Match

Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

Commentary / 27 Mar 2016

Pre Game

59:30

Welcome to Etihad Stadium for the Western Bulldogs v Fremantle Round 1 clash.

59:40

Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.

00:00

In 2015 the Bulldogs averaged 54.9 inside 50 entries per game (ranked third), whilst the Dockers conceded only 43.3 entries (ranked first).

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

00:21

The Bulldogs get the opening goal from a centre bounce clearance. In 2015, (with Sandilands) the Dockers were the number one ranked team in score differential from centre bounce clearances.

01:20

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Mitch Wallis)

04:33

The Western Bulldogs with the first five inside 50 entries and the opening two goals. In 2015, the Dockers were ranked 12th for conceding scores from opposition forward 50 entries.

06:04

SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Matthew Pavlich)

09:20

The Dogs denying the Dockers easy possession early in the game and lead in both tackles (10-4) and marks (15-7).

10:25

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Toby McLean)

10:38

A second goal from a forward half intercepts for the Bulldogs. The Western Bulldogs scored 34.3 points per game in 2015 from forward half intercepts, which ranked third behind only the two grand final teams.

11:50

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jason Johannisen)

12:14

Western Bulldogs now lead in inside 50 entries (10-2) and forward 50 disposals (13-1) and tackles (7-0). The Dockers have kicking efficiency of just 50 percent.

14:00

SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Hayden Ballantyne)

15:44

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Josh Dunkley)

16:04

In 2015 the Bulldogs were ranked fourth for scoring from chains started in their defensive 50. They have 1.0.(6) from four defensive chains today, and the Dockers are yet to score from their nine defensive 50 chains.

18:40

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jordan Roughead)

19:21

Shane Biggs has three intercepts possessions early in the game, with two of these launching goals for the Bulldogs, as they continue to get rebound from their defenders.

21:17

Nat Fyfe with just the two disposals (both ineffective) for the Dockers, and five other team mates yet to have an effective disposal.

23:37

In rounds 1-10 last year when the Dockers were undefeated, they were clearly the number ranked team for kicking efficiency (71 percent). Today they have kicking efficiency of just 48 percent compared to the Bulldogs 75 percent.

25:09

Fremantle has had 15 chains starting in the defensive 50, and is yet to convert any of these into a forward 50 entry. The Bulldogs have generated an inside 50 entry from three of their five defensive 50 chains.

27:04

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jake Stringer)

27:30

Whilst Fremantle lead in clearances 10-7, the Bulldogs lead in scores from clearances 3.1.(19) to 0.1.(1).

29:03

A dominating first quarter from the Western Bulldogs. Leading in inside 50 entries (19-6) and once the ball is in there, forward 50 disposals (24-2) and forward 50 tackles (10-0).

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

01:43

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Toby McLean)

03:08

Dockers Interchange - Zac Dawson off due to the blood rule.

04:55

Fremantle with four of the first five inside 50 entries to start the quarter, but still no impact on the scoreboard.

07:08

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Robert Murphy)

09:47

SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Chris Mayne)

10:13

The Dockers able to take the ball length of the ground for the first time today from defensive 50 to forward 50 for the Chris Mayne behind.

10:49

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)

11:19

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jake Stringer)

11:41

Western Bulldogs have now generated 12 forward half intercepts and scored 4.0.(24) from these. Fremantle has scored 0.1.(1) from two forward half intercepts.

13:50

Western Bulldogs lead in contested possessions 19-7 in the second quarter and tackles 5-3 as they continue to swamp the Dockers.

17:17

SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Michael Walters)

17:31

The Dockers first goal of the game ironically comes from a chain started in the defensive 50 with a series of scrubbed kicks. They have scored from both of their forward 50 entries from such chains.

18:24

SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Danyle Pearce)

21:31

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Luke Dahlhaus)

21:49

Five goals from their 17 forward half intercepts now for the Bulldogs, and just the two forward half intercepts for the Dockers.

26:33

Western Bulldogs lead in forward 50 entries (31-16) and an incredible 45-8 for disposals in the forward 50, which has lead to 22 shots at goal to 6.

28:10

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Dale Morris)

28:16

A complete domination in the first half by the Bulldogs. They have matched the Dockers in close (clearances 15-15), and have been far more effective in their ball movement (kicking efficiency 71 to 63 percent) and run (handball receives 98-39).

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

01:41

Dockers Interchange - Lachie Neale off due to the blood rule.

01:55

Lachie Neale leads the Dockers for contested possessions (10), disposals (18) and intercept possessions (4).

02:43

SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Cam Sutcliffe)

04:08

Western Bulldogs have won 10 one-on-one contests, and the Dockers have won just the four. In 2015 the Bulldogs were ranked fourth last at winning such contests.

07:25

SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Michael Walters)

07:46

Fremantle has generated four forward half intercepts already in the third quarter for a return of 0.2.(2), after having just four such intercepts in the first half.

08:53

SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Nicholas Suban)

11:28

Bulldogs Interchange - Tom Boyd off due to an injury.

12:31

A spectacular mark from Easton Wood, and naturally it was an intercept mark. In 2015 he was the number one ranked player in the AFL for such marks, and has a game-high 10 intercept possessions today.

13:45

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Josh Dunkley)

15:03

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Liam Picken)

16:15

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jake Stringer)

16:27

Western Bulldogs now lead in clearances (22-18) and scores from clearances 4.4.(28) to 0.2.(2)

18:31

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jason Johannisen)

19:24

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Shane Biggs)

20:02

The Bulldogs lead in contested marks 12-2. Both of Fremantle's contested marks have been taken by Nat Fyfe.

21:33

SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Matt Taberner)

22:42

The Bulldogs have had eight of the last nine clearances, and seven of the last eight inside 50 entries, but the Dockers have the last goal.

25:48

Jason Johannisen with a career-high 28 disposals. His previous best was 26 in Round 18 last year against Essendon.

25:57

Dockers Interchange - Chris Mayne off due to an injury.

26:38

SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Lachie Weller)

27:22

The Dockers entire score in the third quarter 3.2.(20) came from intercept possessions. Garrick Ibbotson launching one of these goals from one of his four intercept possessions during the quarter.

27:29

Fremantle able to break even with the Bulldogs in the third quarter for contested possessions (31-31), kicking efficiency (69 to 67 percent) and tackles (11-12). As a result the scoreboard was similar 3.2.(20) to 1.4.(10).

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

01:29

SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Matthew Pavlich)

03:07

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Tom Liberatore)

04:11

Fremantle able to have some control of the ball early in the final quarter (disposals 25-10), but just the one forward 50 entry each.

05:13

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Matthew Suckling)

08:59

Whilst the Dockers have kicked the only goal in the final quarter that was from their only forward 50 entry. The Bulldogs have had six forward 50 entries, but since quarter time have not been as efficient in their forward half.

12:07

Fremantle appear content to keep numbers behind the ball. The Dockers have generated just 11 forward half intercepts for a score of 0.3.(3), compared to the Bulldogs 29 forward half intercepts for a score of 5.4.(34).

13:42

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jake Stringer)

14:47

A good return from Tom Liberatore today, with 11 contested possessions, six score involvements and a game-high seven inside 50 entries.

15:25

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Tom Boyd)

17:28

Fremantle conceded an average of 4.6 points per game from opposition centre bounce clearances in 2015 (ranked first). Today the Bulldogs have scored 3.1.(19) from centre bounce clearances.

19:25

Shane Biggs with 32 disposals joins Jason Johannisen with a career best for disposals today.

20:25

SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Matt Taberner)

23:38

The Western Bulldogs now with 206 handball receives, which is the most recorded in a game for the Bulldogs.

23:44

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jack Macrae)

25:38

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jake Stringer)

27:00

An emphatic victory for the Western Bulldogs appropriately finishes with their pressure causing another forward 50 turnover. They generated nine forward 50 intercepts and scored 3.2.(20) from these.

27:37

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Caleb Daniel)

27:41

The Bulldogs able to play the game completely on their terms. They won the inside 50 count (57-31), where their forward pressure (forward 50 tackles 14-4) generated 33 forward half intercepts to Fremantle's 12, and scores of 8.4.(52) to 0.3.(3).