The crowd is locked in, the intensity is guaranteed and there is plenty at stake for Essendon and Collingwood on Anzac Day - not least of which is the Bombers' chance to show that they have, for the moment at least, eclipsed their rivals in this most tumultuous of seasons.
| Collingwood v Essendon Thursday, April 25 2.40pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy Weather: Min 11 Max 21 Chance of rain 10%: <1mm Wind 28k WNW Betting: Collingwood $1.63 Essendon $2.30 |
The emotional peak came at Subiaco a fortnight ago when the team came back from a 36-point half-time deficit to seal a dramatic win over Fremantle.
The playing group - including star recruit Brendon Goddard - are clearly playing for the coach and after four rounds Essendon is unbeaten on top of the ladder.
This is the same scenario as 2012 when the Bombers came to Anzac Day 4-0 only to lose by a point to the Pies thanks to a controversial goal to Jarryd Blair in the last 90 seconds.
Collingwood has beaten Essendon in six of the last seven editions of this early-season classic - the last time the Bombers won on April 25 was in 2009, when it took a snap in the pouring rain from David Zaharakis with 30 seconds left to get over the line.
Motivation is never lacking for either side on this day, but a win would be doubly sweet for the Bombers, giving three-times Anzac medallist Hird his first victory as a coach and sending a message that his side is a genuine top-four and flag contender.
The outs for Essendon this week are damaging. Key position player Michael Hurley was in great form before he damaged his ankle in last week's win over St Kilda, while veteran defender Dustin Fletcher is likely to miss his second straight game with groin problems.
At the Magpies, some early season concerns were wiped away with the team's imperious performance in beating Richmond at the MCG, led by a seven-goal haul from Travis Cloke.
Collingwood is missing captain Nick Maxwell, Luke Ball, Dayne Beams and ruckman Darren Jolly but the team is 3-1 and starting to fire under coach Nathan Buckley. The combination of as rejuvenated Cloke and former West Coast Eagle big man Quinten Lynch is proving extremely potent in attack.
One of the keys will be whether the likes of Brent Stanton, Jobe Watson and Ben Howlett can turn the Bombers' likely dominance in the ruck into a strong win at the clearances. For Collingwood the same applies, with Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury and others' ability to provide quick, direct ball to Cloke, Lynch and the crumbers a recipe for success.
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