All eyes will be on the MCG on Saturday afternoon for the ANZAC Day blockbuster as Essendon go head-to-head with Collingwood.

Regardless of ladder position or previous results, the match always seems to go down to the wire.

Here are the burning questions.

Who takes home the ANZAC Day Medal?

There is always discussion around who will be the standout performer in the match.  The medal goes to the player who best demonstrates the ANZAC spirit – skill, courage, self-sacrifice, teamwork and fair play.

Bombers’ Jobe Watson, Dyson Heppell and Brendon Goddard are considered among the Essendon favourites, while Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan and Travis Cloke are the Magpies’ best chances for the prestigious award.

Can the Bomber defence hold up?

Collingwood rank first for inside 50s, as well as second for marks inside 50.  Those numbers will cause some headaches for the Bombers hierarchy this weekend.

Cale Hooker and Michael Hurley will be heavily relied upon to chop off and negate the aerial forward 50 entries, while the onus is also on the Bomber midfield brigade to limit the supply into the Collingwood forward line throughout the match.

Essendon to chop up the Pies?

Essendon rank fifth in the competition for disposal efficiency, while Collingwood linger at number 16.

Jobe Watson, Martin Gleeson and Cale Hooker all lead the charge as the elite Bomber ball users in the early stages of the season and will look to continue their dominance with ball in hand against the Pies.

Run Bombers, run?

Essendon’s outside run has been a real strength this season.  The Bombers average 53 more uncontested possessions than Collingwood in 2015.

The Pies must lock down on Jobe Watson, Dyson Heppell and Brendon Goddard if they are any chance of limiting stopping the Bombers run.