Take a look at our comprehensive preview of Essendon's clash with Hawthorn on Thursday.

HAWTHORN v ESSENDON

Thursday, August 27
4:40pm AEST
Adelaide Oval
Live on Fox Footy

THE HISTORY

Games played - 163
Won – 98
Lost – 65
Drawn - 0

FOUR FACTS

1. Happy hunting ground

Essendon is in search of its fourth successive win at Adelaide Oval, having not lost at the venue since April 15, 2017. The winning streak started with the season-ending win over Port Adelaide in 2018, with the Bombers holding an overall record of 4-3 at Adelaide Oval. Hawthorn has also enjoyed its trips to the City of Churches, winning two of its past three at Adelaide Oval for an overall record of 5-4.

2. Smith's 150th

The milestones continue for the Bombers, with Devon Smith set to play his 150th AFL match. The former Giant is the eighth Smith to represent the Bombers and has tallied 273 tackles in his 40 games for Essendon, placing him 44th overall in the club's history. Smith follows fellow milestone men Adam Saad and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (100 games each) this season, while the returning Cale Hooker is due to play his 200th game against West Coast next week.

3. Contested correlation

A common theme in the Hawks' eight losses this season has been a large deficit in contested possessions. They've had an average differential of -19 in losses and -7 in wins, ranking 18th in the contested possession differential overall. That deficiency has only been compounded by the losses of contested ball winners Jaeger O'Meara and James Sicily. The Bombers sit slightly ahead at a lowly 16th in the contested possession differential, but had the Hawks' measure for contested ball (132-120) in this corresponding fixture last season.

4. Aerial advantage

The Hawks have struggled to find aerial dominance this season. They rank 17th for percentage of one-on-one contests won in defence and 16th for contested marks, conceding the second-most contested marks to the Bombers' 11th. With Joe Daniher returning to link up with fellow tall forward James Stewart, the Bombers will look to exploit an undermanned Hawthorn defence sans James Sicily, James Frawley and Ben Stratton.

LAST TIME WE MET

Round 13, 2019: Essendon 14.12 (96) defeated Hawthorn 11.11 (77) at Marvel Stadium

Essendon reigned supreme in a Friday night showdown against its old rival, recording back-to-back victories to level its ledger at 6-6.

After cruising to a 38-point lead 12 minutes into the final term, the Bombers looked set for a comfortable win until the Hawks slashed the margin with three consecutive goals.

Michael Hurley and Cale Hooker were pillars in defence, combining for 12 marks as the Bombers withstood the Hawks' inside-50 advantage (55-50) and hit back on the counter-attack.

Conor McKenna and Adam Saad were lethal off half-back, with the latter kicking his first goal in the red and black after a scintillating dash.

Dylan Clarke's negating role on Jaeger O'Meara was critical, keeping the star midfielder to just 14 possessions until three-quarter time. 

FORM

Hawthorn
Round 11: Lost to Fremantle 4.8 (32) to 7.6 (48) at Optus Stadium
Round 12: Lost to West Coast 7.7 (49) to 12.9 (81) at Optus Stadium
Round 13: Lost to Port Adelaide 9.4 (58) to 9.14 (68) at Adelaide Oval

Hawthorn may have won just one of its past eight games, but almost pulled off the upset of the season last week.

Going up against league-leader Port Adelaide on enemy territory, the Hawks trailed by four points with just over two minutes to play when Zak Butters crumbed a rucking contest deep in the Power's attacking 50 and slammed home the match-winner.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for the youthful Hawks, who battled manfully without experienced heads James Sicily, Jaeger O'Meara, James Frawley, Isaac Smith and Jack Gunston.

They would have taken confidence out of the performance, however, having come the closest to knocking off the Power at Adelaide Oval this season.

Essendon
Round 11: Drew with Gold Coast 11.7 (73) to 11.7 (73) at Metricon Stadium
Round 12: Lost to St Kilda 5.3 (33) to 10.8 (68) at the Gabba
Round 13: Lost to Richmond 10.1 (61) to 10.13 (73) at TIO Stadium

Essendon's winless streak extended to five games last round, but it didn't go down without a fight against Richmond in Darwin.

Despite conceding 44 more inside 50s (24-66) and 33 more contested possessions (96-129), the Bombers' efficiency inside 50 kept them in the contest.

Debutant Irving Mosquito was the spark, delighting a fervent crowd with two first-half goals and looking dangerous whenever he went near the footy.

Jake Stringer (three disposals, one goal) was quiet in his first game since round five but will be better off for the run, while Devon Smith (27 disposals, 458m gained) returned with vigour after a week's rest.

The Bombers are regaining their stars as they push for a return to the top eight, with All Australians Joe Daniher and Cale Hooker back this week and captain Dyson Heppell edging closer.

TEAMS

HAWTHORN

Backs: Blake Hardwick, Michael Hartley, Tom Scully
Half-backs: Will Day, Sam Frost, Darren Minchington
Centre: James Cousins, Dan Howe, Jack Scrimshaw
Half-forwards: Jonathon Patton, Luke Breust, Chad Wingard
Forwards: Liam Shiels, Tim O’Brien, Oliver Hanrahan
Followers: Ben McEvoy, James Worpel, Tom Mitchell
Interchange: Changkuoth Jiath, Jack Gunston, Conor Glass, Jonathon Ceglar
Emergencies: Damon Greaves, Dylan Moore, Jackson Ross, Harry Morrison

In: Ceglar, Gunston, Minchington

Out: Stratton, Burgoyne, Impey

ESSENDON

Backs: Martin Gleeson, Cale Hooker, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher
Half-backs: Jordan Ridley, Mason Redman, Adam Saad
Centre: Zach Merrett, Andrew McGrath, Brayden Ham
Half-forwards: Dylan Shiel, Kyle Langford, Irving Mosquito
Forwards: James Stewart, Joe Daniher, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
Followers: Andrew Phillips, Will Snelling, Darcy Parish
Interchange: Devon Smith, Matt Guelfi, Dylan Clarke, Jake Stringer
Emergencies: Mitch Hibberd, Josh Begley, Jacob Townsend

In: Daniher, Hooker, Phillips, Zerk-Thatcher (late inclusion for Hurley)

Out: Draper (managed), Bellchambers (knee), Francis (hamstring), Hurley (ankle)

Milestone: Devon Smith - 150 AFL games

BOMBER TO WATCH

Joe Daniher

Welcome back, Joe.

The big man's long-awaited return will be a sight for sore eyes, marking 467 days between senior games.

He booted seven goals and took 22 marks from four matches last season in a reminder of his starpower, before a relapse in groin soreness ended his 2019 campaign and delayed his start to 2020.

Senior coach John Worsfold said despite not featuring in a scratch match, the 2017 All Australian was "very excited and comfortable" about returning.