3 minute read

Racing and Sports will provide analysis of many games in the 2019 AFL Season.

We'll endeavour to run through the form, incorporate appropriate stats and also supply a betting prediction which won't always just be who will win.

COLLINGWOOD V ESSENDON

Friday 23 August @ MCG

The last normal season Friday night game of the year shapes as a somewhat surreal match between two giants of Victoria.

Both are now entrenched and cannot miss finals but their spot in the pecking order is not defined.

However as we've seen a few times before, some strange selections have taken place, even allowing for the system of a week off before finals that we've seen for three seasons.

Collingwood has had a dysfunctional forward line since the Stephenson betting fiasco. Hard to believe a young kid missing could unwind that but that was the trigger.

Since then de Goey has also missed but the last two weeks things have normalised.

No one should define Mason Cox in any way as a cause of problems but there can be no doubt his injury has made the Pies go small and the midfield has also enjoyed having faster legs to hit up.

Having Jamie Elliott freed up in a Pagan's Paddock won't be allowed in a final but when de Goey and Stephenson are also there, the defence won't be as free either.

Suddenly Varcoe is creative, Treloar with Pendlebury and Sidebottom (sadly injured now) can see the finish line and the backline is hanging tough without Moore.

They might be underdone come Week One of the Finals but should they get through that, it becomes a dangerous matter for whoever they face.

Ironically that could end up being Essendon first up.

If Collingwood stay fifth, GWS beat Gold Coast as expected and the Bulldogs beat Adelaide which should happen on form, the Anzac Day rivals would face off in one humongous first Elimination Final.

So that means they play in consecutive games albeit not consecutive weeks.

Essendon did a very decent job in bouncing back from all the madness of the week prior. They deserved that rollicking so to fly to Perth and give Fremantle a touch up was some effort.

Helped by some troops back, they overcame some statistical anomalies to score.

Thrashed in disposals, free kicks, clearances and contested ball, they managed to take their chances when needed.

If they do that in September against better than the Dockers they won't be winning a final but they did what was required here.

A spread of goal kickers helped as no focal point made them a harder match up.

However this Friday night, it all points to what could be an interesting night at selection. There isn't a massive amount to gain for the Bombers. Their form is patchy anyway and the Magpies need it more.

Happy to think this might be one-sided given the circumstances in the black and whites' favour.

Match Selection: Collingwood by 35 points

Suggested Bets: Collingwood -17.5 @ $1.90