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.
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)
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
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
Fine we’ll leave him then. To stir some sht on Tuesday night poker, I’m going to suggest it to the dads army boys etc and watch them lose there sht at me.lol.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
True and I think Mitchell is gonna crash and burn as head coach of the hawks
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Adam Simpson was hardly Dads army age when Mitchell went to the Eagles?
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
yeah but the problem is Longmuir is a bit young to be engaging with a coaching mentorship and they already have a bunch of old fellows
Chanon
Roar Rookie
I guess everyone is different Barry Hall played for the dogs because he followed the dogs as a kid & was rapt to finish his career at his beloved team he followed as a child!
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Can’t see him at the Blues but he’s mates with Longmuir. Freo?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Tom Lynch (the Richmond version) supported the Pies as a kid and it meant nothing when he had the choice.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Hope you don’t get him mate l like watching Port
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
lmfao. I've actually thought if he was cheap and you can rookie list him Port would do well to think about it at least. He and lynch could end up at the suns, there leadership and experience would probs be good for them up there.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
Still the best way to be i think. Honesty you can't beat it, even if you may not like it at the time as long as its constructive its the only way your going to learn.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Never if he came to the dogs there is a patch out back that requires some concrete & bevo doing the construction
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Plus Adam l’ve also been told when he talks to his players he tells them exactly the things they don’t want to hear in a calming direct way & looks them directly through their soul, man! He’s old school luv it!
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
I've heard bits and pieces about that but never the full on story I don't think but with the bits and pieces its not too hard to join the dots. So defs no talia from Adelaide on ya rookie list as a back up.lol.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
yeah I don't like it either when they get all new aged and try to cuddle there players after a bad game, call it as it is, if you cant accept criticism your in the wrong game or any game or life for that matter.lol.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
I thought he'd been showing some improvement but then I havent many essendon games.lol.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Also Adam my bro was telling me during the Brownlow in 15’ Bevo pinned Damien Barrett against the wall after the fiasco with the Talia brothers texting details of Bulldogs playing methods. That riled Bevo that Barrett wrote an article accusing Bevo of misreading this situation. Bevo made an effort to grab that wen.h in the toilet & tell him next time you write an article get your facts correct
Chanon
Roar Rookie
I’m really starting to enjoy his press conferences now he has changed he’s clearly been holding back & now the mongrel has come out Bevo has my backing now really couldn’t stand him when he was wearing a denture mouth guard holding his sh.. back
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Wright is the equivalent of Cox for Collingwood shows glimpses of greatness but more or less a mediocre player!
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
No but you didn’t lose anything either. Bucks position was untenable. I think what we can criticise the pies for most is they’ve named nine debutants which is good but none of those nine have got a rising star nomination. To put it in perspective nearly half of Essendons debutants have gotten rising star nominations indicating they’ve been able to play valuable roles for the bombers
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
I saw that with bevo, he didn't really hold back at all did he.lol. I think you just have to play Martin and hope for the best. Its a risk but so is not playing him like you've said. Just bite the bullet, thats if he feels he can too of course but no point in being conservative now.