3 minute read

Racing and Sports will provide analysis of many games in the 2022 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

Sunday 24 July @ MCG

Anzac Day may be the definitive moment of every Home and Away season and it pits these two against one another. However this year there is added spice to the second time they clash with two teams who are giving it a red hot go.

Collingwood are on a two month winning streak while Essendon, who could not get out of their own way, have put their own lovely five weeks together with just that inexplicable loss to West Coast in the middle.

There may be technical reasons why they've turned it around but sometimes it's just that after a while, you learn to do things right.

That has to be able to be said about Collingwood. You can't keep winning all those one kick games without wanting it more than the rest. No matter who it has been that they have beaten – it doesn't matter. A win, is a win, is a win.

There must have been times in Scott Pendlebury's milestone match that they all thought the Crows had them. Away from home, on a dank day and with the home team multiple times getting three goals in front, it could have been an excuse to say "we've had a great run – time for a reset".

But they saw fit to right the ship. This was mainly due to one person. It's hard to believe Nick Daicos is his age and experience. Playing off half-back allows for some freedoms but he also went forward and kicked three. That will get teams attention. Who wants to be first to tag a kid?

Whatever standard they will face on Sunday, you can bet Essendon will play with some complete freedom. They simply went for it against a hapless Suns still possibly living in the glow of the Richmond ending.

After Quarter Time, it was 10 goals to 4. Given the nature of goal kicking these days it was no surprise but 14.19 is almost par for the course. A truer reflection of even 17.16 and it's a romp.

You'll see the Bombers will simply run and gun as they say in American sport. There won't be much tempo being played unless they have to, in order to ice the match.

We saw one serious cult figure win The Open at St Andrews and another kicked some sort of goal in Sam Draper. He doesn't have many scruples and it sometimes is agricultural. He'll run through an opposition ruckman mainly because he's a wrecking ball.

The Collingwood rucks will need to be careful. Can they withstand an attack in the contest and around the ground? They could well set Pendlebury a tagging role on Merrett to help cut off the supply.

There is certainly no way you'd mark this down as a guaranteed Pies win. A free flowing Bombers team, without any type of pressure of the finals, only needs to get a little jump early.

If they do, look out. It would be so Essendon to catch fire after a dreadful year, thereby losing draft pick position.

On a fine afternoon, this has a fast, flowing, high scoring match feel to it. One that attack will be the main course of action. But Collingwood just find a way. It's a danger game but they win them. They might make it a blow out or win by nearer 2 goals – who knows but the latter is likely on form.

Match Selection: Collingwood by 10 points

Suggested Bets: Total Points Over 169.5 @ $1.90