Where and when: MCG, Friday August 23, 7.50pm AEST
TV, radio and online: Click here for broadcast guide
What it means for Collingwood: A chance to finish as high as third if both West Coast and Richmond lose. A defeat could result in a cut-throat clash with the white-hot Western Bulldogs.
What it means for Essendon: Win and the Bombers will almost certainly remain seventh and face an away elimination final against Greater Western Sydney; lose and they will play an elimination final against either the Pies or perhaps even Richmond or West Coast.
Last time they met: The Magpies prevailed by four points in an Anzac Day thriller, but were made to battle, scrap and persist against a gallant Essendon. Having had a 33-point lead slashed to just three at one stage, the Pies held firm amid wave after wave of Bomber attacks in the final term to claim a 10.13 (73) to 10.9 (69) victory.
The stat: The Magpies have won their past three encounters with the Bombers, restricting them to an average score of just 61.
The match-up: Adam Treloar v Dylan Shiel
The former Greater Western Sydney teammates might well square off at stoppages, where it will be a battle between the game's most prolific ball-winner Treloar (ranked No. 17 in the Official AFL Player Ratings) and the second-ranked Bomber (No. 34).
