Pre-match: Moving on to Anzac Day - all comments here...

[jimbeam]

This is IT, no more excuses, the over rated bombers and going down in the biggest anzac day massacre ever.. We are fit, we are confident, and beleive me we are playing like a new side .. Make no mistake collingwood should absolutely destroy essendon this year.. Our ball movement is the best its been in years, our forward delivery is the best its been in years, our forwardline is the best its ever been, Tarrant is on fire, Rocca is on fire, the ruck is starting to click,didak and magic are the two most dangerous small forwards in the comp at the moment. Our midfield is possessed and looks almost unbeatable in space, swanny and OB are new recruits they are getting leather poisoning. The players are running off switching play opening it up and hitting targets.. we have nothing to worry about.. fraser,lones,locks,ob,holland,swan,max,thomo,trav,johno,bucks,carra,jimmy are carving it up.. we should produce well over 120+ points again.. i feel this team is about to awake from a deep sleep, and its a friggin sledge hammer when things go right.. the dons will be shitting themselves.

[Johnson#26]

i know this might sound early, but who do u think will get the medal on the day.

McGough. Always seems to do well against the Dons.

[killer]

i know this might sound early, but who do u think will get the medal on the day.

McGough. Always seems to do well against the Dons.

Nah woewodin has it in the bag!

[RudeBoy]

We need to smash the Bombers, and we will. I'd bring in Burnsy and drop Carracella (or Lica, if he's injured), though it wouldn't surprise me to see us go in next week with an unchanged line-up. How long has it been since we've done that?

[hotpies]

Very important match, will really test if this side can still string a few games together against some decent opposition.

Absolute Full confidence in the boys this week, and to be honest haven't had that for awhile.

Can't wait for Bucks to lead the army out to battle.

[punkologist]

Mods can we make this the pre-match sticky?

I wouldn't like to drop Cara but someone has to make way for burnsy. If we have him we will surely carve up the scum.

[PraiseMillane]

i couldnt care less if we win by a point, just really wanna win this anzac clash. its as good as a finals game, and u wouldnt care less how much u win a finals game by.

a win by a point is nothing less than a 5 goal win especially this early in the season. going 3 - 1 with Port and Carlton to follow would be ideal for a team who has finished on the bottom for the last 2 years

[AnthonyC]

Would you care to elaborate on the ins and outs for next week Praise?
I look forward to your ever reliable sources giving us the scoop.

I will only believe we can win this one if Cam says so.

[PraiseMillane]

Would you care to elaborate on the ins and outs for next week Praise?
I look forward to your ever reliable sources giving us the scoop.

I will only believe we can win this one if Cam says so.

Bit too early in the week for suggestions there! Game day still 6 days away.

Although i did actually bump into Tarks at the Martini Bar down swanston last night and he was empathic at the current state of his body. his never felt more fitter in his AFL years. Which is gr8 to hear.

I must admit, late last yr i was wondering whether he would be at the club at the moment, but his last 2 games have been promising. Fingers crossed he can continue with it.

[Two_Pies]

Here is the Anzac Day history ... we need to address that on Tuesday !!

[Jace]

I would be bringing back Scott Burns if he is fit. It should be a pretty tough contest...we want our toughest bloke there. Tough but i would be resting Heath Shaw who made a few skill errors. Burns is better than Shaw at the moment.

I agree Shaw will be the unlucky one to miss for Burns. Shaw made a few silly mistakes early & do do well in the 2nd half, not to mention his great games the week before. Burns is far to important to miss.

As for Presti it is a tuff one. Do we drop experience in Wakes who has had better games than the last 2 weeks or do we stick with him & drop Harry who has done well... I say Harry for now....

[Johnson#26]

Having another look at the potential line-ups...

Adam McPhee is a real danger man, as he can create off halfback with his flair, and is very good one-on-one both on the air and at ground level. I suggest he'd be the man for Tarrant for Fraser, as he will force them to play accountable football.

Mark Bolton has been a gross underachiever since he arrived at Windy Hill with the 4th pick in the 1997 National Draft, but has proven handy at times as a tagging utility. He could be the man Sheedy employs to hold Fraser/Tarrant, as he is quite mobile and fit for his size.

Andrew Lovett starred last Anzac Day with five goals, but Malthouse will not let that happen again. Stick Ben Johnson on him first up to shut him down, with Lockyer and perhaps Heath Shaw still in the sheds if need be.

We need to expose Essendon's lack of pace - while we ain't the fastest side going around, we are probably the quicker of the two side's, with our dash off the back flank a feature thus far.

Use Swan, Jonno, Lones and co to burst off halfback to set us up - even Blake Caracella, who featured heavily in our thumping win over the Hawks.

Our midfield is a touch more mature than theirs, and would probably have the edge in class. The Johnson's - Mark and Jason - are as tough as they come and are regular 20+ possession winners, but are far from match winners (Jason hasn't been one since 01/02).

Aside from them, Peverill has struggled for form so far in '06 and was demoted last week, while Dyson and Monfries are eager but not particuarly damaging (although the latter has proven a handful up forward in the past).

Brent Stanton is another big ball winner, and is likely to square off with Licca/O'Bree - I'd back our Magpies to hold their own/beat him.

The ruck will be interesting - Hille returns from suspension, with support from Patrick Ryder and, at a pinch, Bradley.

We have Fraser in good touch and a Guy Richards working towards some decent form - it should end up an interesting duel.

I recall some people were quoted as saying Hille is the better player than Rogan. Tuesday should shed some light on the issue.

O'Brien may make way for Presti, I feel, but would be hard done by. Healthy competition for places.

[favourites 2008]

least laycock isnt playing, he toweled us last year.

[DaVe86]

Yer sounds good jonno...agree that mcphee will most likely get Tarrant. What a match up!!! That could really suit the dons....buttttttt McPhee will run off tarrant which might give him a bit of freedom. Either that or Tarrant will take mcphee to the goal square and totally limit his influence on the game. Sheedy may even play mcphee as a forward with lloyd absence, but i doubt this.

I disagree with Jonno on Lovett. Lockyer may be slow, but he has done great tagging job the last few weeks. Lockyer was good against Shannon Grant last week and should get the job on Lovett. Johnson will run off too much and leave lovett very free. Lockyer plays tighter footy.

Id say Brodie Holland will take Camporeale.

Fletcher vs Rocca id say would be a certainty. Kepler Bradley may play forward or take on Travis Cloke.

Stanton is my worry. He is a very effective player. Id be putting Licuria onto him to shut him down. With Camporeale and Stanton shut down, their midfield lacks options. Peverill may take Buckley.

I feel without Lloyd, Presti should may miss. However it will be interesting to see who the dons use to replace Lloyd. It may be Courtney Johns, Bolton, Henneman or they may play small. It will be much up to the correct matchups as to who malthouse plays down back. Presti is our best full back, and i doubt we should leave him out. Its like Geelong leaving out Scarlett.

[couragous cloke]

Totally confirmed last night Lloyd definitely not playing. Which is a huge plus for us.

The question is... Who is going to kick goals for Essendon? Lucas and Monfries are the only ones i can think of. Shut them down and we should be right.