AFL round 17: Magpies vs Bombers live updates — blog, scores and ...
A massive crowd converges on the MCG, as defending premiers Collingwood meet fellow top-eight side Essendon in what promises to be an absorbing encounter.
Follow ABC Sport's live blog below and tune in to our live radio coverage.
The Magpies are far from out of this match, with Nathan Kreuger kicking a goal with just under eight minutes on the clock.
Bombers lead by 19 points but another Magpies goal will make it interesting!
After the ARC was called into action to judge whether Brody Mihocek had marked the ball on the line, the Magpies sharpshooter got the chance to help claw his side back into contest.
Mihocek went around the corner from a tight angle to kick the Magpies' 10th goal of the match as we near the halfway point of the final term.
Just as Magpies fans were building up their hopes, Peter Wright replies to Harvey Harrison's goal with one of his own.
Wright marks on the lead and slots the set-shot to put the Bombers back out to a 31-point buffer.
That's two goals to Wright in the second half.
We asked the question could the Magpies fight back, and Harvey Harrison is doing his best for the defending premiers.
A long-range effort gives Harrison his second of the match, as the Magpies reduce the Bombers' advantage to 25 points.
Six minutes down in the fourth term and it's the Bombers leading by 31 points.
It's always reckless to write the Magpies off when they trail in the final quarter but is this a bridge too far tonight?
Time will tell.
Six straight goals for the Bombers, as Jye Caldwell backs up Guelfi's effort with a set-shot major.
Bombers now lead by 29 points.
It took under a minute, but the Bombers land the first blow of the fourth quarter after forcing a turnover inside the Magpies' defensive 50.
Matt Guelfi snaps the Bombers' 11th goal of the match, showing calm nerves as he collected his first major.
It's hardly a match-winning lead, but the Bombers are feeling confident as they hold a 17-point advantage over the Magpies.
But the Pies know better than any team how to clutch victory from the jaws of defeat, so only a fool would write off the defending premiers.
Here we go with the final term!
Key Event
3QT: Bombers establish 17-point leadWhat a term from the Bombers, who lead 10.12 (72) to 8.7 (55) at the final change.
The Bombers took command of the third quarter, kicking four unanswered goals after trailing the Magpies by eight points at half-time.
Still plenty left in this match!
Just over a minute from three-quarter time, Kyle Langford kicks his second goal of the evening.
Langford got a free close to goal and he converted to extend the Bombers' lead to 18 points.
Late in the third term, the Magpies have made a tactical substitution, with Ned Long replacing Charlie Dean.
Congratulations to Long, as he makes his AFL debut.
After a bit of lull on the scoring front, Xavier Duursma breaks through to put the Bombers out to a 13-point lead.
Duursma had space around him when he marked from a short pass inside the attacking 50, before kicking a set-shot goal as we approach three-quarter time.
There hasn't been a goal kicked since Peter Wright was on target earlier in the quarter, with the exchange of behinds the only addition to the score.
With six minutes left in the term, it's the Bombers leading by seven points, but it's still anyone's game at this stage.
"Control the footy" seems to be the popular choice.
For the first time since the opening quarter, the Bombers hit the lead.
Peter Wright juggles a mark amid traffic inside the attacking 50 and he makes no mistake from the set-shot to put the Bombers in front by a goal.
The Bombers get the first goal of the third quarter through Sam Draper.
Draper nervously converted from the set-shot and scores are level early in the third term.
The Bombers almost made the perfect start to the third quarter when Jake Stringer marked from a Kyle Langford pass inside the attacking 50.
But Stringer couldn't land the set-shot and ended up registering a behind.
Archie Perkins had a sot on goal not long after, but again all the Bombers could come away with was a minor score.
It's the Magpies leading by eight points but given how the Bombers played in that second quarter, the result of the match is anyone's guess.
Here we go in the third term!
No surprise that Nick Daicos and Zach Merrett are playing crucial roles for their respective sides.
Daicos has been his usual busy self for the Magpies, with 19 disposals and seven clearances to half-time.
Merrett has been outstanding for the Bombers, with 20 touches to go with his goal from early in the match.
Sports content to make you think... or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Saturday.
