways, also received a warning from league headquarters about a boundary-line exchange with Giants counterpart Adam Kingsley, following criticism last year for not being gracious after a loss to St Kilda.

Six straight wins later, the Magpies are on top with a percentage north of 140, having beaten Port Adelaide, Western Bulldogs, Carlton, Sydney, reigning premiers the Brisbane Lions (at the Gabba) and Essendon on Anzac Day.

One of Collingwood’s greybeards, Steele Sidebottom, 34, has wound back the clock to his prime – which was from about 2012-21 – while ex-captain Scott Pendlebury also continues to defy his 37 years.

Fellow 30-somethings Jamie Elliott, Jeremy Howe, Jack Crisp, Brody Mihocek and Tim Membrey (a delisted free agent signing in the........

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