AFL / Andy Morris / 10 September 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Despite their all-time series being pretty close, Andy Morris feels there could be some daylight between Carlton and Essendon when they meet at the MCG on Sunday.

The two sides have met 234 times, and there's only nine win's difference, with Carlton having the edge, as they proved emphatically when they last clashed at the same venue in Round 18.

That saw the Blues win by 74 points, so the Bombers have a big psychological hurdle to overcome.

However, Carlton do have a number of fitness worries ahead of the game.

Matthew Kreuzer, Michael Jamison and Jarrad Waite are all questionable. Kreuzer hurt his foot last week against St Kilda, Jamison was a late withdrawal last week with a knee complaint, while Waite hasn't played since Round 16.

The Bombers may be helped by having the bye last week, as they didn't pick up any fresh injury worries. Dustin Fletcher (ankle) and Heath Hocking (suspension) are certain to return the side, and Sam Lonergan is a chance to play his first game since Round 14 when he tore his medial ligament in his knee.

The Blues go into the finals having lost their last two games, against St Kilda and Hawthorn. That's not ideal preparation, but then Essendon have also lost two of their last five games, against the Magpies and the Eagles.

The last time these sides met in a final was in 2000, when Essendon won by 45 points.

This time around it could easily be the same margin, but in Carlton's favour.

The Blues are 1.45 in match odds betting, while the Bombers are 3.45.