Imagine my disappointment when I discovered over the weekend that this – not Tigers-Lions, as I’d previously thought – would be the final Friday night game of the home-and-away season.
Oh well, I guess I shouldn’t complain after what we had to sit through last Friday night.
The good news is there’s plenty on the line tonight, and it’s actually the higher-ranked Magpies with much more to play for.
Barring the extremely unlikely scenario of the Giants losing on their trip to the Gold Coast – though it’s certainly not as unlikely as it appeared a fortnight ago – the Bombers are locked into finishing seventh or eighth.
The Magpies, however, still have a puncher’s chance of finishing in the top four and earning that valuable double chance. But to do so they first need to knock over the Bombers.
The good news is that after an indifferent couple of months the Pies are coming off their best performance this side of the bye rounds.
Still without their two best forwards – Jordan de Goey and Jaidyn Stephenson – Collingwood have Jamie Elliott and Josh Thomas.
Elliott equalled his career-high five goals and Thomas booted three for the first time this season after kicking three or more half a dozen times last year.
It’s been a tough year for Thomas. He’s managed just 18 goals in 19 games after a career-best year in 2018 in which he slotted 38 majors.
The chemistry just hasn’t looked the same in the Magpies attacking third this season. They’ll be hoping Thomas, Elliott and Will Hoskin-Elliott – who was brilliant against the Crows with 20 touches, 11 marks and a couple of goals – can put in another strong showing before reinforcements arrive in September.
The Bombers’ Jekyll and Hyde seasons continued in Perth. A week after being humiliated by more than 100 points, Essendon headed west and – without arguably their most important player, Cale Hooker – scored a 32-point win over the Dockers.
Adam Saad was brilliant in his return from injury, collecting 27 disposals off half-back and, importantly, pumping it inside 50 seven times. His aggressive running is crucial to Essendon’s success.
(Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Was the result all that it seemed, though? Essendon lost the clearance count 43-29, had 54 fewer contested possessions and put the ball inside fifty 48 times compared with Fremantle’s 59.
Very rarely will those numbers add up to victory. The result was the one they were after, but the process was a little suspect.
There’s a broadly held view that the Bombers are just making up the numbers in September, but it wasn’t so long ago that they reeled off five straight wins. Michael Hurley has a game under his belt after a lengthy stint on the sidelines and he should be better for the run.
Last time these sides met was one of the better games of the season, the Magpies running out four-point winners in a high-intensity if not high-scoring Anzac Day clash.
Steele Sidebottom had 24 disposals and a goal that day, but he won’t be out there tonight after suffering a ruptured testicle – retch.
It’s not the best way to start the final round of the season, but there’s enough at stake here to make for an interesting contest.
The Bombers might not be able to move up meaningfully, but a win would do their confidence a world of good heading into an elimination final.
For Collingwood, the prize for four points tonight is much more tangible, albeit dependant on Brisbane knocking off Richmond at the MCG – hey, the Lions are on top of the table for a reason, it could happen.
I’m tipping Collingwood by 20 points.
That’s my Friday night forecast. What’s yours?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Got to find a positive Seano
Seano
Roar Rookie
That is the most typical Collingwood response I have ever read.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
11 extra shots should’ve won by 6 goals
Seano
Roar Rookie
A bit closer than no chance, plus I tipped it with Hooker in the side. I’m happy.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Not quite as vocal as the Tigers supporters.
Iambillbob
Roar Rookie
Love the jumper not the team
Sachit Dassanayake
Roar Rookie
For once I actually agree with you Billbob. Who cares if it's a dead rubber? Still gotta support them.
Sachit Dassanayake
Roar Rookie
You're awfully confident Peter. I admire your trust in Collingwood, but it'd be a real shame if the Dons did indeed get up . . .
GGG
Roar Rookie
Peter should the pies make the GF i suspect stevo might be the most backed individual ever to win the norm smith!! I'd put $12 on it :laughing: :laughing:
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Get on Stevo and Sidey for the Norm GGG!
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
No chance at all Seano
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Sidey possession count won’t go down but his voice will be an octave higher.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
That’s right, the only other vocal pies fan.
Iambillbob
Roar Rookie
Make me sick....typical when it rough b....h fan....follow your team know matter what or go follow soccer
peter chrisp
Guest
Like to see IT the other way round we Pies win & Brisbane get over the line & i would be very happy with that result.
GGG
Roar Rookie
Peter has previously said he's happy to finally have some black and white support on this site haha
DJCJ
Guest
Game will be over after 20 minutes. As a Bombers fan I won't even be bothered watching this one. A dead rubber as far as I am concerned. It's virtually a JLT-esque side taking the field. I know the Pies are missing a few bona fide stars too, but arguably Essendon will be missing near on half its 'best 22'. Don't be surprised to see its midfield heavily rotated more than normal, whilst guys like Begley, D Clarke, Langford, first gamer Jok, Ham will be pushing hard for selection in a fortnight and will barely get a rest.
TomC
Roar Guru
I’m pretty sure Heppell, Fantasia and Stringer would be playing if the Bombers felt they needed to win. But in any case I meant that it’s hard to take the game seriously when they won’t have so many of their better players who were named last week, whatever the reason for that is. I didn’t say that they’re not taking the game seriously.
Nick Symonds
Guest
NEWS: Tasmania are reportedly set to apply for a provisional AFL licence by the end of this year. According to The Age’s Caroline Wilson the Tasmanian AFL Taskforce “is working towards the creation of a viable AFL team model.” Wilson also states a new stadium and training facility in Macquarie Point and splitting home and away games between Launceston and Hobart is being considered. Former St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt has been working with the taskforce in "potential player retention issues” as he believes the Tasmania “could be developed as a destination club.” The Tasmanian Devils currently have a team in the Under 18 NAB League Competition but the taskforce who will present their findings to the AFL in December believe a stand-alone team could join the AFL by 2025. https://www.triplem.com.au/story/tasmania-to-apply-for-a-provisional-afl-licence-146340 - A new stadium at Macquarie Point, I thought they wanted to redevelop North Hobart Oval.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
25 up or lose.