Head to head: Essendon nine wins, Brisbane Lions 10 wins, one draw
Last time: Essendon 13.9 (87) drew with Brisbane Lions 12.15 (87), round 19, 2009 at the MCG
MISSING IN ACTION
Brisbane Lions
Matt Austin (leg) - season
Donald Barry (sinus) - season
Callum Bartlett (knee) - season
Jonathan Brown (knee) - TBC
Jamie Charman (ankle) - season
Xavier Clarke (hamstring) - test
Josh Drummond (knee) - season
Brendan Fevola (groin) - season
Mitch Golby (knee) - season
Matt Maguire (ankle) - TBC
Broc McCauley (groin) - season
Bart McCulloch (hamstring) - test
Andrew Raines (quad) - season
Essendon
Darcy Daniher (adductor) - season
Alwyn Davey (arm) - season
Scott Gumbleton (fractured ribs) - season
Bachar Houli (knee) - test
Jason Laycock (foot) - season
Anthony long (hamstring) - season
Nathan Lovett-Murray (back) - test
Tayte Pears (pancreas) - season
Taite Silverlock (leg) - season
Mark Williams (ankle) - season
Jason Winderlich (hand) - test
David Zaharakis (knee) - season
FORM
Essendon: LWWLL
Brisbane Lions: LLLWL
SUMMARY
Looking at the form line tells you neither club is travelling all that well - between them they've won three times in the last five weeks. The Lions' contribution was a win over the hapless West Coast, although even that took a Jonathan Brown mark and goal with just seconds to go to get them over the line. Essendon's form is more complicated - huge losses to Carlton and Collingwood in the last two weeks came after a brilliant five-goal win over St Kilda. If that win took some pressure off coach Matthew Knights, the last two weeks has seen it return with a vengeance. The Lions have won just one of their last five against the Bombers, and the hosts have won the last three times they have met at Etihad.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Mark McVeigh had just 16 touches against the Magpies, but historically, the Lions are the side he is most prolific against, giving him the perfect opportunity to bounce back.
Mitch Clark was on fire last week, kicking five goals in the absence of Brown. Has never kicked a goal against the Bombers, so will no doubt be looking to break that duck.
QUESTION MARKS
Will Brown get up to play his 200th? The cheer squad had to be called in late last week to do a new banner when he withdrew.
Which Essendon will turn up - the one that beat the Saints, or the one that was smashed by Collingwood?
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
It's hard to see the Lions winning given the way they've been playing, and while Essendon has been terrible for two weeks, it's only three weeks ago they rolled the Saints.
PREDICTION
Essendon by 32 points.
Chat with host Mic Cullen and other fans in the AFL Match Centre on afl.com.au from 1.40pm Sunday or join the conversation on Twitter: #bomberslions
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
