The Anzac Day match-up has arrived quicker than expected with supporters from both clubs licking their lips at the chance to knock the other out of the NAB Cup competition.
Collingwood will take on Essendon at the Docklands in the NAB Cup semi-final on Friday 6 March after smashing Ben Cousins and company by 46 points last week.
On recent form against Essendon
Collingwood has conquered Essendon in three of the last four matches. Last year the two sides split the home-and-away contests one apiece. The Magpies will be without last year’s Anzac Day medalist Paul Medhurst who will have a run in the VFL side this week.
On recent Collingwood form
The Magpies have won by an average margin of 59 points in their first two rounds of the competition. They have also scored a combined 213 points across both matches.
Last week’s win featured Scott Pendlebury in the side’s best for the second straight week after collecting 22 disposals and laying five tackles. The 21-year-old has been working on developing his defensive skills over the off-season and his tackle count is expected to mount this season.
Dayne Beams and Brent Macaffer have retained their spot in the squad after impressing selectors last week.
Collingwood has now used 30 players in its two matches and will look to build on that tally on Friday night with Chris Bryan, Steele Sidebottom and Jaxson Barham all in the squad who have yet to play.
On recent Essendon form
The Bombers can consider themselves lucky to still be in the competition after scraping through round one by one point against the Bulldogs and then narrowly holding off the Lions by two points.
The club has averaged only nine goals a game in its last two wins.
Former Adelaide utility player Hayden Skipworth has had a strong preseason campaign averaging 19 disposals, 5.5 marks, 5.5 tackles and 1.5 goals a game.
Essendon will be missing a wealth of experience with Mark McVeigh (176 games) out due to an injured ankle and Dustin Fletcher (294 games) and Andrew Lovett (66 games) rested.
Broadcast schedule
Television (Network Ten)
Melbourne - 20:00 (30 min delay)
Adelaide - 19:30 (30 delay)
Perth - 19:30 (2hr delay)
Sydney - 01:00 (5 1/2hr delay); TEN HD 20:30 (1hr delay)
Brisbane - 01:00 (6 1/2hr delay); TEN HD 20:30 (2hr delay)
Fox Sports Plus on Main Event (Ch 518)
Sydney - 19:30 (LIVE)
Brisbane - 18:30 (LIVE)
Fox Sports replay (Fox Sports 1)
Fri 6 Mar – 11pm
Sat 7 Mar – 10:30am
Mon 9 Mar – 3pm
Regional TV schedule (55 KB)RADIO
Melbourne
Triple M 1900-2230
3AW 1930-2210
SEN 1900-2230
Adelaide
Triple M Adel 1830-2200
FIVEaa 1900-2140 (relay from 3AW)
• All LIVE radio streams available on afl.com.au
