A win for the Bombers against the Power would have the side knocking on the door of the top eight heading into the mid-season break. 

Port Adelaide has won three of its last five while Essendon has dropped its last two against sides currently in the top four.

James Kelly returns at the expense of Brent Stanton for the Bombers, while the Power welcome back Chad Wingard.

Read Robert Shaw’s match preview here.

The History

R3, 2016, Port Adelaide 17.10 (112) d Essendon 7.9 (51) at Adelaide Oval
R17, 2015, Port Adelaide 20.9 (129) d Essendon 17.14 (116) at Etihad Stadium
R16, 2014, Essendon 8.14 (62) d Port Adelaide 7.18 (60) at Adelaide Oval
R15, 2013, Essendon 18.10 (118) d Port Adelaide 12.16 (88) at Etihad Stadium
R16, 2012, Essendon 19.13 (127) d Port Adelaide 11.11 (77) at AAMI Stadium

Sidenote

There will be former champions in abundance at the game on Saturday night.

The James Hird Academy – the development program that guides the Club’s future father-son prospects – will be recognised with a special pre-match function, before the current intake and their famous fathers form the guard of honour as the team runs out.

Our Comeback Hero for this game is Matthew Lloyd. The greatest goal kicker in the history of the Club will be celebrated, so make sure you get along to relive some of his great moments before the game.

You can secure your tickets here.

The teams

Essendon

In: James Kelly

Out: Brent Stanton

B: Martin Gleeson, Michael Hurley, Mark Baguley

HB: Brendon Goddard, Michael Hartley, Andrew McGrath

C: Conor McKenna, Zach Merrett, Travis Colyer

HF: James Stewart, Cale Hooker, Orazio Fantasia

F: Dyson Heppell, Joe Daniher, David Myers

R: Tom Bellchambers, Jobe Watson, David Zaharakis

I: Ben Howlett, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, James Kelly, Josh Green

E: Craig Bird, Brent Stanton, Kyle Langford

Port Adelaide

In: Chad Wingard

Out: Aaron Young

B: Darcy Byrne-Jones, Tom Clurey, Jack Hombsch

HB: Matthew Broadbent, Tom Jonas, Hamish Hartlett

C: Brad Ebert, Ollie Wines, Jared Polec

HF: Jarman Impey, Justin Westhoff, Sam Powell-Pepper

F: Chad Wingard, Charlie Dixon, Jackson Trengove

R: Paddy Ryder, Robbie Gray, Travis Boak

I: Jimmy Toumpas, Jasper Pittard, Brendon Ah Chee, Sam Gray

E: Jake Neade, Willem Drew, Jesse Palmer

Key notes 

- Port Adelaide is one of the highest scoring teams in the competition, averaging 16.6 goals per game (Essendon is 7th overall with 13.6 goals per game). Charlie Dixon and Robbie Gray have kicked 24 goals each. Expect Michael Hartley to play on Dixon while Martin Gleeson could get the job on Gray when the Power star goes forward.

- Essendon's height in attack under the Etihad roof will stretch the Power defence. Tom Clurey (193cm), Jack Hombsch (192cm), Tom Jonas (188cm) and Jackson Trengove (197cm) will have their work cut out for them against Joe Daniher (200cm), Cale Hooker (197cm) and James Stewart (198cm). The key for the Bombers will be ensuring they get enough forward entries and their tall targets are able to get some isolation so the Dons midfielders are kicking to one on one contests.

- The strong bodied Port Adelaide midfield love the contested possession (third overall in the competition) and the clearances (second overall in the competition). Those two stats are key reasons why they Power are number one for inside 50s, averaging 62 per game. The Dons will be looking to limit the visitors’ entries to less than 50 and backing their own forward line efficiency to kick a winning score.