Collingwood v Essendon betting tips, prediction and odds; AFL rd 5 preview

Friday night football pits Collingwood against Essendon at the MCG but it won’t be the typical clash between these two olds foes.

Normally they meet on Anzac Day in front of a sellout crowd but of course there will be no crowd for this clash with the COVID-19 restrictions in force.

The Magpies will go into this match as the bookies’ favourite but they have been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons this week.

Favourite son and star midfielder Steele Sidebottom has been banned for four matches for breaching biosecurity protocols and his loss will be keenly felt as he has been outstanding this season.

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Prolific midfielder Adam Treloar is expected to return from a calf injury to take his place, while the Magpies must also find a replacement for star defender Jeremy Howe, who suffered a serious knee injury the Pies’ narrow loss to GWS last weekend. Jack Madgen is in the frame though inury plagued Matt Scharenberg is also under consideration.

The Bombers have Zach Merrett suspended for this match, but they have Irishman Conor McKenna available again after a quarantine period.

Essendon’s three matches since the resumption have all been decided by six points or less; they came out on top against Fremantle and Sydney Swans but fell a point short against Carlton last round.

Below we have highlighted our free Collingwood v Essendon tips and given our winner prediction, ahead of Friday night’s AFL Round 5 clash at the MCG.

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Collingwood v Essendon betting details and odds

Start:	7.50pm local time, July 3
Venue:	MCG, Melbourne
Head-to-head odds:	Collingwood ($1.43) v Essendon ($2.80)
Line betting:	Collingwood -13.5 ($1.95) v Essendon +13.5 ($1.85)
Premiership odds:	Collingwood $5.50; Essenon $41

Magpies v Bombers tips

Our AFL betting expert has scoured the odds for some value and found several value Collingwood v Essendon tips for Friday’s game.

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Collingwood Magpies v Essendon Bombers prediction

These two teams rarely fail to produce a cracking contest. This will look a little different, with the lack of crowd and atmosphere lowering the intensity in many of the matches. Collingwood are a little beaten up after their trip to Sydney to face the Giants and then by the foolish decision made by one of their senior players in Sidebottom, along with another who should have known better in Lynden Dunn. They are there for the taking, though I am not sure Essendon are capable of really putting the foot on their old rivals’ throat. Collingwood by 2 points.

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Magpies v Bombers lowdown

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