Collingwood Magpies vs Essendon Bombers Tips, Odds and Teams – 2018 AFL Anzac Day Match

Wednesday’s AFL Anzac Day Match 2018 Round 5 match is between Collingwood Magpies and Essendon Bombers. The opening kick is set to commence at 15:20 local time with the game to be played at MCG. The away team Essendon Bomber are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Collingwood Magpies and Essendon Bombers.

When: 15:20 | Wednesday 25/04/2018

Where: MCG

Preview:

Collingwood v Essendon on Anzac Day is the biggest home and away game of the season.
It’s always special and players from other teams are jealous that these two teams get the rights to this game every year.
Collingwood’s upset over the Crows in Adelaide could be the turning point in their season.
They played the complete game, away from home on the big stage of Friday night football.
Their performance certainly surprised me.
Bombers were superb with their pressure around the ground against Port but this will be a different game as that was indoors at Etihad which suits their tall forward line.
It’s a bit harder for the forwards to dominate in the outside conditions of the MCG.
KEY BATTLE: Steele Sidebottom v Zach Merrett
Sidebottom is coming off two best-on-ground performances and smashed Crows gun Rory Sloane in their midfield battle on Friday night.
He’ll target Essendon’s best onballer Merrett on Anzac Day.
The Verdict
This is another 50-50 game.
The Pies have the better form coming in, so I’ll go with them.
Collingwood has a 2-3 (40.0 percent) record in day matches against the Bombers since 2015.
Unibet Odds:
Collingwood at $1.84
Essendon at $1.96

 

Odds:

OFFER: Deposit $50 BET with $200 via this link – Ends Soon!

 

 

Tip: Essendon Bombers at $2.05

 

Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Orazio Fantasia at $12.00

 

More Info:

Teams:

MAGPIES

B: Murray, Dunn, Maynard

HB: Langdon, Scharenberg, Howe

C: Sidebottom, Pendlebury, Phillips

HF: De Goey, Reid, Hoskin-Elliott

F: Stephenson, Cox, Brown

FOLL: Grundy, Treloar, Thomas

I/C: Crisp, Varcoe, Crocker, Aish

EMG: Blair, McLarty, Sier, Appleby

NO CHANGE

 

BOMBERS

B: Hartley, Hurley, Saad

HB: Baguley, Hooker, Heppell

C: McGrath, Z.Merrett, Goddard

HF: Green, Daniher, McDonald-Tipungwuti

F: Begley, Stewart, J.Merrett

FOLL: Bellchambers, Stringer, Smith

I/C: Zaharakis, Parish, Myers, Guelfi

EMG: Langford, McKernan, McNiece, Redman

IN: J.Merrett

OUT: Fantasia (groin tightness)

 

AFL News:

He might have dismissed criticism of Luke Hodge but Brisbane coach Chris Fagan admits the Lions will be out to redeem themselves in their AFL clash with Gold Coast.

The knives came out for the 33-year-old Hodge after Brisbane’s woeful last-round 93-point loss to Richmond, with some calling on the 309-game defender to consider retirement.

The Hawthorn great had five clangers at a disposal efficiency of 58 per cent, as the Lions posted a record-equalling low score of 17 against the Tigers.

Asked what he thought of the Hodge criticism, Fagan said: “Predictable.

“And I didn’t take much notice of it because we know what he does here on a day-to-day basis and how much he is helping our young players.

“His form has been strong. I have nothing more to add to it.”

Fagan also slammed a suggestion the young Lions’ backline were switching off and relying on Hodge to do all the defensive work.

“If you spent two minutes out on the ground with Luke Hodge, you would not feel relaxed at all because he would be onto you,” Fagan said.

“He would be making you work hard.”

But Fagan said the entire Lions’ squad would be out to restore pride on Sunday against the Suns.

“We dealt with it (Richmond loss) straight after the game, thought it was pretty fresh, so let’s talk about it,” Fagan said.

“I think we have learned a lot from it. We will be looking to redeem ourselves.”

Fagan said it was important for the code in Queensland that their derby was a competitive, high-quality clash.

“It’s in our best interests to have two strong Queensland teams,” Fagan said.

“I hope it is something the fans will remember and want to watch more of.”

That might be easier said than done.

The winless Lions (0-4 record) take on a Suns (2-2) outfit reeling from two-straight defeats, including last round’s 80-point thumping from West Coast in Perth.

“We have mirrored Brisbane in a way,” Suns coach Stuart Dew said.

“We were lucky enough to get a couple of wins but our contest work and the way we fought the game out was not up to standard.

“(Against) West Coast, bar one quarter, we lowered our colours.”

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