ANZAC Matchday Thread: Collingwood V Essendon @ MCG (2:40pm, Wednesday 25th April)

[Heppell]

Last time they met:
Collingwood 25.16 (166) d Essendon 14.8 (92), Round 19, 2011, at the MCG

Odds:
Collingwood $1.70 Essendon $2.15

Teams:
Collingwood

B: Heritier O'Brien, Lachlan Keeffe, Nathan Brown
HB: Simon Buckley, Nick Maxwell, Tyson Goldsack
C: Dane Swan, Sharrod Wellingham, Ben Johnson
HF: Paul Seedsman, Chris Dawes, Ben Sinclair
F: Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Alex Fasolo
Foll: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom
I/C: Alan Toovey, Martin Clarke, Jarryd Blair, Kirk Ugle
Emg: Alan Didak, Cameron Wood, Tom Young

In: Nathan Brown, Kirk Ugle
Out: Tom Young, Jackson Paine
New: Kirk Ugle (Swan Districts (WAFL))

Essendon

B: Dustin Fletcher, Cale Hooker, Dyson Heppell
HB: Michael Hibberd, Tayte Pears, Kyle Hardingham
C: Jake Melksham, Jobe Watson, David Zaharakis
HF: Brent Stanton, Patrick Ryder, Jake Carlisle
F: Alwyn Davey, Stewart Crameri, Leroy Jetta
Foll: Tom Bellchambers, Heath Hocking, Angus Monfries
I/C: Ricky Dyson, Sam Lonergan, Ben Howlett, Cory Dell'Olio
Emg: Henry Slattery, Travis Colyer, Luke Davis

In: Jake Carlisle
Out: Michael Hurley


My preview:

The marquee match of the home and away season is upon us again, and with just a 4 day turnaround for both teams, this match will truly test the depth of both Collingwood and Essendon. Both teams won last weekend with Essendon taking a major scalp in Carlton, while Collingwood overcame a massive week off the field to win rather easily against Port Adelaide. The real story of this match will be the injurys that have plagued both teams so far this season. Essendon have had a speight of soft-tissue niggles, while the Pies face more longer term pain with several players ruled out for the 2012 season. The Dons will want to get on top in the ruck division, as they did against Carlton and give their midfielders first use of the ball. For the Pies, Scott Pendelbury loves the ANZAC Day stage and will surely be looking to put in another good performance.

As for team selection, Buckley has stated that Nathan Brown will make an apperance for the first time in 18 months, and this couldnt have come at a better time for the Pies. Alan Didak is also in the mix for a return. For the Dons, Michael Hurley has been confirmed to missing this match, with Dempsey among others ready for a return to the big stage.

Can the Pies keep their good ANZAC Day form going or can the Dons keep this unbeatan run going and claim another big scalp. Should be a ripper!

Weather:

Rain easing MIN 9 MAX 17

Cloudy. Rain with heavy falls over the eastern suburbs, easing to scattered showers during the morning. Winds southwesterly up to 40 km/h decreasing to 25 km/h later in the evening.

My tip:

This will be a hard slog for both teams with heavy rain predicted, but infront of a massive crowd on the big stage, the Pies will be too good for the battered Bombers. This will be close, but the Collingwood footy club will have a strong final quarter and win by 3-5 goals.

Collingwood by 27




Lest we forget

[Heppell]

Pies: Brown, Ugle for Paine, Young.

Dons: Carlisle for Hurley.

[James Pattinson]

Good work by the Pies - mentioned on Twitter than Didak was very, very likely, only to bring in Ugle instead.

Essendon by 21.

[Heppell]

Interesting that the Pies choose to debut a player in an ANZAC Day clash.

[Mattman]

You are aware what 'matchday' means, right?

[Dev One]

You are aware what 'matchday' means, right?

You are aware we want match day threads created the day before?

[Mattman]

You are aware we want match day threads created the day before?

Wasn't.

Y tho?

[James Pattinson]

You are aware we want match day threads created the day before?

Another truly inspirational post from Mattman.

[TakingthePapiss]

Wasn't.

Y tho?

Because we want discussion to take place?

But I request a title change to 'the day before the matchday thread'

[Mattman]

Another truly inspirational post from Mattman.

sorry il post srs now i thin kthsi should be a good gam the magpies might win but also the essendon might give them a run for there money! 7/10

this post is sponsored by afl mems

[KaLL]

sorry il post srs now i thin kthsi should be a good gam the magpies might win but also the essendon might give them a run for there money! 7/10

this post is sponsored by afl mems

mattmen pls : p omg funy

[r dub]

Essendon by 20, but will pick up a few more soft tissue injuries. Anzac day medal to go to Jobe.

[Crowkey]

Essendon to continue on from last week and just get over the line.. by 7

[r dub]

I think if the pies lose by 4 + goal there will be another fiasco about bucks when really I think it would be a respectable result.

[Crowkey]

Is all the talk about unrest in the Collingwood camp regarding Buckley true? I've read a lot about it, but you never know what to believe these days?