MCG will play host to Sunday's Round 13 AFL game between Essendon Bombers and Carlton Blues. The game kicks off at 7:20 pm with Carlton Blues heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Essendon Bombers vs. Carlton Blues game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Sunday June 9, 2024 at 7:20 pm

Where: MCG

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Essendon Bombers vs Carlton Blues Odds

Essendon Bombers vs Carlton Blues Preview

Old arch-rivals that span decades, this meeting between the two might be the biggest since the 2011 Elimination Final.

The Bombers were handed their third loss of the season against the Suns last week, whilst the Blues wrote some new history by beating the Power at Adelaide Oval for the first time.

Everyone is still asking questions about the Bombers legitimacy, and a win against the Blues has to put those questions to bed.

For the Blues, it’s a must-win for their top four hopes and head to head on paper they should feel quite confident.

Confident in their ability to win in different ways, which was put to the test against the Power combatting their uncontested run-and-gun approach to suit their contested style of play.

Essendon did a much better job at equalising at the stoppages, winning the clearances by two against the Suns, which they’ll need to repeat against the Blues to assert some dominance around the ground.

We might finally get to see the McKay twins face each other as both came through without injuries last round.

The Bombers were unable to contain tall forward Ben King, which does pose the question of how they’ll shut down not one but two of Carlton’s forward power, Curnow and McKay.

Carlton will need to bring the pressure, which they’re typically good at, ranked fifth in the competition for average tackles.

The Bombers have struggled under pressure against the top sides, and are top eight for turnovers per game in the competition.

As most teams have found, the best way to beat the Blues is pace off turnover, which they’ve slowly gotten better at but haven’t fully mastered.

The longer the game stays tighter, the Blues will feel more comfortable in the tightly contested scenarios, but the Bombers will be out to make a statement.

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Essendon Bombers vs Carlton Blues Tip

Essendon Bombers vs Carlton Blues Teams

BOMBERS

B: J.Ridley, B.McKay, J.Laverde

HB: N.Martin, J.Kelly, A.McGrath

C: D.Heppell, S.Durham, A.Perkins

HF: M.Guelfi, J.Gresham, H.Jones

F: J.Stringer, P.Wright, K.Langford

FOLL: T.Goldstein, J.Caldwell, Z.Merrett – C

I/C (FROM): E.Tsatas, D.Shiel, W.Setterfield, N.Cox, N.Hind, A.Roberts, J.Menzie

IN: T.Goldstein, D.Shiel, W.Setterfield, A.Roberts

OUT: M.Redman (Injured)

BLUES

B: B.Kemp, J.Weitering, L.Cowan

HB: A.Saad, M.McGovern, N.Newman

C: O.Hollands, P.Cripps – C, B.Acres

HF: Z.Williams, C.Curnow, A.Cincotta

F: E.Hollands, H.McKay, M.Owies

FOLL: T.De Koning, S.Walsh, M.Kennedy

I/C (FROM): J.Carroll, C.Durdin, L.Fogarty, J.Boyd, G.Hewett, C.Marchbank, J.Binns

IN: C.Durdin, J.Motlop, C.Marchbank, J.Binns

OUT: O.Fantasia (Injured)