PREVIEW: Round 5 2003

ESSENDON

v.

COLLINGWOOD

MATCH DATE: Friday, 25 April 2003
MATCH TIME: 2:40 PM
VENUE: MCG

Kevin Sheedy summed it up perfectly at this morning’s Anzac Day press conference – Essendon is very much a middle-of-the-road side at the moment. It has two wins from four games, sits in eighth place in a 16-team competition and has a percentage of 100. It is flip of the coin stuff. And it is also why tomorrow’s match counts for so much in the context of this season. The result will tell us plenty about the 2003 version of Essendon Football Club. An inexperienced Essendon side got over the top of an inexperienced Western Bulldogs side last weekend. Collingwood took it right up to the reigning Premiers on their home patch. The Brisbane form line would appear more impressive but you can’t under-estimate the injection of confidence into the Bombers’ line up after last weekend. There is also the fact that ladder positions have basically counted for zero in recent Anzac day clashes. So while the Magpies are justifiably favorites to win the match, Essendon will rate itself an excellent chance of getting over the top of them. Essendon’s confidence will also be boosted by the fact that it defeated Collingwood by the small matter of 55-points the last time these two sides met. That was in Round 20 last season – six short weeks later Collingwood was playing in a Grand Final. If you take the finals out, only six home and away games have passed since that day. Given there have been some personnel changes but they haven’t been massive. The key to the outcome of the match could well be the winner of the battle in the Collingwood forward 50m. The Magpies have had Chris Tarrant in magnificent form this season while Sav Rocca has also got a bit of the football. Both have kicked 10 goals to this stage of the season. Alan Didak is a dangerous small forward as is Leon Davis. If the predicted wet conditions prevail they could be tough to stop. Dustin Fletcher would seem the likely opponent for Chris Tarrant and Danny Jacobs would probably get Rocca. Youngster Joel Reynolds and Mark Johnson might be given the jobs on Davis and Didak. Dean Solomon and Andrew Welsh would round out the back six. In the middle Damien Peverill would seem certain to get the onerous task of running with Nathan Buckley for the afternoon. He was doing the job well last year until he got injured. Peverill was soundly beaten by Scott West early last week and he will want to hit the ground running tomorrow afternoon. Joe Misiti and Jason Johnson will complete the usual midfield trio. Paul Licuria might get the job on Johnson after his 31-possession game last week. Scott Burns or Shane O’Bree will complete the Collingwood starting trio. Down forward, James Clement will take James Hird and Shane Wakelin will take Lloyd. The star Essendon forward might head to centre half forward to take Wakelin out of the goal square and Hird might head to full forward to take away the rebounding of Clement of the half back line. So the Bombers need their back six to stand up tomorrow and restrict the in-form Collingwood forward line. It is a big ask, but if they can do that, Essendon fans will be celebrating an Anzac Day victory.

	TV AND RADIO DETAILS TV COVERAGE Channel 9: Melbourne: 2.30pm Adelaide: 2.00pm Perth: 12.30pm Sydney: 2.30pm Brisbane: 2.30pm Fox Footy (pay TV): NSW/ACT: 6.00pm QLD: 6.00pm SA: 5.00pm VIC/TAS/NT: 6.00pm WA: 3.30pm All times are local times. RADIO COVERAGE Live coverage: 3AW Melbourne 12:00 PM MMM Melbourne 12:00 PM ABC Melbourne 1:10 PM 6PR Perth 12:00 PM NIRS Perth 12:00 PM ABC Perth 12:05 PM 5AA Adelaide 1:00 PM ABC Adelaide 1:05 PM ABC Canberra 12:10 PM ABC Hobart 1:00 PM ABC Darwin 1:05 PM NIRS Brisbane 2:00 PM All times are local times. HEAD TO HEAD RECORD GAMES PLAYED 216 ESSENDON WINS 96 COLLINGWOOD WINS 116 DRAWN GAMES 4 ESSENDON HIGHEST SCORE v COLLINGWOOD PF, 1984 ESSENDON 28.6.174 v. COLLINGWOOD 5.11.41 ESSENDON LOWEST SCORE v COLLINGWOOD Round 7, 1898 ESSENDON 3.2.20 v. COLLINGWOOD 5.10.40 LAST TIME THEY MET Round 20, 2002 ESSENDON 6.3 10.6 14.10 19.12.126 COLLINGWOOD 2.2 4.4 8.8 10.11.71 ESSENDON GOALKICKERS: Lloyd 5, Moorcroft 5, Jacobs 2, Hird, Hunt, Heffernan, Barnard, Lucas, Bolton, Rioli COLLINGWOOD GOALKICKERS: Davis 2, McKee 2, Rocca 2, Lonie, McGough, Lockyer, Didak ESSENDON BEST PLAYERS: Misiti, Salmon, Hird, Peverill, Wellman, Moorcroft, Lloyd Venue: MCG     Crowd: 69,613     Full match report... LAST 10 MEETINGS YEAR ROUND SCORES VENUE 2007 16 ESSENDON 14.9.93 COLLINGWOOD 18.14.122 MCG 2007 5 ESSENDON 11.13.79 COLLINGWOOD 12.23.95 MCG 2006 19 ESSENDON 10.14.74 COLLINGWOOD 9.7.61 MCG 2006 4 ESSENDON 12.17.89 COLLINGWOOD 15.16.106 MCG 2005 16 ESSENDON 21.5.131 COLLINGWOOD 15.15.105 MCG 2005 5 ESSENDON 11.17.83 COLLINGWOOD 10.9.69 MCG 2004 20 ESSENDON 18.13.121 COLLINGWOOD 13.9.87 MCG 2004 5 ESSENDON 17.10.112 COLLINGWOOD 11.13.79 MCG 2003 22 ESSENDON 9.13.67 COLLINGWOOD 12.11.83 MCG 2003 5 ESSENDON 23.9.147 COLLINGWOOD 12.9.81 MCG

B A C K S	1. Mark Johnson Didn't have a huge impact last week. Loves a big game.	31. Dustin Fletcher Back from injury. Very important player.	21. Danny Jacobs Has been solid without being spectacular.
H B A A L C F K    S	7. Dean Solomon Been an excellent comeback. Spent time on the wing and up forward last week.	33. Adam McPhee Gives bombers flexibility - can play tall or short, forward or back.	12. Andrew Welsh Better last week. Is getting plenty of the football.
C E N T R E S	11. Damien Peverill West too good for him early last week. Gets Buckley.	24. Joe Misiti Playing his 200th game. Experience important.	43. Dean Rioli Bit quieter last week but going very well.
H F A O L R F W    A    R    D    S	2. Mark Mercuri Best game for some time last weekend. Is he back?	25. Scott Lucas Big game player. Will spend time at both ends of the ground.	16. Paul Barnard Back from suspension. Gives the side a bit of grunt.
F O R W A R D S	23. Mark Bolton Will be better for the run last week. Can play anywhere.	18. Matthew Lloyd Brilliant last week. Will have to contend with Wakelin.	13. Damian Cupido Two good goals last week. Will kick five one week.
R U C K S	19. David Hille Best game for the club last week. Played well in this game last year.	14. Jason Johnson Back in the middle and found plenty of the ball last week.	5. James Hird Got a lot of the ball last week. Probably gets Clement.
I N T E R C H A N G E	10. Mark McVeigh Not at his best last week. Is much better than that.	27. Steven Alessio Not asked to do a lot last week.	38. Shane Harvey 17 possessions and three goals last week. Star in the making.
	29. Joel Reynolds Been a little quiet last couple.
E M E R G	17. Darren Walsh Excellent debut. Won't be out for long.	20. Ted Richards Very good in limited time on ground last week.	36. Jordan Bannister Unlucky. Has beengood in the past couple of weeks.
IN:	Joe Misiti, Dustin Fletcher, Paul Barnard
OUT:	Darren Walsh, Ted Richards, Jordan Bannister (ommitted)