Match

Essendon vs Melbourne

Commentary / 02 Apr 2016

Pre Game

59:30

Welcome to MCG for the Essendon v Melbourne Round 2 clash.

59:33

Outs for Bombers: J.Simpkin, C.Bird, S.McKernan

59:34

Ins for Bombers: N.Kommer, M.Hartley, O.Fantasia

59:35

Outs for Demons: S.Frost, O.McDonald

59:36

Ins for Demons: H.Lumumba, A.Brayshaw

59:40

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

00:00

Essendon managed to win 54.2 per cent of hitouts in their match against the Suns last week, ranked second in the AFL. However they allowed opposition clearances from 52.8 per cent of those hitouts, which was the highest rate of its kind in Round 1.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

02:45

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Brendon Goddard)

04:41

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Zach Merrett)

05:11

That goal to Zach Merrett has come off the back of three straight inside 50's and 92 per cent time in forward half for Essendon.

07:09

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)

11:07

While the battle around the stoppages has been fairly evenly split in the hitout category, Essendon leads in both First Possessions (seven to three) and clearances (five to three).

12:12

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Angus Brayshaw)

14:25

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jeff Garlett)

15:54

That behind to Jeff Garlett came from Melbourne's first mark inside 50 for the match. Essendon has three marks inside forward 50, all to Joe Daniher.

19:05

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)

20:49

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Dom Tyson)

21:22

Both teams are struggling to convert their scoring opportunities. In the 2015 home and away season, Melbourne kicked a goal from 18.6 per cent of forward 50 entries; Essendon went at 17 per cent.

23:09

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Zach Merrett)

27:29

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jesse Hogan)

27:35

Despite leading the marks count 34-21, Essendon is currently level with the Demons in playing on from a mark at 10 a piece. In 2015, Essendon were ranked second in the AFL for playing on from a mark, doing so on 36.6 percent of marks.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

00:53

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Mathew Stokes)

04:28

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jeff Garlett)

06:16

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Ben Kennedy)

06:51

Melbourne have increased their work rate around the stoppages early in Q2. Four Melbourne players have recorded a First Possession and Clearance from a stoppage, compared to one for Essendon.

09:12

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)

10:25

Bombers Interchange - Orazio Fantasia off due to an injury.

10:29

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)

10:41

Bombers Interchange - Darcy Parish off due to the blood rule.

11:55

SCORE GOAL - Demons (James Harmes)

14:29

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Ben Kennedy)

14:51

Melbourne have kicked 2.0 (12) from scoring chains originating from stoppages, compared to Essendon's 0.2 (2).

17:29

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Ryan Crowley)

17:55

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Mitch Brown)

19:01

That goal to Mitch Brown ends a streak of four goals to the Demons, and is just Essendon's second goal this quarter from nine forward 50 entries, compared to four goals from six inside 50's to the Demons.

19:47

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)

20:59

Zach Merrett is putting in a strong effort for the Bombers in this match. He has game-high numbers in disposals (18), Groundball-gets (six), handball receives (11), score involvements (five), tackles (five), contested possessions (seven) and goals (two).

22:10

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Nick Kommer)

24:36

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Kyle Langford)

25:37

Max Gawn is getting on top of the Bombers in the ruck contests, with game-high numbers in hitouts (15) and hitouts-to-advantage (eight). His direct opponent, Matthew Leuenberger, has nine hitouts, three to-advantage.

26:08

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Michael Hartley)

27:58

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jeff Garlett)

30:00

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)

30:07

Essendon are determined to play the short passing game, leading the short kick count 48-28 and handballs 115-81. They ranked fifth (82.2 short kicks per game) and fourth (167.7 handballs per game) in these categories in the 2015 season.

32:14

Joe Daniher has taken six marks inside 50 in this match for a return of 1.3 (9). He was ranked 43rd for scoring accuracy among the top 50 goal scorers from the 2015 home and away season.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

02:31

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Mitch Brown)

06:10

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)

09:45

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Dom Tyson)

10:20

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Dom Tyson)

10:36

Bombers Interchange - Matt Dea off due to the blood rule.

10:52

Essendon are putting in the effort defensively, leading the intercept possession count 47-40, led by Michael Hartley who has a game-high six intercept possessions, with one goal to his name from this source.

11:21

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Ben Kennedy)

15:58

Dom Tyson has been working hard in this quarter to get the Demon's into attack, with two inside 50 entreis, two score launches, three score involvements, one score assist and two behinds to his name.

18:10

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)

24:03

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Angus Brayshaw)

25:55

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Matt Dea)

26:11

Essendon lead the Demons in the differential of points scored from intercept possessions by plus 23 points. In the 2015 home and away season, they averaged minus 15.3 pts difference from this source.

27:08

Essendon have been much cleaner in their disposal of the football compared to the Demons. Essendon have an overall retention rate of 79 per cent compared to 72 per cent for Melbourne, as well as 73 per cent retention by kick, compared to 63 per cent.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

00:18

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Clayton Oliver)

02:34

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Adam Cooney)

04:17

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jack Watts)

07:24

Despite leading the possession count, mark count and inside 50 count since half time, Essendon has a goal kicking rate of 5.5 per cent.

08:11

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)

10:30

David Zaharakis has really increased his work rate in the second half with a half-high 19 disposals, 12 handball receives, 14 uncontested possessions, five inside 50's and an equal-half-high three tackles.

12:14

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)

13:10

Bombers Interchange - Matt Dea off due to an injury.

13:44

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jesse Hogan)

14:41

Nathan Jones is starting to take over this game in the last quarter, launching one of Melbourne's three fourth quarter goals and an involvement in their other two.

16:12

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)

19:12

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Kyle Langford)

21:55

Demons Interchange - Clayton Oliver off due to an injury.

21:57

Essendon averaged 5.32 goals per game from set shots in 2015. They have six goals from this source in the match so far.

23:38

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Darcy Parish)

24:05

Demons Interchange - Neville Jetta off due to an injury.

25:29

All of Essendon's goals have come from intercept possessions in this match.

26:17

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jackson Merrett)

28:08

With 34 disposals David Zaharakis has equalled his career-high count in this category, which he has achieved twice before.

28:38

James Kelly was a standout for the Bombers in this game with 28 disposals and a game-high nine intercept possessions.