Essendon is in the box seat to reach the semi-finals of the revamped AnsettCup competition when it tackles Hawthorn in its final group match atWaverley this Sunday night.
Having won its opening two matches against West Coast and Darwin, victoryover Hawthorn will ensure the Bombers progress to the semi-final stage.
However, the Bombers can still miss out on progressing if they go down toHawthorn by more than four goals. If the Hawks score a comfortable win,they will finish on the same points as Essendon and will progress courtesyof a superior percentage.
If Hawthorn wins narrowly, Essendon will cling onto its semi-final positionwith the percentage it has accumulated over the first two rounds of theseries.
The match shapes as one of the best of the series, particularly after theHawks demolition of West Coast last weekend.Hawthorn was extremely impressive in that match and the Bombers will needto be at their best to hold them out.
The Hawks height up forward is one of their greatest strengths. NickHollands was excellent last week along with the ever-improving NathanThompson and Mark Graham. With Brett O'Farrell and Trent Croad also optionsup forward, the Bomber defence will be stretched to the limit.
Essendon has included Dustin Fletcher for his first official hit out of the2000 season and his added height will be a bonus for the Bombers when itcomes to combating the Hawks' height. Aaron Henneman, Sean Wellman, PaulBarnard, Dean Wallis and Jonathon Robran are also tall options in defencefor the Bombers.
The other major factor in Hawthorn's win over West Coast was theoutstanding form of Brownlow Medalist Shane Crawford.
Crawford was brilliant up forward contributing five goals and creating anumber of others. A number of Essendon players including Chris Heffernan,Justin Blumfield or Michael Prior could get the job on Crawford with theoutcome of that duel going a long way towards determining the fate of thematch.
Essendon is still missing a number of senior players for the match despiteregaining Dustin Fletcher, Justin Blumfield and Matthew Lloyd.
James Hird will miss again with a groin injury while Mark Fraser, GaryMoorcroft, Peter Berbakov and Scott Lucas will also miss.
The Bombers will be hoping its younger brigade can again produce the goodsthis weekend after they ran all over the top of the Bulldogs last weekend.
Danny Jacobs, Adam Ramanauskas, Corey McGrath and Daniel McAlister wereexcellent when the pressure was on and a repeat performance will seeEssendon go close.
The Essendon side for the match is:
Backs: Prior, Henneman, Barnard
Half Backs: Solomon, Wellman, M. Johnson
Centres: Heffernan, J. Johnson, McAlister
Half Forward: Long, Fletcher, Mercuri
Forward: Rioli, Lloyd, Caracella
Rucks: Barnes, Misiti, Denham
Interchange (from): Alessio, Ramanuaskas, Bewick, Wallis, Jacobs, McVeigh,Hardwick, Blumfield, McGrath, Robran.
The squad will train at Essendon Grammar tonight at 4pm be cut back from 28to 24 just prior to the match.
