3.03pmInteractive: Follow your side this seasonBy 3.03pmThe crowd questionBy Danny RussellEssendon bombarded members and fans with text messages on Friday in a bid to drag in extra support for the club’s clash with arch rivals Carlton at the MCG tonight.The club’s marketing department encouraged the Bombers faithful to “celebrate Neale Daniher and shine a light on motor neurone disease” by turning out in force. The Bombers plugged $20 GA tickets – down from $27 across all games at the MCG this King’s Birthday weekend – and 50 per cent off reserved-seat upgrades.It was a tough opening night at the office for Dean Solomon, who is the Essendon caretaker coach.AFL PhotosThe club said it was regular practice to push for extra attendance in the days before big games. They were expecting a crowd of up to 74,000.Essendon have won just one game this year, while the Blues are on the crest of a mini-wave, having won their past three under interim coach Josh Fraser.The two sides drew a crowd of 74,280 in the corresponding fixture last year. The Blues won that clash by eight points.But in the final round of the 2025 season, a meagre 41,150 people turned out to see Carlton win by 34 points.3.02pm‘Huge shoes’: Swans great’s high praise for coachBy Few in the AFL industry could ever successfully fill the shoes of the “greatest-ever coaches in the history” of the Sydney Swans.But club great Michael O’Loughlin reckons Dean Cox is on track to do exactly that as John Longmire’s successor.Swans coach Dean Cox.AFL Photos via Getty ImagesIn Cox’s second season at the helm, second-placed Sydney (10-2) have established themselves as early premiership contenders, despite numerous injuries.The Swans led the league for eight weeks before being leapfrogged by Fremantle (11-1) after an away loss to Geelong in round 11.3.01pmGood afternoonBy G’day everyone and welcome to our AFL live blog for this King’s Birthday Eve Sunday.We will begin with St Kilda and Sydney at 3.15pm AEST before tonight’s rivalry clash between Carlton and Essendon at the MCG.Please enjoy the hours to come.1 of 1