Magpies to make easy work of the Bombers this Friday | Thebigtip

Read all of Darren Parkin's Round 20 Previews at: http://dasherssport.blogspot.com/

Essendon vs Collingwood - MCG - Friday Night

LADDER POSITION:
Essendon 12th -7-12 - 84.40%
Collingwood 1st - 15-3-1 - 141.04%

BETTING:
Essendon - $7.10
Collingwood - $1.10

LAST TIME THEY MET:
Rd.5, 2010 - Collingwood 18.12.120 defeated Essendon 8.7.55

The rampaging Magpies are confronted with the chance to once again demolish an arch rival this friday night. It would also see them continue their amazing march towards a september campaign that promises plenty for the Black and White army.Last week they took down the champions Geelong in an ominous display for the competition. It came three weeks after a demolition of St.Kilda and the margin in this game should have been far greater then the 22 points it was.

58 more contested posessions, 24 more inside fifties and 12 more scoring shots tell the tale of Collingwood's domination.

The Cats sheer brilliance kept them alive in this match at times, but Collingwood had their measure all evening and are now justifiable flag favourites for 2010.

Of particular note was the spread of goal kicking again for the Magpies. 10 players kicked majors in another example of the enormous depth of talent at Mick Malthouse's disposal.

Wellingham, Thomas, Jolly, Ball, Beams, Sidebottom, Dawes, Toovey, Leigh Brown, Didak and Reid are players that have either improved on last year, or come into the side and had an impact to make them better in 2010.

No other finalist boasts that spread of improvement accross the board and it is for that reason that Collingwood are undeniably the team to beat this year.

You still have to get it done though, and the Pies have a few demons in their past they will be well aware of, but I feel this is the best chance they have had in my time watching footy.

Geelong were the best team in the competition in 2008, and St.Kilda were in 2009, but neither won the flag, so finals can throw up some surprises from time to time.

Collingwood's frontal pressure game is reminiscint of the Saints of last year. They have maintained their own style of play, but have ramped up the pressure skills and zoning this year to fanatical levels.

Geelong's fast aggressive style of play was broken down time and time again by Collingwood's tackling and harassing of the ball carrier.

It hasn't been unique to saturday night though, the Pies have done that relentlessly to every team in the competition and boast at least a six goal win against every team in the eight, except Geelong and they should have beaten them by six goals plus too.

For the Bombers last week was a return to the horrible form of rounds 11-16 with a shellacking at the hands of old foe Carlton.

The progress made in the previous fortnight was undone in a poor display under the Friday Night lights.