With the all-important clash against Essendon coming up this Sunday at we¹ve delved into the stats that really matter.

Despite sitting last on the AFL ladder with one win the Bombers lead the competition for Uncontested Marks.

The GIANTS backline will need to be especially vigilant as the Dons boast two of the best lead up forwards in the competition with Joe Daniher and Mitch Brown both sitting inside the AFL top 10.

Essendon also lead the AFL for switches and with the speed of Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, David Zaharakis, Zach Merrit and Orazio Fantasia in the side the GIANTS will have a tough task on their hands to avoid being caught out.

Under coach John Worsfold Essendon play a high possession and direct brand of football.

The Bombers are second in the competition for disposals and fourth in coming out of defense through the corridor.

Essendon also prefer a free-flowing brand of football with their games typically low in contested ball.

It shows with the Bombers ranked last for contested possessions and second last for clearances managing 32.8 a game.

The GIANTS on the other hand are ranked sixth in the competition for contested possessions and are the best clearance side so far in 2016, averaging 40.5 a game.

Darcy Parish will be one to watch for the Bombers, the fifth pick of the 2015 National Draft averaging 22 Disposals per game so far this year.

Essendon have had the better of the GIANTS in four of their six meetings, however the GIANTS won the last outing in round 19, 2015 by 32 points at Spotless Stadium.

The GIANTS have played Essendon only once at Etihad Stadium in 2013, the Bombers winning that encounter by 39 points.

The GIANTS travel to Melbourne to take on Essendon on Sunday afternoon at Etihad Stadium at 4.40pm AEST.