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

[stoliboy]

Inside Football is predicting an Essendon win by 22 points.

"THE WOOD: Collingwood has won two of its last 15 games against Essendon, back to 1998, and lost 18 of its past 24 games at the MCG, dating back to the 03 Grand Final"

[punkologist]

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

crap we have never kicked more than 17 goals on anzac day and no more than 15 since 1997

We should rectify than when we kick 25 on the way to a nice thumping on tuesday.

[couragous cloke]

"THE WOOD: Collingwood has won two of its last 15 games against Essendon, back to 1998, and lost 18 of its past 24 games at the MCG, dating back to the 03 Grand Final"

Never look into this sort of bullshit. Completely irrelivent. We will poledrive the dons!!

[Johnson#26]

[Johnson#26]

"THE WOOD: Collingwood has won two of its last 15 games against Essendon, back to 1998, and lost 18 of its past 24 games at the MCG, dating back to the 03 Grand Final"

The Bombers have been a bogey side of ours in the past, certainly. They now have the Anzac record of 6-4 - its time we put it right.

We've missed Sav - he used to carve Essendon/Fletcher/Matthew Banks up whenever he faced them.

[killer]

http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&s ... eid=258551

Match Preview: Collingwood v Essendon
4:06:37 PM Tue 18 April, 2006
Paul Gough
Exclusive to afl.com.au

COLLINGWOOD V ESSENDON

WHERE & WHEN: Tuesday April 25 at the MCG at 2.40pm

TV & RADIO: Channel 9 -- Melbourne (2pm, subject to sell-out), Adelaide (1.30pm), Perth (12pm), Sydney (2pm), Brisbane (2pm)

OUR COVERAGE: live scores, stats & audio, Game Day News Desk, match replay (24 hour delay)

HEAD TO HEAD: Collingwood 113, Essendon 95, Drawn 4

LAST TIME: Essendon 21.5 (131) d Collingwood 15.15 (105) at the MCG, round 16, 2005.


THE MEDICAL ROOM: Essendon suffered a huge blow ahead of what is always the most eagerly anticipated game on the home and away calendar after skipper and spearhead Matthew Lloyd tore his hamstring during the loss against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday. Lloyd is expected to miss three weeks, robbing the Bombers not only of on-field leadership but also their best avenue to goal. Lloyd kicked eight goals in a best on ground display last time these two teams met and to make matters worse his two most likely replacements in Courtney Johns (ankle) and Jason Laycock (thigh) are both not certain to be available with Laycock already ruled out. The Bombers have also lost handy utility Mark Bolton for a fortnight with a groin strain but at least number one ruckman David Hille returns from a one match suspension while Dean Rioli (knee) is also available. The Magpies are in far better shape after suffering no injuries during their Easter Monday mauling of Essendon while full-back Simon Prestigiacomo, who was a late withdrawal against the Kangaroos with a mystery injury that coach Mick Malthouse refused to divulge post-game, is also expected to return.

THE STORY SO FAR: Both these sides have started the 2006 season brightly after disappointing 2005 seasons - setting the stage for a huge Anzac Day game which also marks the return of the MCG as an AFL venue. The league's number one ground has been unavailable for the first three rounds of the season due to the removal of the athletics track following the Commonwealth Games in late March. The Magpies have recovered well from their last quarter fade-out against Adelaide in round one to thrash Hawthorn and the Kangaroos in the past fortnight and suddenly find themselves sitting fourth and with all their missing big guns from last year in skipper Nathan Buckley, key forward Anthony Rocca, number one ruckman Josh Fraser, goalsneak Alan Didak and running half-back Ben Johnson fit and firing again. The Bombers have only one win from three games but were gallant in defeat against Brisbane at the Gabba in round two and may well have beaten the high-flying Western Bulldogs last week had Lloyd not been injured late in the third quarter.

THE WHITEBOARD: Just how do the Bombers' replace Lloyd, whose goals have so often been the difference in big matches for Kevin Sheedy's team last time? One option is to play Scott Lucas, who kicked five goals the last time these two teams met, in the goal-square but then that leaves the problem of who to play at centre-half-forward. Another possibility is to perhaps play David Hille at full-forward and leave Lucas at centre-half-forward but then that means leaving the ruck division in the hands of the inexperienced Paddy Ryder. The loss of the versatile Mark Bolton doesn't help either and Kevin Sheedy faces a major challenge in just how he structures his side this week for a game the Bomber hordes will be desperate to win.

THE VERDICT: Collingwood has not beaten Essendon on Anzac Day since 2002 but gets its opportunity here. The loss of Lloyd looms as a major blow for the Bombers, leaving them light on for goalkicking power while equally at the other end their defence faces a major challenge in combating the Pies' powerful forward line of Chris Tarrant, Anthony Rocca, Josh Fraser and Alan Didak. Collingwood has been in devastating form in the past fortnight and while Eseendon represents a step up in class from their previous opponents in Hawthorn and the Kangaroos, the Pies look stronger at both ends of the ground and look set to finally give the "Black and White Army" something to smile about on the biggest day of the home and away calendar. Collingwood by 28 points>

[HAL]

Oh, MEDICAL ROOM Essendon suffered a huge blow of what is. Who was in it?

[3rd degree]

We wish the whole side Hal!

[HAL]

That doesnt sound like something I would be interested in.

[melissa]

It's time to put the bogey to bed on Tuesday. We've got the talent, the confidence, the full list, the drive and most importantly the self belief that has been missing since the Grand Final in '03. My bet is we'll win by 20+ points and one of our young guys, hopefully Daisy, will snag the Anzac Day medal. Or it will be reallly nice to see a player like Lonie finally come into his own, tackle like crazy, kick three goals and win it. Don't laugh all you Lonie baggers who say he's soft, his time is now!!!!!

[skaman]

Essenscum are ripe for a spanking! We owe 'em plenty. Dont just want to win, want to grind them like all good teams should. We are good ...and getting better. Dunno if there's a spot for him, but I'd love to see Pendles debut. Anzac day always has suprises, and if this kid is anywhere near the wraps he's getting..go on MM...Do it!

[MK]

My surprise selection would be to select Tex Walker with one mission & an up front payment. Knock out Hird a the opening bounce.

Hird is an absolute genius & is the best footballer in the comp above his shoulders.

HE may line up at full forward, and apart from Lucas is the man to watch!

[Adz]

Licuria and Burns are too slow to play in the midfield together. Should both get half a game each.

[Zeke]

I would love to see a Pendlebury debut.

I honestly can't squeeze him in, though.

[DaVe86]

jonno i think you are 100% spot on with your team.

Its tough cos Shaw and Obrien are showing a lot. But our best team must be played. Presti and Burns are definately in our best team. Obrien and Shaw have shown a lot but have not looked secure. You panic a bit when they have the ball.

However...I would be waiting to see what kind of team essendon field. If they name Johns, Henneman, Bolton id be playing both Wakelin and Presti. However, if they go smaller and quicker...like playing Monfries as a full forward for example...then i would be dropping Wakelin for Presti. Wakes got towelled up yet again and presti should take his spot.