2017 - R5 - Essendon v Collingwood Anzac Day Clash: 3:20pm AEST MCG

[_Mike_]

Essendon v Collingwood

HEAVY overnight rain has meant that no public parking will be available in Yarra Park at the MCG for the Anzac Day clash between Essendon and Collingwood.
Limited spaces will be available only for disabled permit holders, the MCC has advised.
Those attending the game are advised to take public transport.



Forecast for the rest of Tuesday
Summary

Max 19
Rain then showers.
Possible rainfall: 4 to 10 mm
Chance of any rain: 95%

Melbourne area
Cloudy. Very high (95%) chance of rain, easing to a high (70%) chance of showers this morning. The chance of a thunderstorm this morning. Winds northerly 20 to 25 km/h turning westerly 15 to 25 km/h early in the morning then tending northwesterly in the evening.


Team Selections



Collingwood has had the upper hand in recent Anzac Day contests but enters this year's clash in some trouble due to its indifferent start to the season. The Pies were ordinary in their loss to St Kilda last weekend, after failing to back up their tight away win over Sydney the previous round. But they might get to see recruit Daniel Wells for the first time at senior level after the ex-Kangaroo returned in the VFL last round. Essendon, according to coach John Worsfold, has "hit the wall" after its brilliant beginning to the season. Its past two performances have been lacklustre, and have left the Bombers 2-2 after four rounds. But Worsfold will be hoping the huge crowd can lift his side back to the quick, explosive and dangerous line-up that tore apart Hawthorn in round one.

WHERE AND WHEN: MCG, Tuesday, April 25, 3.20pm AEST

LAST FIVE TIMES
R5, 2016, Collingwood 22.10 (142) d Essendon 11.7 (73) at the MCG
R23, 2015, Essendon 14.11 (95) d Collingwood 14.8 (92) at the MCG
R4, 2015, Collingwood 9.15 (69) d Essendon 6.13 (49) at the MCG
R17, 2014, Essendon 16.7 (103) d Collingwood 5.9 (39) at the MCG
R6, 2014, Collingwood 12.11 (83) d Essendon 8.12 (60) at the MCG

Talking points

1. Both the Bombers and Magpies continue to be high disposal teams. Collingwood is ranked third and Essendon is fourth for total disposals in the competition, while the Bombers are in the top four for uncontested possessions.
2. This is the 23rd clash between the sides on Anzac Day and Collingwood holds a clear advantage, winning 13 games to eight. There was also a draw in the first contest in 1995. The Magpies have won the past three and six of the past seven games.
3. Collingwood remains the most inaccurate team in 2017, kicking 41.47 at 38.7 per cent. Essendon has been better in this area, kicking 53.31 at 51 per cent.
4. Of current players, Bombers midfielder Brent Stanton has played the most Anzac Day matches (11) just ahead of Scott Pendlebury and Jobe Watson (10 each). David Zaharakis has kicked 11 goals on Anzac Day, and Pie Steele Sidebottom has slotted 10.
5. Essendon has struggled taking the ball inside 50 this season, being ranked 17th with only 48.3 a game. In contrast, Collingwood is ranked sixth, with 55.5 a game.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Darcy Moore
It is hard not to feel a little sorry for Darcy Moore playing up forward in the Pies' side so far this year, given the terrible ball use at stages. But the Pies need more goals to compete and Moore is their main man in the forward half.

PREDICTION: Essendon by 12 points

Information sources include the AFL website

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Hopefully it stops raining because I don't want to sit in the rain.

 

[Skipper_]

Hopefully it stops raining because I don't want to sit in the rain.

Hopefully it stops raining because we will lose in the rain.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Tickets still available http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=ESSEN0517

 

[Bigs]

Might want to allow plenty of time getting to and from the game...

No MCG parking for Anzac Day blockbuster
http://afl.com.au/news/2017-04-25/no-mcg-parking-for-anzac-day-blockbuster

 

[_Mike_]

Everyone should know the rules on posting - especially game day threads. If you don't, please familiarise yourself with them HERE

This includes any use of banned team names, trolling references to ASADA/WADA or the like. You will be carded regardless

Enjoy the game everyone and keep it fun for all.

 

[Gavin Excell]

Hopefully it stops raining because we will lose in the rain.

V Carlton was wet from memory?

 

[JayJ20]

Think it'll be close. If it doesn't rain much, we should be too quick and efficient for them. If it rains for a significant part of the game, then Collingwood will have the upper hand. But as well documented, we've had a terrible recent record so Collingwood will definitely come out fired up.

 

[rdhopkins2]

Fingers crossed the rain stays away. Been showers in Melbourne's eastern suburbs all morning.

Hope it's a close game!

 

[juss]

Bombers by 10.
Heppell BOG

 

[smasha]

Good luck to both teams.

Bombers due but I picked the Pies.

 

[adammania9]

Best of luck to both teams - is always a great spectacle regardless of the result

Bias tip? Collingwood by 24 points
Adam treloar bOG

Real tip? Essendon by 15
Zach Merrett BOG

 

[Johnny_Dogg4]

close game to tip , if it rains PIES
otherwise if its min rainfall then the dons and the knives are out for bucks

 

[HBF]

Not sure about this one. Probably Collingwood but who knows.

 

[Highly Evolved]

Gates
MCC Gates Open 12.00pm. Public Gates open at 1.10pm. Main entertainment starts from 2.10pm and the match will begin at 3.20pm.

Match Program
This year’s match will feature
- The Australian Defence Force Band
- Performance by Mark Seymour
- Motorcade of ANZAC Veterans
- Presentation of Match Day Footballs
- Joint Cheer Squad Banner
- Observance Ceremony
- Catafalque Guard slow march, flags are lowered to half-mast
- Dr Robert Webster President of RSL Victoria recites “The Ode”
- One minutes Silence
- Last Post
- Reveille
- National Anthem

Timings
2.09pm: Australian Army Band
2.11pm: Teams preliminary on-field warm-up
2.33pm: Motorcade of Veterans
2.42pm: Main Performance – Mark Seymour
2.54pm: Joint Cheer Squad Banner Display
2.55pm: Presentation of Match Day Footballs
2.57pm: Essendon Enters
3.00pm: Collingwood Enters
3.08pm: Teams Line Up for Anzac Day Observance Ceremony
3.18pm: Coin Toss
3.20pm: Match commences
Half Time: Leigh Kernighan Performance
5.55pm: On-field post-match presentation - Anzac Trophy & Anzac Day Medal winner announced

 

[Angus Young]

Huge game this..

I think it's curtains for the loser.

 

[boydee]

The pies will win this game by 14 points. Essendon supporters will come to the realisation that although they are better than last year, they are still pretty much a very average football side, under the control of a very average coach and leader of young men.

 

[sonnywalters]

I think today is the day Bucks finally gets the ass.

Collingwood have only managed 41 goals for the whole season. Abysmal. The next lowest is Carlton on 48 and then Essendon on 53.

I used to think Bucks was ok but I was wrong and today's team selection proves it.

The obvious thing he needs to do is bring in Dunn down back and throw Reid forward. Why recruit Dunn if you wont play him? His VFL form has been excellent. Why stick with a forward line that cannot score?

This Collingwood side is simply incapable of scoring more than 12 goals a game.

 

[Skipper_]

The pies will win this game by 14 points. Essendon supporters will come to the realisation that although they are better than last year, they are still pretty much a very average football side, under the control of a very average coach and leader of young men.

Most of us all ready think we are an average mid-table team. 8 - 14 this year IMO.

 

[Macca18]

Collingwood by 40.

They're not much good... but we are still worse.

 

[gfhawthorn]

Pies by 20 and Adams to get the medal

 

[mxett]

if there's more than a drop of rain the Pies will win by plenty. If it stays dry the Pies will win by a few goals. Hoping for a good game at least

 

[Xtreme]

Still think it's ludicrous that 10th v 13th face off on Anzac day. The round itself should be open ended so that the top 2 teams at the time get to play off on the day. Or as suggested in the past have the rematch of last years grand final on this day.

It's going to be a real slog, not only because of the weather. But you've got Collingwood that have good skills, but lack the goal kicking prowess.
And you've got a currently deflated Essendon that in their own coaches words have hit a wall (which is mind boggling in itself as Essendon have had a longer pre season than most other clubs (being out of finals contention last year). There should be no injury or fitness excuses.

Maybe they should put an exhibition AFLW match on either as the warm up or the main event itself, it may be a better show piece.....

Collingwood by 13

 

[The_Big_Ship]

Bombers by 30.

 

[Bazza97]

Will be interesting to see how both teams handle the wet weather in particular Essendon after their loss to Carlton in round 3. Think Essendon will have learnt from that game and will get the win. Hard to get a gauge on what the margin could be but think the Bombers will get the job done.