Preview Round 6 ANZAC Day: Collingwood v Essendon

Sportal

Collingwood v Essendon Friday April 25, 2.40pm MCG 7 / Fox Footy 2.30pm Weather: Min 7 Max 21 Chance of rain 80%: 1-5mm Wind: N 23kph Betting: Collingwood 1.57 Essendon 2.45

Why watch?
It's the 20th instalment of the Anzac Day blockbuster between Collingwood and Essendon since the big annual clash started with that famous draw back in 1995. Since then, these games have witnessed plenty of drama and heart-stopping moments as two of the biggest teams in the land throw the kitchen sink at each other. Along with the first-up draw, we've had the incredible finish in 2009 when David Zaharakis' late goal sunk the Magpies. There's also been Jarryd Blair's contested goal that saw Collingwood triumph by a point in 2012 after a dramatic late goal review. At this stage, Collingwood lead the way with 10 wins to Essendon's eight but after a week of soul-searching following a diabolical performance against St Kilda, the Bombers will be looking to fire up against the old enemy. As for Collingwood, the Magpies look to be building into the season nicely and will take plenty of confidence into this game. 

Match notes

• Bomber Thompson's return to the hot-seat hasn't been all smooth sailing. In his post-match press conference last week, Thompson started discussing the amount of recovery time his side had following their loss to Fremantle just six days earlier. Thompson's words were interpreted by club great Matthew Lloyd as an attack on the professionalism of the Essendon players in terms of doing what they needed to aid recovery. And, while Thompson's denied this, the words apparently caused something of a stir in the corridors out at Tullamarine, at least that's what the Herald-Sun reckoned.
  
• Thompson also apparently has issues with Jake Carlisle to deal with. An All-Australian nominated defender last season, Carlisle's permanent switch to the forward line hasn't yielded the results many would have expected after he played in attack to good effect at times last year. Carlisle now may find himself on the chopping block for this game.
  
• Brendon Goddard remains in doubt as he continues to recover from a groin injury while Heath Hocking and Kyle Hardingham both picked up knocks in the 16-point loss to St Kilda.
  
• Collingwood on the other hand are firing along nicely and may be boosted by Nathan Brown's return. Lachlan Keefe and Jack Frost have been doing a more than serviceable job in defence alongside a rejuvenated Nick Maxwell but one of the pair may find themselves making way for Brown if he returns this week.
  
• Pies coach Nathan Buckley summed up their impressive in over North Melbourne with the simple maxim of 'pressure at the source, structure at the back'.
  
• Expect another big performance from Steele Sidebottom this week. Buckley refused to speak glowingly about Sidebottom's quality efforts against North, simply saying he expected him to keep growing and having the right attitude.
  

Say what?
"We see game-time as part of his rehabilitation (and) progression back to being available for senior selection. We see it as soon as this week. He trained well today but we will have a chat with Marley over the next couple of days and if he feels he is right we will put him in the side on Saturday," said Nathan Bukley on Wednesday when discussing Marley Williams immediate return through the VFL after he received a 12-month suspended sentence for GBH. 

Last five games (includes 2013 season)
Collingwood
L 70 Fremantle
W 20 Sydney
L 11 Geelong
W 38 Richmond
W 35 North Melbourne
Essendon
W 39 North Melbourne
L 4 Hawthorn
W 81 Carlton
L 53 Fremantle
L 16 St Kilda

Cold hard fact
After quarter-time in last week's loss to St Kilda, Essendon scored just four goals. Two of those came during the last five minutes as well when Brent Stanton found a knackered Saints defence wanting.

Final word
Essendon's promising start to the season is dwindling rapidly after successive losses to Fremantle and St Kilda and it could just get worse if they lose to the Pies. Collingwood on the other hand appear in a much better place than their opposition heading into this clash and one imagines the Magpies are still smarting from last year's Anzac Day humiliation. Essendon will still rise to the occasion but it's Collingwood by 20 points.