Essendon Bombers vs Collingwood Magpies: AFL live scores

The equation is simple for the Essendon Bombers ahead of their match against bitter rivals the Collingwood Magpies: win, and they’re in the finals. Tune into events from Melbourne here on The Roar with live scores from 3:20pm (AEST).

It has been a remarkable season for the Bombers in Ben Rutten’s first at the helm, defying all pre-season expectations to be just one victory away from September action.

More than that, their recent surge of form has given fans belief that they could even end a 17-year streak without a finals win. To put that into perspective, you could fit Alastair Clarkson’s entire reign at Hawthorn inside the Dons’ September victory drought.

However, the Magpies are no strangers to costing teams finals with a final-round shock: they did just that to Melbourne in 2017. While the Pies are simply playing for pride, their supporters will no doubt cherish the chance to ensure one of their fiercest rivals is dragged down with them.

However, the Pies are in horrendous form of late, coming in off a thrashing to Brisbane last week. With so much at stake, surely the Bombers can’t let their fans down… right?

Veteran Chris Mayne plays his final game for the Pies, who lose key forward Brody Mihocek through suspension. The Dons, meanwhile, are unchanged from the side that flogged the Suns a week ago.

Game information

Opening bounce: 3:20pm (AEST)
Venue: MCG
TV: Channel Seven, Fox Footy
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, Foxtel Go
Betting: Bombers $1.28, Magpies $3.70 (odds via PlayUp)

Teams

Essendon Bombers
B: 27 Mason Redman, 15 Jayden Laverde, 12 Tom Cutler
HB: 19 Nick Hind, 14 Jordan Ridley, 21 Dyson Heppell (c)
C: 35 Matt Guelfi, 7 Zach Merrett, 42 Sam Durham
HF: 40 Will Snelling, 10 Aaron Francis, 9 Dylan Shiel
F: 25 Jake Stringer, 20 Peter Wright, 5 Devon Smith
FOL: 2 Sam Draper, 3 Darcy Parish, 37 Dylan Clarke
I/C: 1 Andrew McGrath, 16 Archie Perkins, 17 James Stewart, 45 Alec Waterman
EMG: 8 Martin Gleeson, 13 Nik Cox, 33 Brayden Ham, 34 Andrew Phillips
NO CHANGE

Collingwood Magpies
B: 38 Jeremy Howe, 23 Jordan Roughead, 37 Brayden Maynard
HB: 25 Jack Crisp, 44 Jack Madgen, 9 John Noble
C: 16 Chris Mayne, 2 Jordan De Goey, 7 Josh Daicos
HF: 24 Josh Thomas, 35 Oliver Henry, 32 Will Hoskin-Elliott
F: 33 Jack Ginnivan, 14 Darcy Cameron, 5 Jamie Elliott
FOL: 4 Brodie Grundy, 22 Steele Sidebottom (c), 13 Taylor Adams
I/C: 1 Jay Rantall, 8 Trent Bianco, 12 Tom Wilson, 28 Nathan Murphy
EMG: 18 Finlay Macrae, 20 Will Kelly, 26 Reef McInnes, 31 Beau McCreery
IN: Jay Rantall, Jeremy Howe, Tom Wilson, John Noble (R22 medical sub)
OUT: Trey Ruscoe, Brody Mihocek, Beau McCreery, Finlay Macrae

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