It's all on the line for traditional AFL Anzac Day combatants Essendon and Collingwood, with both teams desperately needing a win on one of footy's biggest days.Nearly 90,000 fans will pack the Melbourne Cricket Ground for Tuesday's game, which over the course of 23 years has become the biggest regular-season occasion.Collingwood lead the overall Anzac Day ledger head-to head, winning 13 of 22 matches since that memorable draw between the two in 1995.More significant in terms of the result this year is that the Magpies have won the past three Anzac Day matches by an average of 37 points.The oddsmakers think they'll make it four straight wins, with the Magpies priced as $1.74 (AUD)favouritesand the Bombers $2.10 outsiders having lost their past two matches to slip to 2-2, according toAustralianGambling.com.au.Collingwood are 1-3, and another defeat here could put a serious dent in Nathan Buckley's ambitions of coaching the club beyond 2017.Just as intriguing is the Anzac Day eve match between Richmond and Melbourne at the same venue. All coaching speculation at Richmond has ceased as Damien Hardwick has led the Tigers to their best start to a season in 22 years. The momentum is building for the club's long-suffering fans, and they are $1.74 to make it five straight against the promising but inconsistent Demons ($2.10).Those with long memories will recall that in that 1995 season the Tigers also played an Anzac Day eve Monday game. They kicked nine first-quarter goals on their way to a monster win against North Melbourne.Richmond will take that sort of start on Monday, but the oddsmakers think that is unlikely and have the line at just minus-5.5.The round opens on Friday night in Adelaide, where Port Adelaide, who are listed at $1.13, are expected to thrash Carlton ($6.05), while the Western Bulldogs are $1.07 favourites for their Saturday clash with Brisbane Lions ($8.50) at Etihad Stadium.Adelaide Crows' perfect start to the season is expected to continue when they travel to Gold Coast as $1.25 favourites to defeat the Suns ($4).Saturday night's two matches are expected to be close, with the Sydney Swans hosting the Greater Western Sydney Giants in an intriguing local derby.The Swans ($2.75) start as the outsider for the first time in their 12 matches against the Giants, who are $1.45 favourites. A loss to Sydney would condemn them to their worst start to a season in 24 years.North Melbourne are also at risk of going 0-5 to start the year when they travel to Perth to take on the Fremantle Dockers. The Dockers are $1.50 favourites in that match, while the Kangaroos are $2.60 to secure their first win of 2017.St Kilda's win over Collingwood last week meant they have won five of their last seven matches at Etihad Stadium when they have started as outsiders. That formula arises again on Sunday when they host Geelong Cats. The Saints are $2.85 for this one but did beat Geelong here last year, while the Cats, off a six-day break and an 86-point belting of Hawthorn, are $1.43 to go 5-0.Speaking of Hawthorn, they are back at the MCG after their worst fortnight in over 10 years. They are $3.10 against the West Coast Eagles ($1.38). A loss for them would see them 0-5, which is quite remarkable when you consider they have won three of the past four premierships.
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