THURSDAY night is teams night on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.
For so long a staple in the typical football week, we must sit and wait for the return of the flurry of line-ups dropping at 6.20pm AEDT.
>> WHO WINS THE GAME? CHECK OUT THE TEAMS AND VOTE BELOW
So instead, we're winding back the clock to pull apart one match-up from the scheduled weekend of games we aren't going to see.
It starts this week with Carlton v Essendon, who were due to do battle in round three for the 53rd time since the 1993 Grand Final.
Here's how the team line-ups would look with every player available who has represented both clubs from 1993 to now.
Who would win? Tell us in the poll below …
CARLTON (1993-2020)
B: Fraser Brown, Stephen Silvagni, Ang Christou
HB: Kade Simpson, Michael Sexton, Andrew McKay
C: Anthony Koutoufides, Chris Judd, Craig Bradley
HF: Scott Camporeale, Stephen Kernahan, Aaron Hamill
F: Eddie Betts, Brendan Fevola, Matthew Lappin
R: Justin Madden, Brett Ratten, Greg Williams
Inter: Patrick Cripps, Peter Dean, Marc Murphy, Lance Whitnall
Coach: David Parkin
After winning nine finals from 1993-2001, the Blues have won just two since. As a result, the team is heavily weighted to the success of the 90's. The strength of Ratten and Williams, combined with the brilliance of Judd, has relegated Cripps to the bench for the first bounce. Kernahan and Fevola are locks in attack and would prove a tough match-up for any defence, while Hamill provides a third-tall option. Koutoufides could've been named anywhere but will form a dangerous wing combination with Bradley. Whitnall claimed the last bench spot for greater flexibility ahead of the unlucky Heath Scotland, Sam Docherty, Glenn Manton and Mil Hanna. Cripps is joined by Marc Murphy, Kade Simpson and returning Blue Eddie Betts as the current-day players. – Mitch Cleary
ESSENDON (1993-2020)
B: Gavin Wanganeen, Dustin Fletcher, Mark Thompson
HB: Damien Hardwick, Sean Wellman, Mark Harvey
C: Blake Caracella, Jobe Watson, Michael Long
HF: James Hird, Scott Lucas, Tim Watson
F: Darren Bewick, Matthew Lloyd, Mark Mercuri
R: Paul Salmon, Joe Misiti, Jason Johnson
Inter: Gary O'Donnell, Michael Hurley, Dyson Heppell, Zach Merrett
Coach: Kevin Sheedy
Given Essendon's inability to win a final since 2004, there should be no surprise that the large majority of this side featured in the Bombers' line-ups in the 1990s and early 2000s. The club's dominant 2000 campaign is reflected in this side, with 12 players having featured in that Grand Final win over Melbourne. Plenty of players picked themselves – Hird at half-forward, Lucas next to him, Lloyd at full-forward, Mercuri at his feet. Fletcher at full-back and Wanganeen to his side, and Caracella and Long on opposing wings. Of the modern era, Jobe Watson was the first selected and he was the club's best player last decade. Heppell, Hurley and Merrett are the only current players in the line-up. – Callum Twomey
HEAD-TO-HEAD SINCE START OF 1993
Overall: Essendon 31 wins, Carlton 21 wins, four draws.
Finals: Carlton three wins, Essendon two wins.
THREE MATCH-UPS
Stephen Silvagni v Matthew Lloyd: Both are five All-Australians and icons of their football clubs. Debuting in 1995, Lloyd came up against Silvagni in his peak in his early days. Held to five goals in his first four outings against the Blues, Lloyd then exploded with 35 in nine games before Silvagni retired. Lloyd bagged five goals in the 1999 preliminary final before copping Blue Glenn Manton in following matches.
Andrew McKay v James Hird: Matching Hird's class with the Blues' most important half-back would be quality viewing. While Hird was often used at half-forward to roam further up the ground, being opposed to McKay would force the Brownlow medallist to be diligent defensively.
Eddie Betts v Gavin Wanganeen: Two of the great indigenous players of the modern era going head-to-head. While they never had the chance to meet, this match-up would bring together two of the most dangerous players on the ground. Betts' tricks in the front half would be equally as important to the outcome as Wanganeen's dash.
THREE STARRING PERFORMANCES SINCE 1993:
Michael Long (GF, 1993): Who could forget the running effort to kick THAT goal over Silvagni's head early in the match? He went on to have a far greater impact, finishing with 33 disposals, two goals and the Norm Smith Medal as a 23-year-old.
Anthony Koutoufides (PF, 1999): His final term that day still keeps Essendon fans awake at night. Starting the final term in defence, Koutoufides was moved into the midfield as the Blues erased an 11-point three-quarter time deficit. He went bananas, with 10 disposals and two goals in an unstoppable display of power.
Brendan Fevola (R3, 2007): When Fevola marked at the 29th minute mark of the second term, the Blues trailed by 48 points. His first major then kickstarted one of the great comebacks in history. In fact, the Blues rattled the Bombers that much they wrestled back the lead in the third term. Fevola's seventh and eighth goals ensured they held off a late Bombers fightback.
MOST BROWNLOW VOTES IN CARLTON v ESSENDON GAMES SINCE 1993:
1. Chris Judd (15 votes)
2. Dustin Fletcher (14 votes)
3. James Hird (12 votes)
=4. Greg Williams, Heath Scotland (9 votes)
=6. Craig Bradley, Brendan Fevola, Marc Murphy, Dyson Heppell, Jobe Watson (8 votes)
THE MOMENT
Andrew Walker's mark (R18, 2011): Walker made Essendon opponent Jake Carlisle look like a stepladder in the forward pocket of the MCG. With the Blues leading by 63 points, Mitch Robinson pumped the ball deep into attack as Carlisle set up for an intercept mark, only to find himself on an everlasting poster.
