2018 Round 5: The Team, Preview, Injury List

2018 AFL Round 5 COLLINGWOOD v ESSENDON Time & Place: Wednesday April 25, 3:20pm EST MCG TV: 7mate / Fox Footy 3:00pm EST Weather: Min 16 Max 21 Chance of rain 60%: 1-5mm Wind: SW 8kph Betting: Collingwood $1.79 Essendon 2.05

B: Sam Murray, Lynden Dunn, Brayden Maynard

HB: Tom Langdon, Matthew Scharenberg, Jeremy Howe

C: Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury, Tom Phillips

HF: Jordan De Goey, Ben Reid, Will Hoskin-Elliott

F: Jaidyn Stephenson, Mason Cox, Callum Brown

Foll: Brodie Grundy, Adam Treloar, Josh Thomas

Int: Jack Crisp, Travis Varcoe, Ben Crocker, James Aish

Emg: Jarryd Blair, Sam McLarty, Brayden Sier, Flynn Appleby

COLLINGWOOD NEWS It’s a settled Collingwood outfit that will take on Essendon in Wednesday’s traditional ANZAC Day blockbuster at the MCG. The Magpies will go into the match with the same line up that comprehensively beat the Crows at the Adelaide Oval in round four. Injured top-liners Taylor Adams (hamstring) and Darcy Moore (hamstring) were among those who will not appear. Neither will Daniel Wells, who continued his return from injury in the VFL on Saturday. Stability An unchanged line up means Collingwood will have used 23 players in three games. Since Mason Cox and Ben Reid returned for the round three win over Carlton, the Magpies have made only one move at the selection table, recalling Jordan De Goey in place of Adams last week. It’s a sign of a team that is humming nicely. Kids on the rise Supporters will notice three new names on the emergency list. Sam McLarty, Brayden Sier and Flynn Appleby will be on stand-by to make their senior debut on the biggest home and away stage after three weeks of fine VFL form. They join Jarryd Blair as the potential eleventh-hour inclusions. Blair himself is in great touch in the VFL, and has great memories of ANZAC Days gone by, having kicked the match winner back in 2012. ANZAC Day debutants As it stands, six Magpies are in line to make their ANZAC Day debuts. Lynden Dunn, Matthew Scharenberg, Ben Crocker, Callum Brown, Jaidyn Stephenson and Sam Murray will all represent the club for the first time on 25 April. Brown’s father, Gavin, played in five of the first six ANZAC Day matches, last appearing in 2000.

AFL PREVIEW ROUND 5 COLLINGWOOD V ESSENDON AFL LAST FIVE TIMES R16, 2017, Essendon 18.9 (117) d Collingwood 12.8 (80) at the MCG R5, 2017, Essendon 15.10 (100) d Collingwood 11.16 (82) at the MCG R5, 2016, Collingwood 22.10 (142) d Essendon 11.7 (73) at the MCG R23, 2015, Essendon 14.11 (95) d Collingwood 14.8 (92) at the MCG R4, 2015, Collingwood 9.15 (69) d Essendon 6.13 (49) at the MCG  LADDER POSITIONS Collingwood: 10 Essendon: 11 INJURY LIST Taylor Adams (hamstring) - 1-2 weeks Jamie Elliott (hamstring) - 1-2 weeks Kayle Kirby (medical condition) - TBC Levi Greenwood (knee) - 2-3 weeks Darcy Moore (hamstring) - 1-2 weeks Josh Smith (hamstring) - 1-2 weeks Tim Broomhead (broken leg) - season Tyson Goldsack (knee) - season SUMMARY The hype surrounding the annual Anzac Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon has lifted significantly after both clubs posted terrific victories in round four – the Magpies shocking Adelaide with an Adelaide Oval hammering, and the Bombers rebounding strongly to inflict Port Adelaide’s first loss of the season. This is a clash between a Pies side that always gives its all but often lacks polish, and a Bombers team that boasts class everywhere but lacks consistency. Magpie Brodie Grundy has been the AFL’s best ruckman this season and midfielder Steele Sidebottom has also entered the elite category, while the Pies will need to limit the influence of Dons defender Michael Hurley and counter a dangerous attack boasting Jake Stringer, James Stewart and Joe Daniher, with the latter finally discovering some late touch against the Power. AFL THE SIX POINTS The clubs have met 23 times on Anzac Day since 1995 for 13 Collingwood wins, nine Essendon victories and one draw. Essendon has won three of their past four head-to-head contests. Last year, when Essendon defeated Collingwood twice in a season for the first time since 2005, Orazio Fantasia starred with four goals on Anzac Day and five in the return clash. The Magpies handball more than any other team in the competition, averaging 190.3, and are No.1 for disposals with 404.8 a game. Essendon is mid-table for disposals with an average of 365. The Magpies are ranked second in clearances with 41.8 a game while the Bombers are equal-16th with 33.5. Collingwood boasts four players in the top 40 of the Schick AFL Player Ratings – skipper Scott Pendlebury (No. 3), Adam Treloar (No. 9), Brodie Grundy (No. 20) and Steele Sidebottom (No. 40) – while Essendon has just one, Zach Merrett (No. 27). IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Mason Cox is under no selection pressure whatsoever after demonstrating his importance to the Pies’ structure over the past fortnight. But, two years on from his AFL debut on Anzac Day 2016, it’s time the ‘American Pie’ provided more than just a contest and support ruckwork. In his three outings this season Cox hasn't troubled the scorers, so it would be timely if he nailed some goals and clunked a few contested marks. PREDICTION: Collingwood by 19 points