Friday’s only AFL Round 11 match is between Essendon Bombers and Carlton Blues. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:50pm local time with the game to be played at the MCG. The home team Essendon Bombers are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Essendon Bombers and Carlton Blues.

Round: Round 11 7:50 PM June 07, 2013
Stadium: MCG
Weather: 18° Shower or two

Featured Bookmakers:

Essendon Bombers $1.80 vs Carlton Blues $2.00 at Sportsbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Essendon Bombers $1.81 vs Carlton Blues $2.02 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by AFL Odds:

Essendon Bombers	1.80	1.80	1.81	1.80	1.80	1.84
Carlton Blues	2.00	2.00	2.02	2.00	2.00	1.98

Preview:

After winning their first six games this season, Essendon have lost three of their last four.

A lost to Geelong, a surprise defeat to Brisbane and a lost to Sydney last week (115-71) have seen the Bombers slip to fifth position on the ladder.

The only win over the past month has been over Richmond (91-62) which took their MCG record to 3-0, so the Bombers will be happy to return to the ‘G’.

Carlton are 2-2 at the venue with their wins coming over Melbourne and Adelaide in rounds 6 and 5 respectively.

Carlton has won six of their last seven including their last three in succession however, in terms of the draw, have had a good time of it and have met teams in the bottom half of the table such as Melbourne, St. Kilda, GWS who they defeated 148-54 last week.

The next month however will be a big test for the Blues with Hawthorn, Sydney and Collingwood to face in the next three rounds and a win here is vital if they are to hold on to their spot on the ladder (6^th) heading into the second half of the season.

Essendon have only got the better of Carlton once in their six clashes and were well accounted for last time the two sides met 156-60, in round 21 last year.

It’s fair to say that the Bombers of now though, are in a much better place then last year’s team however and would expect them to keep their MCG record in tact.

Teams:

Essendon Bombers:
B: Mark Baguley, Dustin Fletcher, Michael Hibberd
HB: Brendon Goddard, Cale Hooker, Dyson Heppell
C: Brent Stanton, Jobe Watson, Ben Howlett
HF: Jake Melksham, Michael Hurley, Alwyn Davey
F: David Zaharaki, Joe Daniher, Nick Kommer
Foll: Patrick Ryder, David Myers, Heath Hocking
Int: Will Hams, Jake Carlisle, Stewart Crameri, Jason Winderlich
Emerg: Tom Bellchambers, Leroy Jetta, Kyle Hardingham

In: A.Davey, B.Howlett, M.Hurley, J.Daniher
Out: C.Dempsey (ribs), L.Jetta, S.Gumbleton (ankle), T.Bellchambers

Carlton Blues:
B: Mitch Robinson, Michael Jamison, Lachie Henderson
HB: Zach Tuohy, Dennis Armfield, Simon White
C: Chris Yarran, Chris Judd, Kade Simpson
HF: Ed Curnow, Andrew Walker, Jeff Garlett
F: Brock McLean, Jarrad Waite, Matthew Kreuzer
Foll: Levi Casboult, Marc Murphy, Heath Scotland
Int: Bryce Gibbs, Kane Lucas, Eddie Betts, Jaryd Cachia
Emerg: Josh Bootsma, Troy Menzel, Sam Rowe

In: C.Judd, E.Betts, K.Lucas
Out: T.Menzel, T.Bell, J.Bootsma

AFL Blues face arch rivals Essendon

First-year Carlton coach Mick Malthouse faces his first match in charge against Essendon on Friday night and the veteran mentor says he’s not getting caught up in the hype surrounding one of the AFL’s fiercest rivalries.

Malthouse, who coached Collingwood from 2000 to 2011 as they waged war with the Blues each season in epic clashes, says he knows little of the Carlton-Essendon history.

“I don’t get caught up in any of those things,” triple-premiership coach Malthouse told a news conference on Thursday.

“History’s history. Those who get caught in it are quite welcome to.

“I don’t take anything away from history.

“If the player group or anyone else gets caught in that, for the supporters, it’s terrific.

“I don’t think there’s anything better than playing against rivals that you’ve had some history with.

“As far as I’m concerned, as far as the players are concerned, we’ve got too much at stake to worry about getting caught up in any previous history.

“Those who take it on board, fantastic. I’m not going to stop it.

“I don’t know enough about that rivalry … to use it as anything else except that we play Essendon and they are sitting one win in front of us.”

Fifth-placed Essendon have a 7-3 record after 10 rounds while the Blues are sixth on 6-4, although the Bombers have looked shaky in the past month with losses to Brisbane, Geelong and Sydney.

“They’ve won seven games. They’re going okay,” Malthouse said.

Carlton are yet to beat a team currently in the the top eight this season, having lost to Richmond and Collingwood in the opening two rounds.

Malthouse says he’s not preoccupied with claiming a big-name scalp.

“It might be good for the media and it might be good for the supporters and all that sort of stuff,” Malthouse said.

“The four points are four points. Yes we call these eight-point games.

“I can’t remember ever getting eight points for a win.”

The Blues regain small forward Eddie Betts from suspension while defender Heath Scotland is set to play his 200th game for the club.

Dual Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd, who was rested from last week’s win over Greater Western Sydney with a sore hamstring, is expected to be recalled.