SUMMARY

You’d have to go back to successive semi-finals in 2002-03 to find a meeting between Essendon and Port Adelaide that carried as much significance as Sunday’s twilight clash. The Bombers are flying, and so are the Power after consecutive wins over the Sydney Swans and Collingwood at AAMI Stadium in the last fortnight. The Bombers will tweak their forward set up in the likely absence of Stewart Crameri, while they will also need to shut down exciting midfielder Chad Wingard, who is playing scintillating footy for the Power and re-signed with the club for three more years earlier this week.



WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Sunday, July 7, 4.40pm



LAST FIVE TIMES

R16, 2012: Essendon 19.13 (127) d Port Adelaide 11.11 (77) at AAMI Stadium

R2, 2012: Essendon 16.15 (111) d Port Adelaide 13.8 (86) at Etihad Stadium

R23, 2011: Essendon 17.18 (120) d Port Adelaide 17.11 (113) at Etihad Stadium

R7, 2010: Port Adelaide 17.7 (109) d Essendon 16.10 (106) at Etihad Stadium

R1, 2009: Port Adelaide 15.17 (107) d Essendon 9.12 (66) at AAMI Stadium



THE SIX POINTS

1. The Bombers have won the past three clashes between the sides, which ended Port Adelaide's dominance – from 2001-10, the Power won 12 of 14 contests.



2. Port Adelaide doesn't hold a strong recent record at Etihad Stadium, losing its last seven games at the venue. The Power haven't won there since round 22, 2010.



3. Essendon likes to possess and hold the ball under coach James Hird. No team has had more disposals this season than the Bombers, with an average of 381 per game. Port Adelaide averages 368 a game (ranked fifth).



4. Port will need to stop the Bombers at the clearances. Essendon is ranked third in the competition for winning the ball there, while the Power are 15th.



5. Paddy Ryder's terrific performance over West Coast ruckmen Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui in round 14 was reflected in the Official AFL Player Ratings, with Ryder jumping back to 66th position overall.



6. Former Bomber Angus Monfries will line up against his old side for the first time. Monfries played 150 games for Essendon between 2005-2012.

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