Preview: Collingwood v Essendon

VENUE & TIME: MCG, Friday June 26, 7.40pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 219, Collingwood 117, Essendon 98, Draws 4
LAST TIME: Essendon 13.15 (93) def Collingwood 12.16 (88), Round 5 2009 at the MCG

WALKING WOUNDED:
The absence of midfield hardnut Jobe Watson (ankle) will hurt the Bombers. Watson was best on ground before he limped off during the second quarter against the Blues. Leon Davis is set to return from a virus but Scott Pendlebury could miss another week after wrenching his knee.

FORM:
While the Cats and Saints are the standout teams right now, the Magpies and Bombers have also built impressive momentum. The Magpies have won five-straight, including two wins (against Melbourne and Fremantle) by more than 60 points. In saying that, the victories have all come against teams outside the top eight. The Bombers have won successive matches and produced their best four-quarter effort of the season in demolishing Carlton at the MCG. In front of more than 80,000 fans, many of the young Bombers showed they could handle the pressure and intensity of the big occasion – and another one awaits this week.

WHO'S HOT: The Bombers have benefited from the skills of Brent Prismall, who has collected 19, 26 and 25 possessions in his three games since returning from a knee reconstruction. Prismall rarely wastes the ball, a reason why the Bombers pounced on him late last year when he wanted to leave the Cats. Andrew Welsh has also been unstoppable in his two games back from a serious ankle injury. Welsh claimed one of the game’s greatest scalps when he blanketed Chris Judd on Friday night while accruing 30 possessions himself. The Bombers will have their hands full curbing Dane Swan and Alan Didak. Swan had 41 possessions against the Dockers, and hasn’t had less than 29 in his past six matches. Didak has averaged 35 touches and two goals in his past three matches.

WE THINK: This is a toss of the coin but there’s something about the Bombers right now which should give them the four points. While Watson will be a major loss, they still have midfield toughness in Sam Lonergan, Heath Hocking and Welsh, and brilliant run from the likes of Alwyn Davey and Nathan Lovett-Murray. Patrick Ryder was a standout when the teams last met and he will again trouble the Magpies in the ruck and with his athleticism around the ground. Cale Hooker has been a good back-up, while Tate Pears likes to counter-attack from full-back. Like the Anzac Day clash, there won’t be much in this.