Collingwood vs Essendon Preview & Prediction | 2025 AFL | Regular Season | Round 7

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Collingwood and Essendon meet in the traditional Anzac Day clash at the MCG.

Kick-off date/time: Friday 25th April, 2025: UK – 6:20am / Local – 3:20pm / US ET – 1:20am / Thursday 24th April, US PT – 10:20pm

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Some matches are televised on Fox Sports channels

How to watch online: UK – discovery+ & Watch AFL / US – Watch AFL

The prediction

The time-honoured ANZAC day clash at the MCG with 95,000 spectators expected features both sides riding winning streaks into the contest.

The Collingwood Magpies stamped themselves as premiership favourite with an utter dismantling of the Brisbane Lions in Brisbane. The 105 to 53 margin sees Collingwood go top of the ladder on percentage, joining the Lions as the only side with five wins for the season.

Essendon will be happy walking away from the West Coast Eagles and a trip to Perth with the four points although they will be hardly thrilled with their play which can best be described as inconsistent through the match. A six-goal return for Peter Wright was dampened by a season ending Achilles injury to ruckman Sam Draper which is sure to test the depth of the Essendon big man stocks. Draper has proven to be a valuable goal sneak and his around the ground work-rate has been excellent in the past three Bomber victories.

While Essendon bring winning form into this clash, they are yet to prove they can be competitive against the upper echelon of sides in 2025. In the past 10 editions of the ANZAC day match, the Magpies have won seven against two defeats and a draw (last year).

We think Collingwood will have too much firepower for the Bombers in this one and will pull away late in the match.

Collingwood vs Essendon tip: Collingwood to win by 25+ points