Key match-ups

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Jake Carlisle on Darcy Moore

Tayte Pears on Alex Fasolo

Michael Hurley on Jesse White

Elliott Kavanagh on Travis Varcoe

Midfield

Brendon Goddard v Scott Pendlebury

Forward

Nathan Brown on Cale Hooker

Ben Reid on Joe Daniher

Kyle Langford joined Dyson Heppell, Heath Hocking and Shaun McKernan in the centre square at the opening bounce.

Joe Daniher was taken off under the 20 minute concussion rule after a head clash in the opening minute.  Shaun Edwards was activated during this time.  Daniher was cleared of injury and allowed to resume playing at the 21 minute mark of the first quarter.

Collingwood won the contested ball (16-9) in the first eight minutes of the game leading to two early goals.

By five minutes in to the second term Essendon had taken control of the contested ball (45-41) and led by eight points.

The Dons pressure in the first ten minutes of the second term was very good.  They had 11 more tackles, six more contested possessions and did not let the Pies have a single effective kick in this period.

Collingwood made the most of its forward entries in the second term, kicking three goals from four inside 50's before Brent Stanton steadied for the Bombers.

 The Bombers led by eight points at half time and were in front in tackles (41-17), clearances (26-15) and contested ball (72-71).