Match

Essendon vs Geelong Cats

Commentary / 16 Apr 2016

Pre Game

59:30
Welcome to MCG for the Essendon v Geelong Cats Round 4 clash.
59:33
Outs for Bombers: N.Kommer, J.Merrett, R.Crowley
59:34
Ins for Bombers: C.McKenna, C.Bird, J.Laverde
59:35
Outs for Cats: C.Enright, S.Kersten, L.McCarthy
59:36
Ins for Cats: C.Gregson, T.Lonergan, J.Murdoch
59:40
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:00
The Cats have played on immediately following a mark 19 per cent of the time this season, the lowest percentage of any side and 13 per cent lower than last season.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
04:30
Essendon has recorded the first four inside 50s of the game. It has lost this count by 10 per game in 2016, ranked 14th.
05:29
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Darcy Lang)
06:56
Essendon source the first goal of the game from a clearance. It has been outscored by 15 points per game from this source, the second worst differential in the AFL.
09:45
Geelong has grabbed 15 marks inside 50 per game this season, ranked third in the AFL. It has already grabbed three marks inside 50 in this game.
11:37
The Bombers second goal was sourced from a turnover won in their defensive midfield. They have scored 20 points per game from turnovers won in this zone this year, ranked third in the AFL.
13:54
Geelong has scored from 44 per cent of forward half intercept possessions this season, the third-highest percentage of any side. It has scored twice from four forward half intercept possessions in this game.
18:39
Geelong has grabbed 17 marks and not played on from any of them.
19:54
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Matthew Leuenberger)
21:55
Essendon lead the clearance count 9-4 but both teams have scored one goal from this source.
23:35
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
25:45
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Craig Bird)
25:49
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
25:59
In an even first quarter, Essendon won the grounball-get count by seven and the clearance count by two. Josh Caddy won six contested possessions, two more than any other player on the field and double his closest teammate.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
05:38
Geelong lead the clearance count 2-1 early in the second quarter with Joel Selwood winning both for his team. Selwood's second clearance launched the first goal of the quarter.
07:14
The Cats have won six of the last seven clearances and generated four scores from this source during this period including the last goal to Cory Gregson.
08:59
Essendon launched eight points per game from the forward 50 across the first three rounds. It has launched 12 points from this zone today.
12:23
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
13:29
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
16:44
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
18:08
That goal from Nakia Cockatoo was the first launched by either team from the defensive 50. Geelong has launched 17 points per game from this zone this season, ranked seventh in the AFL.
19:32
Bombers Interchange - Jayden Laverde and is possibly out for the game.
22:40
Essendon has won the last nine clearances and generated two scores from this source including that goal to Mitch Brown.
24:21
Essendon has scored six points per game from centre bounce clearances, the fewest of any team. That goal to Orazio Fantasia was the Bombers' first score from seven centre clearances in this game.
25:19
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rhys Stanley)
26:18
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Nakia Cockatoo)
27:46
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
27:56
The Bombers dominated the stoppages in the second quarter. Matthew Leuenberger won nine hitouts, eight more than any other player, including five to-advantage, and the Bombers won the clearance count 12-5.
27:58
The Cats played on immediately following a mark 18 per cent of the time in the first half.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:49
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
03:36
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rhys Stanley)
05:27
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
08:24
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
12:05
Seven Cats are yet to win a disposal this quarter and a further seven have won just one disposal.
15:21
The Cats lead the inside 50 count 9-4 this quarter, but they have outscored the Bombers by just three points.
16:30
The Bombers have sourced 34 per cent of their total score from the defensive midfield in 2016, the highest percentage of any team. They have sourced 34 per cent of their total score from the defensive midfield today.
18:23
The Cats have won three fewer clearances than the Bombers this quarter, but they have generated two scores to one from this source including that goal to Jimmy Bartel.
19:55
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
23:25
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Steven Motlop)
26:33
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Cory Gregson)
28:11
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
28:21
The Bombers won the ball at the contest in the third quarter, winning nine more contested possessions and six more clearances, and they dominated possession, winning 31 more disposals.
28:23
The Cats won the inside 50 count 16-7 and generated six more scores than the Bombers, but they won the quarter by just six points.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:23
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Zac Smith)
02:51
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
04:19
Harry Taylor is up to a game-high nine intercept possessions and 29 for the season, ranked No. 1 at the Cats.
08:34
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
10:47
The Cats score the first goal of the last quarter from a clearance in the forward 50. They have scored 12 points from this source today, seven more than they scored per game in the first three rounds.
13:01
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Zac Smith)
17:02
James Gwilt is up to 15 marks for the game, a career-high. His previous high was 13 for the Saints against the Dockers in round 18, 2014.
18:02
Bombers Interchange - Mitch Brown and is possibly out for the game.
18:28
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
20:01
Orazio Fantasia is up to 29 disposals for the game, a career-high. His previous high was 27 against the Pies in round 23, 2015.
20:09
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
20:56
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Steven Motlop)
23:06
Geelong has now grabbed 20 marks inside 50 with Daniel Menzel grabbing a game-high six, which is also a career-high. His previous high was five against the Pies in round 24, 2011.
26:56
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Matthew Leuenberger)
27:01
The siren has sounded to end Q4.