Presenting all you need to know about the Bombers ahead of Sunday's blockbuster clash at the MCG:

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Essendon began its 2018 campaign with an impressive win over Adelaide at Etihad Stadium, then proceeded to lose six of its next seven games, a run of defeats that included a 49-point loss to Collingwood on ANZAC Day. The Bombers' loss to Carlton in round eight left them with a 2-6 record and seemingly out of finals contention. Yet they've surged back into calculations by winning five of their past six games, a run of results that began with their shock demolition of Geelong in the Country Game at the MCG in round nine. Last weekend they improved their record to 7-7 by defeating North Melbourne by 17 points in a classic contest at Etihad Stadium. The victory over the Roos left them in 12th place on the ladder, but just one win behind the eighth-placed Cats.

Adam Saad was at his dashing best in Essendon's win over North Melbourne last weekend (AFL Photos)

What they're saying
The Bombers were a very happy bunch after the win over North Melbourne. "We know we’re a fit team and we roll a lot of mids through the middle, so we knew we’d get them in the second half," Kyle Langford told the Essendon website after the game. "It was a pretty fast game ... but we’re pretty fresh and have got a seven-day break (before playing Collingwood), so (we’ll have a) good recovery and go again."

On the downside, the Bombers are still trying to work out a plan for Joe Daniher, who has been grounded by a groin problem. Essendon coach John Worsfold spoke about the issue on Wednesday, when he revealed that a meeting between a number of club staff and Daniher this weekend will determine the star forward's short-term future. "On Saturday, we'll map out where he's at now and what his program is to get him back to 100 per cent health," Worsfold said. "That won't take into account any time-frames, it will just be, this is what it's going to take."

Player to watch
The aforementioned Kyle Langford has been in sensational form since returning to Essendon's AFL team for the round nine win over Geelong. The 21-year-old tallied 22 disposals and seven tackles in the win over North Melbourne last weekend and is finally feeling at home at the highest level. "I’ve worked really hard on my game and it’s good to see it come out in the AFL," he told Essendon's website. "It’s satisfying as well, but I’ve still got a long way to go so I’ll continually work on that."

Kyle Langford has cemented his spot in Essendon's AFL side in recent weeks (AFL Photos)

Last time: Round 5, 2018 at the MCG
Match report excerpt: Collingwood has climbed into the top eight for the first time in 56 rounds, thrashing an injury-hit Essendon by 49 points on Anzac Day before a crowd of 91,440 at the MCG.

The Magpies opened 2018 with two losses, but their dominant 14.7 (101) to 7.10 (52) victory over the Bombers was their third in a row and vaulted them into fifth on the ladder after five rounds.

Collingwood led by just seven points after a high-intensity first term and could only extend its lead to 17 points at the main break despite dominating the second quarter.

However, Nathan Buckley's men put the Bombers to the sword in the second half, holding them to just three goals – and none in the third term – as they piled on eight goals of their own.

Essendon's cause was not helped by the fact it lost Josh Begley (knee) and Josh Green (hamstring) to injuries in the first half, with both players sitting out the entire second half.

The Magpies were brilliantly led by captain Scott Pendlebury (27 possessions) and vice-captain Steele Sidebottom (25 possessions and three goals), who were the most influential players on the ground when the contest was alive, carving ways through the Bombers' defences with their uncommon ability to find time and space amid chaos.

Adam Treloar (34 possessions and two goals) provided Collingwood with damaging run through the middle, especially in the second half, and was a deserving winner of the Anzac Medal.

Jaidyn Stephenson (two goals), Jordan De Goey (one) and Will Hoskin-Elliott (two) were livewires in attack, while Lynden Dunn enjoyed a decisive win over Dons spearhead Joe Daniher, and Jeremy Howe short-circuited Bomber attacks time and time again with his intercept marking.

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COLLINGWOOD      4.4    6.9    8.14     14.17 (101)
ESSENDON              3.3    4.4     4.9          7.10 (52)

GOALS
Collingwood: Sidebottom 3, Treloar 2, Hoskin-Elliott 2, Stephenson 2, Cox 2, De Goey, Reid, Phillips
Essendon: Stringer 2, Daniher, Stewart, Heppell, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Hooker

BEST 
Collingwood: Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Treloar, Grundy, Dunn, Howe
Essendon: Hurley, Heppell, Z.Merrett, Zaharakis

INJURIES 
Collingwood: Nil
Essendon: Begley (knee), Green (hamstring)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Deboy, Hosking, Chamberlain

Official crowd: 91,440 at the MCG

Anzac Medal voting (four judges vote 3-2-1):

11 - Adam Treloar 
7 - Steele Sidebottom 
4 - Scott Pendlebury 
2 - Jordan De Goey

Gerard Whateley (AFL 360, chair) - Treloar, De Goey, Sidebottom
Peter Ryan (Age) - Treloar, Pendlebury, Sidebottom
Glenn McFarlane (Herald Sun) - Treloar, Sidebottom, Pendlebury
Roger Vaughan (AAP) - Sidebottom, Treloar, Pendlebury