'Shame on' booing Essendon fans: Buckley

"Shame on anyone that booed a champion".

With those words, Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley pointedly called out Essendon fans who booed Magpies skipper Scott Pendlebury when he was awarded the Anzac Medal.

Pendlebury copped a furious reaction from a heaving Essendon-dominated MCG crowd after the Magpies prevailed by four points in a scintillating Anzac Day clash.

In all likelihood, Pendlebury was just in the wrong place at the wrong time given Bombers fans had earlier directed their ire at the umpires.

The men in green made several contentious calls amid a cacophony of noise from the 92,241-strong crowd that added to the confusion on the field.

But Buckley was in no mood for excuses after Pendlebury's words were drowned out while accepting a record-equalling third Anzac Medal.

"Shame on anyone that booed a champion," Buckley said during the post-match presentation.

"I would just like to acknowledge the fact that we are blessed to have an opportunity to play on this day to represent the AFL, so thank you to the Essendon football club.

"We as a football club are very proud to have the opportunity to represent on Anzac Day."

Bombers fans were irate when a free kick was paid against rookie defender Jordan Ridley for a push in the back on Callum Brown in the final minute.

Brown's set shot drifted across for a behind but having taken 30 seconds off the clock, the young Magpie had done enough.

Asked during his post-match press conference about the crowd booing, Buckley was reluctant to give the issue further oxygen.

"My comment speaks for itself," he said.

"If an Essendon player had won the medal in that exact same moment and the Collingwood faithful had responded that way, I hope I would have been strong enough to say the same thing and I think I would have.

"I don't like it but that's just my opinion. I don't think it really warrants further questioning or talking about because it just makes it a greater focal point."

Pendlebury's 38 disposals, seven marks, six tackles and four inside-50s made him a unanimous selection among the Anzac Medal's three media judges.

Teammate Dayne Beams described the reaction from Essendon fans as "ridiculous".

"He's a champion of our game," Beams said on SEN radio.

"He was a consistent four-quarter performer, and I'm not sure if there was too many of them for us tonight. He just led our footy club really well and continues to do so."