A poor showing in round one makes this clash against Brisbane absolutely crucial for Essendon.
Meanwhile, Collingwood ran out comfortable winners over Adelaide in a game that was briefly interrupted by a fire alarm at the MCG.
In later matches, Port Adelaide will host Hawthorn and Gold Coast plots an upset against Melbourne.
Follow the live scores, stats and results below.
Essendon vs Brisbane
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Fire alarm can’t stop Pies in win over Crows
Collingwood have overcome a bizarre mid-game interruption and continued their strong start to the AFL season under new coach Craig McRae with a 42-point thumping of Adelaide.
An evacuation alarm sounded early in the second quarter at the MCG on Saturday, leaving fans shocked and confused as they started heading for the exits.
Play was held up for about five minutes before venue officials confirmed it was a false alarm caused by a small fire in a food outlet.
Collingwood’s young guns and new recruits shone in the 15.10 (100) to 8.10 (58) victory, set up during a seven-goal onslaught in the third quarter.
The result improved the Magpies’ record under McRae to 2-0 but was soured by a shoulder injury to new cult hero Nathan Kreuger.
The former Geelong swingman played forward on his Collingwood debut and immediately won over many of the black-and-white faithful with two goals before he was substituted out during the last quarter.
Beau McCreery and Oliver Henry also kicked multiple goals, with the latter nailing a pair of brilliant snap shots at the city end.
Former Western Bulldogs midfielder Patrick Lipinski had 24 disposals and kicked a goal in another impressive display for his new club.
Collingwood booted five goals to one in the first term as the visitors’ inaccuracy proved costly, leaving them in a 21-point hole when the false alarm dramatically brought play to a halt.
The two teams gathered in huddles in the centre of the ground, with neither appearing overly concerned.
The match restarted with a ball-up in Adelaide’s forward line and a pair of quick goals to Mitchell Hinge and Jordan Dawson got them back into the contest.
But the Magpies settled before the main break and then took flight as Jordan De Goey asserted his authority with 10 disposals, four clearances and a goal in the sizzling third-quarter surge.
De Goey, Jack Crisp and Taylor Adams were important contributors through the midfield as Scott Pendlebury and Josh Daicos racked up touches across half-back,
Adelaide’s newest young star Josh Rachele kicked a brilliant goal from 50 metres during the first quarter as Ben Keays and Brodie Smith worked tirelessly for the visitors.
Crows captain Rory Sloane played after beating an intentional eye contact charge at the tribunal but was troubled by a sore groin an eventually substituted out.
Port Adelaide vs Hawthorn
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Gold Coast vs Melbourne
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