The biggest game of the round involves two traditional and fierce rivals fighting over top position on the ladder. The Hawks are a game and percentage clear of the second-placed Bombers, but if the Bombers get up on their home turf at Etihad Stadium they are a chance of swapping ladder spots. It will be a challenge. Hawthorn has had the wood over Essendon in recent years – the average winning margin in the last two meetings is nearly 80 points – but Essendon might be boosted by the return of midfielders Heath Hocking, Ben Howlett and David Zaharakis.
WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Friday July 26, 7.50pm
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide and odds
LAST FIVE TIMES
R18, 2012, Hawthorn 27.18 (180) d Essendon 12.14 (86) at Etihad Stadium
R14, 2011, Hawthorn 23.8 (146) d Essendon 12.9 (81) at the MCG
R13, 2010, Hawthorn 14.18 (102) d Essendon 13.8 (86) at the MCG
R6, 2010, Essendon 15.16 (106) d Hawthorn 9.9 (63) at the MCG
R22, 2009, Essendon 16.20 (116) d Hawthorn 14.15 (99) at the MCG
THE SIX POINTS
1. Expect a bumper crowd. The average attendance to watch these teams at Etihad Stadium is 47,278, and in six matches the lowest crowd is just over 44,000.
2. Essendon is the number-one ranked side this season for disposals, averaging 382.7 per game, while Hawthorn is ranked fourth, averaging 371.9.
3. If Lance Franklin returns from his knee injury he will be keen to continue his form against the Bombers. He has kicked 42 goals in nine games, including two bags of nine.
4. This will be the third time this year the top two sides on the ladder will have played each other. In the previous two games (Essendon v Geelong and Hawthorn v Geelong), the second-placed team won.
5. No team has taken more marks in 2013 inside-50 than Hawthorn, which is averaging 14.8 per game. It's not a strength for the Bombers, who are ranked 10th with 11.9 per game despite taking being ranked second this season for inside 50s.
6. Who does Essendon use to curb the influence of Hawks big man Jarryd Roughead? Roughead is in the form of his career – he's the 15th best player in the competition according to the Official AFL Player Ratings – and is perhaps Hawthorn's most important player. Cale Hooker is an option for the Bombers.
