Presenting all you need to know about the Bombers ahead of the big ANZAC Day clash at the MCG
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Essendon started the season well, coming from 20 points down at three-quarter time to defeat Adelaide in round one. But the Bombers then slumped to losses against Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs in rounds two and three. After a week of intense media scrutiny, they rebounded to inflict Port Adelaide's first loss of the season in round four.
What they're saying
Skipper Dyson Heppell spoke to the media on Thursday and he was asked about Essendon's inconsistency so far this season. "We've addressed some issues that came out of our rounds two and three," he said. "And I think we put that into play on the weekend and hopefully we can continue forward next week. [How we played against Port Adelaide] is the standard and we try and hold ourselves accountable to that. That's the beauty of sport, the fluctuation from week to week."
Heppell was also asked if the Bombers will tag Pies midfield star Steele Sidebottom, who is in career-best form. "It's a great call," he said. "He's in outstanding form. We like to hold our structures around the ball, [but someone might play] an accountable role. We'll see what happens there. We'll weigh that up."
Steele Sidebottom has been one of Collingwood's best players in the first four rounds of the season (AFL Photos)
Injury list
Defender Mitch Brown has been ruled out for a month due to a calf strain. James Stewart rolled his ankle late in the game against Port Adelaide, but the Bombers said in their weekly injury report that he has "pulled up really well" and is expected to complete their full training session on Sunday.
Players to watch
Dyson Heppell (31 disposals, seven tackles) was outstanding in the win over Port Adelaide, as was Jake Stringer, who booted four goals. Michael Hurley was dominant down back, as was Cale Hooker, who returned to the backline after a stint up forward in the early rounds and looked much more comfortable in the more familiar role. Heppell hinted in his press conference that Hooker is likely to start back again on ANZAC Day. "[His role might] chop and change throughout the year but I think he was great on the weekend," Heppell said. Joe Daniher has been below his best in the early rounds, kicking only six goals in the Bombers' four games to date, but Heppell said Daniher has been "working his butt off to play his best footy. He's certainly been playing his role and he's looking forward to getting back to his best footy."
Last time: Round 16, 2017 at the MCG
Match report excerpt: ESSENDON didn't need any extra motivation to hold onto a comfortable lead against Collingwood on Saturday given the Bombers' capitulations in the previous two weeks.
But when Magpie Levi Greenwood floored Bombers star Zach Merrett in the third term with an off-the-ball elbow that will draw the scrutiny of the Match Review Panel on Monday, there was no way Essendon was going to let another one slip.
The Bombers had a couple of scares in their 37-point win over the Pies on Saturday, but unlike their how-on-earth-did-they-lose-that games against Sydney and the Brisbane Lions, there was to be no repeat performance at the MCG.
The 18.9 (117) to 12.8 (80) win, Essendon's seventh of the season, keeps alive its flickering finals hopes. It also ends any chance of Collingwood making a late surge to the top-eight.
COLLINGWOOD 2.3 4.6 9.7 12.8 (80)
ESSENDON 5.0 9.3 13.6 18.9 (117)
GOALS
Collingwood: Fasolo 4, Elliott 3, Broomhead, Reid, Cox, De Goey, Adams
Essendon: Fantasia 5, Daniher 3, Bellchambers 2, Stewart 2, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Merrett, Zaharakis, Hooker, Merrett, Colyer
BEST
Collingwood: Sidebottom, Elliott, Goldsack, Pendlebury
Essendon: Fantasia, Kelly, Watson, Bellchambers, Parish, Merrett, Heppell, Zaharakis
INJURIES
Collingwood: Jeremy Howe (calf) replaced in selected side by Matt Scharenberg
Essendon: Michael Hartley (corked thigh)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Foot, Rosebury, Jeffery
Official crowd: 63,537 at the MCG
