Essendon captain Zach Merrett says he would have relished extra time to decide a winner on Anzac Day, while Collingwood coach Craig McRae felt a draw was the right result at the end of a gripping contest.
Almost three decades on from their fabled 1995 draw, the Bombers and Magpies played out another instant classic at the MCG on Thursday.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: MCG drama as epic clash ends in draw.
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It reignited the debate about whether extra time should be played to settle tied AFL home and away matches.
McRae said he predicted the discussion as he joked with a security guard on his way off the ground after the final siren.
“We fought for 120 minutes and we couldn’t find a margin,” McRae told reporters after the match.
“I’ll leave that up to others to decide whether we need more time. It was a great game.
“I would’ve thought (it was a fair result). They had great momentum and we got some back, then it was an arm-wrestle after halftime really.
“This game’s always going to be about moments and managing those and how you handle situations.”
Merrett won the Anzac Day Medal as best afield in a 31-disposal performance, but was left with a hollow feeling at the end of the match.
“I love competing, I love winning and I hate losing, so I would love to have played for an extra five or 10 minutes to get a result,” he said.
“But it’s a unique feeling walking off with no team song for both (sides).”
Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury also questioned the non-result.
“Extra time?” Pendlebury said on Channel 7.
“Everyone had their chances. Obviously, we got a little bit lucky there with (Langford) kicking a point. “
Magpies captain Darcy Moore said: “A bit of extra time would be good for the plot. Golden point would be a bit of fun.”
But former AFL star (and now radio host on RSN) Daniel Harford said the draw added drama to the season.
“No way (should they bring in extra time),” Harford said.
“It’s a genuine and important result in home and away rounds. You’ve got 23 (games) of them to qualify for the next phase.
“If you can’t get it done on the day, then bad luck!”
Former Collingwood captain and AFL great Tony Shaw also said serious injuries could occur if extra-time was brought in.
“We know the parameters,” Shaw said.
“Look at soft-tissue injuries already at this time of year and any added workload could have disastrous consequences.”
A fan said: “What’s wrong with a home and away draw? Doesnt lengthen season nor have any harmful impact going forward and is a true reflection of the teams on the day. Extra time is contrived but necessary in finals.”
Essendon coach Brad Scott said fans should have the final say on whether extra time is introduced for home and away matches.
“I could make an argument for and against, but I think the game comes back to the fans,” Scott said.
“For them, if you ask the fans, I think they probably want a result.
“It’s an even competition and I think we fixed the major one – we don’t want a draw in a grand final, as an industry.
“But I don’t have a strong view for and against (extra time in home-and-away matches). If I was at the AFL, I’d poll the fans.”
The Essendon-Collingwood draw was the first of the season, after two were played out last year.
It was the fifth draw in 247 AFL/VFL meetings between the great rivals and their first in 29 years.
– With Cameron Noakes