Moore left the field in the last quarter of Friday night's 10.16 (76) to 10.5 (65) win at the MCG, with the Magpies star complaining of hamstring tightness.

It is understood to be the same left hamstring that had sidelined Moore for the previous five matches.

"Darce came off tight - no real signs, other than that," said coach Nathan Buckley.

"We didn't want to risk him beyond that, so we'll know more about that as it settles.

"We just take a few deep breaths, get a good night's sleep tonight, wake up tomorrow and go from there."

Essendon will also sweat on Hurley, who clutched his right shoulder in agony after a clash in the second term.

He left the field immediately and sat out the rest of the game with his arm in a sling.

"How much damange is done, you can't really tell right now," said Bombers coach John Worsfold.

"I'm a bit in the dark with how we're going to know what it is and what the timeframe is going to be."

Collingwood defender Matt Scharenberg was concussed in a friendly-fire collision with Levi Greenwood in the first quarter, but coach Nathan Buckley said he was feeling better by the end of the game.

Essendon defender Aaron Francis suffered an ankle injury in the second term, but played out the game.

Star Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy, who dominated the match, had ice on a knee post-match.

Buckley said Grundy and small forward Josh Thomas, who sent a scare through the Magpies when he hurt his knee late in the last quarter, should be right for the start of the finals.

The win means Collingwood can finish in the top four and gain the double chance, provided Richmond or West Coast lose.

Essendon will play in an elimination final in a fortnight's time, possibly against Collingwood again.

"There's a bit of respite now - we've looked after our end of the bargain, I suppose," Buckley said.

"Now we see where it settles ... we went and won a game that needed to be won."

Essendon's spate of injuries means they have made six, five and then six changes for their last three games.

But Worsfold is confident they will regain stars Dyson Heppell, Orazio Fantasia, Jake Stringer and Cale Hooker - a late withdrawal again on Friday night - for the start of the finals.

"I can't remember a time when (we) have been disrupted so much, with having a settled team," Worsfold said.

"But that's not necessarily going to affect us in two weeks' time - we have a good chance to train together now and build up for it."

Worsfold noted that one benefit of the many changes is the boost it gives their depth.

Buckley and Worsfold said they were pleased with what their teams showed in Friday night's clash.

The opening to the bumper round 23 lived up to its billing and attracted a massive crowd of 85,405.

Collingwood should have won by more, kicking a wasteful 2.7 in the last term, as Grundy and captain Scott Pendlebury dominated.

Shaun McKernan starred for Essendon with 12 marks and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti also impressed.

Australian Associated Press