2018 Round 16: The Team, Preview, Injury List

2018 AFL Round 16 COLLINGWOOD v ESSENDON Time & Place: Sunday July 8, 3:20pm EST MCG Fox Sports 3:00pm EST Weather: Min 7 Max 13 Chance of rain 50%: < 1mm Wind: WSW 16kph Betting: Collingwood $1.62 Essendon $2.30

B: Brayden Maynard, Brody Mihocek, Jack Crisp

HB: Jeremy Howe, Matthew Scharenberg, Flynn Appleby

C: Chris Mayne, Scott Pendlebury, Tom Phillips

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

F: Josh Thomas, Mason Cox, Jaidyn Stephenson

Foll: Brodie Grundy, Brayden Sier, Steele Sidebottom

Int from: Tom Langdon, Adam Oxley, Callum Brown, Taylor Adams, Levi Greenwood, Sam Murray, Josh Daicos, Rupert Wills

IN: Callum Brown, Levi Greenwood, Sam Murray, Adam Oxley, Rupert Wills

OUT: Lynden Dunn (knee)

COLLINGWOOD NEWS Levi Greenwood is the headline inclusion in Collingwood's squad for Sunday's big clash with Essendon at the MCG. Greenwood missed the win over Gold Coast on Saturday night after suffering concussion during the previous round's victory over Carlton. Callum Brown, who was best on ground in the VFL Magpies' loss to Williamstown last weekend, has also come into the 26-man squad as have Sam Murray, Adam Oxley and Rupert Wills. At this stage, Lynden Dunn is the only player to go out the team that defeated Gold Coast in round 15. Dunn has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a serious knee injury that will require a reconstruction. Brody Mihocek has been named in Dunn's usual position of full-back. Pies coach Nathan Buckley stated in his weekly press conference on Thursday that Mihocek, who arrived at Collingwood as a defender but earned his AFL debut after impressing as a forward in the VFL, was likely to spend a lot of time in the backline in the coming weeks.

AFL PREVIEW ROUND 16 COLLINGWOOD V ESSENDON AFL LAST FIVE TIMES R5, 2018, Collingwood 14.17 (101) d Essendon 7.10 (52) at the MCG 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 LADDER POSITIONS Collingwood: 2 Essendon: 12 INJURY LIST Darcy Moore (hamstring) - test Josh Smith (hamstring) - test Jarryd Blair (hamstring) - 1-2 weeks Jamie Elliott (hamstring) - 1-2 weeks Levi Greenwood (concussion) - test James Aish (knee) - 1-2 weeks Alex Fasolo (ankle) - 1-2 weeks Ben Reid (knee / calf) – 4 weeks Adam Treloar (hamstrings) - 7-8 weeks Kayle Kirby (medical condition) – indefinite Tim Broomhead (leg) – season Tyson Goldsack (knee) – season Lynden Dunn (knee) - season Daniel Wells (foot) - season SUMMARY Two of the form teams of the competition meet at the MCG on Sunday as Essendon's charge towards the top eight gathers momentum. The Bombers were at their high-paced, skillful and high-scoring best in their excellent win over North Melbourne on Sunday at Etihad Stadium, and added the Roos to their list of recent scalps, including fellow top-eight hopefuls Greater Western Sydney, Geelong and West Coast. A win over the Pies would give the Bombers' finals hopes a huge boost, but it will be no easy task. Collingwood cruised to victory over Gold Coast on the weekend, seeing them surge to second on the ladder after their hot run of form. The Pies' dynamic and unique set of forwards continue to prove hard to stop, with Josh Thomas booting another four goals against the Suns. The Bombers couldn't contain Mason Cox in their Anzac Day clash earlier this year so expect plenty of work to be put into stopping the marking Magpies target. AFL THE SIX POINTS These are two of the in-form teams of the competition. Since round nine, Collingwood is the only undefeated team in the AFL and the Bombers aren't far behind with five wins and a loss in that time. Collingwood will go into the game with a home-ground edge. Essendon has struggled at the MCG this season losing four of five games, with its only win occurring against Geelong in round nine. Collingwood has won five of its nine games at the venue including its past three.  Nothing separates the sides recently, with three wins apiece since 2015 after Collingwood had won eight of the previous 10 games between 2010-14. Collingwood is the highest disposal team this season, with the Magpies still the only side averaging more than 400 a game. They are also the No.1-ranked uncontested possession team, with the Bombers mid-table for disposals.  The Magpies will be aiming for seven straight wins for the first time since they won 10 in a row in 2012. The Bombers are aiming for four consecutive wins for the first time since midway through 2013.  Jaidyn Stephenson's brilliant debut season sees him ranked the third-best first-year player in the Schick AFL Player Ratings board, behind top-placed Cat Tim Kelly and Demon Bayley Fritsch in second. IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Jordan De Goey It's been a big few weeks for Jordan De Goey with speculation over his future. But the emerging Magpies star re-signed with the club for two years on Sunday and with that discussion now over, it will be interesting to see if it has any impact on his output. PREDICTION: Collingwood by 22 points