Essendon vs Collingwood - MCG - Friday Night
Essendon 12th -7-12 - 84.40%
Collingwood 1st - 15-3-1 - 141.04%
The rampaging Magpies are confronted with the chance to once again demolish an arch rival this friday night. It would also see them continue their amazing march towards a september campaign that promises plenty for the Black and White army.
Last week they took down the champions Geelong in an ominous display for the competition. It came three weeks after a demolition of St.Kilda and the margin in this game should have been far greater then the 22 points it was.
58 more contested posessions, 24 more inside fifties and 12 more scoring shots tell the tale of Collingwood's domination.
The Cats sheer brilliance kept them alive in this match at times, but Collingwood had their measure all evening and are now justifiable flag favourites for 2010.
Of particular note was the spread of goal kicking again for the Magpies. 10 players kicked majors in another example of the enormous depth of talent at Mick Malthouse's disposal.
Wellingham, Thomas, Jolly, Ball, Beams, Sidebottom, Dawes, Toovey, Leigh Brown, Didak and Reid are players that have either improved on last year, or come into the side and had an impact to make them better in 2010.
No other finalist boasts that spread of improvement accross the board and it is for that reason that Collingwood are undeniably the team to beat this year.
You still have to get it done though, and the Pies have a few demons in their past they will be well aware of, but I feel this is the best chance they have had in my time watching footy.
Geelong were the best team in the competition in 2008, and St.Kilda were in 2009, but neither won the flag, so finals can throw up some surprises from time to time.
Collingwood's frontal pressure game is reminiscint of the Saints of last year. They have maintained their own style of play, but have ramped up the pressure skills and zoning this year to fanatical levels.
Geelong's fast aggressive style of play was broken down time and time again by Collingwood's tackling and harassing of the ball carrier.
It hasn't been unique to saturday night though, the Pies have done that relentlessly to every team in the competition and boast at least a six goal win against every team in the eight, except Geelong and they should have beaten them by six goals plus too.
For the Bombers last week was a return to the horrible form of rounds 11-16 with a shellacking at the hands of old foe Carlton.
The progress made in the previous fortnight was undone in a poor display under the Friday Night lights.
Whilst those lights did funny things to goal umpire's minds, they also must have affected the Bombers who applied next to no pressure to a Carlton side that was under intense scrutiny all week.
The Blues were always going to be up and about after the scathing criticism that followed their loss to the Pies and Essendon no doubt expected that. However their response made life far too easy for Carlton to establish control around the stoppages through Judd, Murphy, Grigg, Hadley, Gibbs and Carazzo.
Down back, Robinson did an unlikely job on Fletcher and McVeigh, Hocking etc had their hands full with Carlton's swarm of small forwards.
However their job was made impossible by the lack of midfield accountability. Carlton were allowed far too much easy ball inside fifty and if Collingwood have that same licence, this game will be a monumental blow out.
Up forward, Hardingham's star continues to rise. He should have kicked six last week given his chances, but he had a case of the yips and netted 2.5 for the night.
He has a fantastic leap and will be an interesting match up decision for the Pies.
Monfries, Neagle and the resting ruckmen carry the usual burden of scoring, and the ability of Zaharakis (who has had a very underrated season), Winderlich and Stanton to push forward and hurt the Pies will determine how competitive the Dons are.
As will their ability to work just as hard the other way, and restrict the space offered to Wellingham, Swan, Pendlebury and in particular Didak.
McVeigh will most likely get first dibs on the star number four, whilst Hurley will take Cloke and Hooker should get Brown when forward, or perhaps McAffer.
Dustin Fletcher will probably take Dawes and try to hurt him on the rebound.
At the other end, Presti will make life tough for the young Neagle and Monfries will get Shaw or Toovey for company.
Everywhere you look their are match ups of concern for Essendon but they are an enigma the Bombers in that they can swing between dynamic and rubbish on any given week. The gap between their best and worst is arguably the greatest in the competition.
On that note they deserve the cautious respect of the Pies who wouldn't want a let down after last week's huge win.
They won't get a let down though, and whilst the Bombers have the capacity to make this a contest for a while, it won't last long enough to avoid going the way of most sides in clashes with Collingwood in recent weeks, and feel the pain of a ten goal loss.
Collingwood by 49 points
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