The traditionalists will say keep the draw.

The modernists want a result.

The coaches were left with a "weird feeling" whilst also not sure how to act in a situation that left the football world speechless.

In a true ANZAC Day classic, like 1995, Collingwood and Essendon "fought for 120 minutes" at the MCG in front of 93,644 adoring fans and left with a draw.

The sheer spectacle and exhibition the clubs put on had everyone on the edge of their seat.

Jamie Elliot may win the 2024 Mark of the Year but his grab rivals some of the greatest taken in history.

Essendon's hot first quarter saw them jump out to a game-high 27 points before the Pies clawed their way back into it.

Bomber captain Zach Merrett's best-on-ground performance, deservedly winning the ANZAC Day medal for nearly willing his side over the line.

Scott Pendlebury's 10,000th disposal, reaching heights, like Elliot, that no one else has.

Brody Mihocek's missed opportunity. Kyle Langford's missed opportunity.

This game had everything except a result.

Merrett through his support behind the introduction of extra-time following Thursday's draw, saying an outcome is required.

"I love competing, I love winning and I hate losing, so I would have loved to have played for an extra five or ten minutes to get a result," Merrett said post-game.

"It's a unique feeling walking off with no team song for [either team]."

Collingwood coach Craig McRae shared a similar opinion but was more occupied by the feeling a draw hands down.

"I said that to a security guard after the game, 'I bet you they start talking about extra time'. We fought for 120 minutes and we couldn't find a margin. I'll leave that to others to decide, it was a great game," McRae said.

"We're just not sure how to act. Do we have permission to be happy? I gave permission to our guys to still be positive, because there was a lot we did well and still have work to do, but that's like every week.

"Maybe we don't know how to act, the crowd doesn't know how to act, when the siren goes, I don't know what to do. Do we high-five people? I just made sure I got to Brad Scott and told him how good the game was and acknowledged the job he's doing, his group look really strong and are going to be hard to beat."

Former teammate and Essendon coach Brad Scott implored the AFL to put the decision into the hands of the supporters.

"I don't have a strong view, I can make an argument for and against. I think the game comes back to the fans," Scott said.

"For them, if you ask the fans, I think they want a result. It's an even comp, I think we fixed the major one โ€“ we don't want a draw in the Grand Final, as an industry โ€“ but I don't have a strong view for or against. If I was at the AFL, I'd poll the fans."

The AFL isn't inept in making big-picture decisions when it comes to the betterment of the game.

In 2010, the Pies and St Kilda fought out a grand final and came to a draw, with rules stipulating the clubs had to return the following week.

Shortly after Collingwood recorded its 15th premiership, the league changed it so extra-time would ensue if two teams couldn't be split in the decider.

Admittedly throughout the home-and-away season, draws are a rarity.

Dating back to the turn of the century, the AFL has seen a total of 43 draws, including yesterday's ANZAC Day match.

On average, that's less than two per season in a year where there are over 200 games.

Is that enough to make a rule change?

As former Collingwood premiership captain Nick Maxwell said straight after the drawn grand final in 2010: "I don't think we've ever seen 44 guys go to war like we just did then," Maxwell said immediately after the game.

"That was amazing.

"It's probably going to take this for the AFL to change the rules - it's an absolute joke."

And that's what the game is like 14 years later, "war".

The decision should be made by the players.

Merrett believes there should be a result. Nick Daicos is an "advocate" for extra time. Pendlebury joked about it.

As fans, we ride every bump and feel every goal.

But the players live and breathe the sport and are ultimately the ones most impacted by the result.

In a sign of faith from the AFL, entrust the players to make the right call.