Preview: Essendon v Melbourne - Sportal.com.au

HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 208, Essendon 126, Melbourne 80, 2 draws

LAST TIME: Melbourne 8.10 (58) defeated Essendon 6.16 (52) Round 10, 2012, at MCG

WALKING WOUNDED:

Essendon will head into this game with their squad at almost full strength, although speedster Jason Winderlich is still battling to find match fitness after a groin injury and will likely spend another week in the VFL.

Melbourne, meanwhile, were rocked by the news that new recruit Chris Dawes will spend the next month on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. Mitch Clark, however, will be given every chance to prove his fitness after he landed awkwardly on his ankle in the Round 1 loss to Port Adelaide. Co-captain Jack Trengove played for Casey in the VFL last weekend, as did ruckman Max Gawn. Midfielder Rohan Bail has overcome his concussion and should be fit for VFL selection this week.

FORM:

After the pre-season from hell, the Bombers responded in the best possible fashion against Adelaide in the first match of the 2013 season. They conceded the first three goals of the game in front of a parochial crowd at Football Park, but dominated thereafter before taking a 35-point victory. Skipper Jobe Watson (34 touches) led from the front for the Bombers, with Ben Howlett amassing 25 disposals and four goals.

Melbourne , meanwhile, were completely humiliated by Port Adelaide to the tune of 79 points at the MCG on Sunday. Their performance was so poor, after an off-season filled with so much promise, that some supporters stayed behind to boo the side off the ground.

WE THINK:

All the indicators point to an Essendon rout - Melbourne's inept performance against the Power, their own hard running against Adelaide away from home and the whopping 15-day break between games for the Dons.

But Melbourne should come out breathing fire after what they served first up, and that should help them stay with the Bombers - a side they have defeated in their past three meetings - at least for a while. But don't underestimate how much Essendon want to beat a team they haven't managed to topple since 2009. That, plus a considerable edge in class and running power, should see James Hird's men post a regulation victory. Bombers by 36 points.