The Magpies have been the form team throughout the pre-season, coasting to big wins against West Coast and Richmond in the first two rounds.
Star midfielders Alan Didak, Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan have been excellent and the team has managed to spread the load up forward, with no single player dominating.
Meanwhile, Essendon has scraped into the semi-finals with narrow wins against the Western Bulldogs and the Brisbane Lions.
The Bombers could easily have lost both those matches, but coach Matthew Knights and his squad will be buoyed by their ability to win the close ones.
Both clubs will unveil their first-round selections in last year’s NAB AFL National Draft tonight.
Essendon has brought in key defender Michael Hurley, who was taken at No. 5 and is expected to be a long-term asset in the Bombers’ defence.
Meanwhile, Steele Sidebottom will don the black and white stripes for the first time after being taken by Collingwood at No. 11 in last year’s draft.
The midfielder will have fond memories of his most recent outing at Docklands, which resulted in a 10-goal haul in the TAC Cup Grand Final.
Essendon will be without veteran full-back Dustin Fletcher and speedy winger Andrew Lovett tonight, while Collingwood has rested skipper Nick Maxwell, ruckman Josh Fraser and defender Harry O’Brien.
The winner of tonight’s game will take on either Carlton or Geelong in the Grand Final next Friday night at Docklands.
