Will James Hird get three Brownlow votes for Essendon’s win over Carlton in Round 3? Hird wrote an article lauding the Carlton midfield earlier this year and apparently the pressure was too much to handle. If the Essendon players that actually got the job done that day aren’t insulted, they should be, and it will ensure a superb contest at the MCG this Friday night.

Blues fans were quick to point to the weight of expectation set up by the media in the week leading up to the last clash between the old rivals. Little or no credit was given to the young Bombers who did exceptionally well in the dying minutes to hold on for a stirring victory. But no, it was the media that had conspired to bring about the downfall of the Blues.

It is hard to believe some of what did the rounds following the Round 3 match but it will ensure Friday night is one of the matches of the season. Sam Lonergan missed the round three match and he can’t wait to get involved in the return bout.

As is the case in almost every game, he has no doubt it is the midfield where the game will be won and lost.

“They are very talented. All the players that go in there – Marc Murphy, Chris Judd, Nick Stevens, Heath Scotland – are mature players and very good ball users and for us to beat Carlton that is where it starts, in the midfield,” Lonergan said.

“Andrew Welsh and Jobe Watson will be very important players for us this week because they can shut those guys down and also win their fair share of the footy.

“We go into every single game expecting our players to do their best and beat their opponent and that is what we need to do again this week.”

With both Essendon and Carlton clinging to top eight spots with just 10 rounds to go, there is even more spice added to the traditional rivalry.

“These games are the reason you play footy,” Lonergan said. “We expect it to be a pretty big game against Carlton this week, particularly after we have won the past four games against them. It is going to be important to come out firing and perform again for the fans.

“I think the thing about long-standing rivalries is that each game is as important as the last one. We have a good game plan and hopefully this week will seal our fifth consecutive win.”

During their Round 3 encounter, both sides produced exciting football which ended in a nail-biting finish but Lonergan would prefer a more convincing win by the Bombers this time around.

“I don’t think any player would hope for a close finish. It’s obviously good for the fans to watch but from a players point of view, you would love to have a healthy lead at half time and build on that in the second half but that is going to take a lot of hard work,” he said.