HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 226, Essendon 98, Collingwood 124, Draws 4
LAST TIME: Collingwood 14.20 (104) def Essendon 10.12 (72) at the MCG, Round 23 2012
| Collingwood v Essendon Thursday, April 25 2.40pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy Weather: Min 11 Max 22 Chance of rain 10%: <1mm Wind 18k NW Betting: Collingwood $1.63 Essendon $2.30 |
WALKING WOUNDED:
Essendon were hit with a double blow with Michael Hurley (ankle) and Dustin Fletcher (groin) both ruled out. With Paddy Ryder missing through suspension, the door is open for father-son recruit Joe Daniher to make his debut, while Stewart Crameri is also available having recovered from his knee complaint. Collingwood look set to boosted by the return of Darren Jolly, who has missed the past two weeks with a rib injury. But they will be sweating on the fitness of Nathan Brown (groin) and Tyson Goldsack (calf), who are both racing the clock to be fit. Small forwards Andrew Krakouer and Alan Didak have both been playing in the VFL and will be considered, while Dayne Beams (quad) and former Hawk Clinton Young (hamstring) are still a few weeks away. Captain Nick Maxwell is still sidelined for another month with a broken wrist, but in some good news, Luke Ball will play in the VFL this week - his first competitive match since rupturing his ACL in Round 3 last year.
FORM:
Essendon continued their perfect start to the season with a routine 37-point win over St Kilda. After a six-goal opening term, the Bombers were never really troubled as they cruised to the easy win. Essendon have surprised everyone with their start given they were rocked by the drugs scandal of the eve of the season. But they have managed to put that aside to post two impressive wins interstate against Adelaide and Fremantle, as well as accounting for easybeats Melbourne and St Kilda.
Collingwood bounced back from their heavy loss to Hawthorn with a dominant victory over the previously undefeated Richmond. After a tight first half, the Pies blew the game open with an eight-goal third term that powered them to a 34-point victory. Travis Cloke was the catalyst with four goals in the quarter as he finished with a career-high seven. Collingwood are sitting pretty with three wins from their opening four games.
WE THINK:
There's no bigger game in the home and away season and this Anzac Day blockbuster is shaping as another beauty. The undefeated Bombers are flying, but the Magpies have already shown they will be contenders once again despite a growing injury list. Both sides are missing a host of first-team players so absentees can't be used as an excuse for either team.
Brownlow Medalist Dane Swan has loved playing Essendon in recent years, averaging a ridiculous 43 disposals in the past three matches. The star midfielder has started the season in fine touch and will need be stopped if the Bombers are to halt their seven-match losing streak against the Pies. Travis Cloke looms as another match-winner after his superb performance last week and if he gets going then Collingwood will be hard to stop.
But Essendon have their own star performers with reigning Brownlow Medalist Jobe Watson beginning the year in fine fashion, while the likes of Brent Stanton, David Zaharakis, Brendon Goddard, Dyson Heppell and Ben Howlett have all made the Bombers midfield are formidable group. But without Michael Hurley and Paddy Ryder, they might struggle to kick a winning score and will need another big game from injury-prone forward Scott Gumbleton to have any chance of securing a victory.
But we can't see that happening and expect the Pies to be too good for their rivals in front of a bumper crowd at the MCG. Collingwood by 22 points.
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