SUMMARY
With great rivals meeting and plenty at stake, the MCG on Saturday afternoon is the place to be. That's particularly so for the Hawks, who have won five from seven there this year, although perhaps not for the Bombers, who have won just one from six visits. Still, with eight wins from their last 10 matches, the Bombers are one of the most in-form teams in the competition and their run and spread will cause headaches for Hawthorn. A key for the Hawks will be to win the clearances and control possession because once pacy Dons such as Conor McKenna and Adam Saad get hold of the ball they can move it the length of the field, as they did against the tiring Swans last week and get the scoreboard ticking over. The Hawks are the fourth highest scoring team in the AFL this year and the Dons will likely need to kick more than 100 points to beat them.
FOLLOW IT LIVE: Hawks v Bombers
WHERE AND WHEN: MCG Saturday, August 4, 1.45pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
R7, 2018, Hawthorn 13.12 (90) d Essendon 10.7 (67) at the MCG
R1, 2017, Essendon 17.14 (116) d Hawthorn 12.19 (91) at the MCG
R12, 2016, Hawthorn 23.13 (151) d Essendon 6.7 (43) at Etihad Stadium
R13, 2015, Hawthorn 16.18 (114) d Essendon 11.10 (76) at the MCG
R2, 2015, Essendon 12.6 (78) d Hawthorn 11.10 (76) at the MCG
THE SIX POINTS
1. Essendon led by seven points at half-time in round seven before the Hawks kicked six goals to one behind in the third term. Tom Mitchell starred with 29 disposals, one goal, 10 tackles and eight clearances.
2. Both sides have been strong marking the ball inside 50 this season; Essendon is ranked third averaging 12.7 and the Hawks fourth with an average of 12.3.
3. Hawthorn has dominated Essendon recently, winning eight of the last 10 matches including four by more than 50 points.
4. No team has been cleaner disposing the football this season than the Hawks, ranked first for disposal efficiency at 74.7 per cent, ahead of the Bombers equal sixth on 73 per cent.
5. The Bombers will be aiming for four consecutive wins for the first time since rounds 14-17, 2013; Hawthorn will be hoping for their seventh win from nine games.
6. Essendon's Andrew McGrath is the 247th listed player according to the Schick AFL Player Ratings.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
The Bombers love to run and have pace to burn, so this is a week for Isaac Smith to strut his stuff on the big stage and use the wide MCG flanks to wreak some damage.
PREDICTION: Hawthorn by 10 points
