Match

Melbourne vs Fremantle

Commentary / 09 Jul 2016

Pre Game

59:30
Welcome to TIO Stadium for the Melbourne v Fremantle Round 16 clash.
59:33
Outs for Demons: C.Dawes, T.Bugg
59:34
Ins for Demons: J.Grimes, M.White
59:35
Outs for Dockers: M.Barlow, Z.Clarke, J.Hannath
59:36
Ins for Dockers: G.Ibbotson, J.Griffin, E.Langdon
59:40
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:00
Melbourne (53.4) averages six more inside 50s per game than Fremantle (47.4) this season. The Demons also average a goal from 27.1 per cent of forward 50 entries (ranked fourth), while the Dockers goal from 23.5 per cent of entries (ranked 14th).

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:09
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Matt Taberner)
01:38
Matt Taberner has kicked the first goal from Fremantle's first forward 50 entry. This is the tall forward's 15th goal of the season, a career-high.
04:19
Fremantle has won four of the first five clearances of match, in turn generating the first three forward 50 entries.
04:54
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Dean Kent)
07:15
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jack Watts)
07:28
In the past three minutes, Fremantle has turned the ball over in its forward half twice and from both intercepts Melbourne has directly generated goals. The Demons average 26.2 points per game sourced from defensive half intercepts (ranked fifth).
10:56
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Nicholas Suban)
12:09
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Dean Kent)
12:18
Melbourne continued its trend of efficiency from forward 50 entries this season by kicking three majors from its first three inside 50s of the match. Kent becomes the fourth Demon this year to reach 20 goals for the season.
13:16
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Dom Tyson)
14:53
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Ben Kennedy)
15:17
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jack Watts)
16:48
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jesse Hogan)
17:04
Melbourne has been far more effective using the ball by foot. The Demons have recorded a kicking efficiency of 71 per cent, well above the Dockers' rate of just 50 per cent. Fremantle has made seven clanger kicks compared to just one by Melbourne.
17:49
Melbourne has already scored from all but one of its first eight forward 50 entries, returning 4.3 (27).
19:59
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jack Watts)
20:07
Demons Interchange - Bernie Vince off due to an injury.
21:43
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jack Watts)
21:49
Watts has provided a focal point for Melbourne, already taking two contested marks inside 50 and returning 3.1 (13). The Demon forward is now up to 30 goals this year from 15 games, already a clear career-high tally.
25:22
Dockers Interchange - Garrick Ibbotson off due to the blood rule.
25:45
Since Fremantle levelled the score at two goals apiece, Melbourne has recorded 63 disposals to just 19 by Fremantle. The Demons have recorded 13 inside 50s to zero in this time.
27:46
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jack Viney)
27:55
Melbourne has completely dominated the past ten minutes, locking the ball inside 50 for 88 per cent of that period. The Demons have now recorded the past 14 inside 50s of the match.
30:11
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Aaron vandenBerg)
30:37
Melbourne's superiority has been leveraged from being better both with and without the ball. The Demons have recorded 60 more disposals than the Dockers (125-65) and they have also laid seven extra tackles (26-19).
32:07
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
32:17
Melbourne has kicked its highest first quarter score since 2012, built on ascendancy in all three phases of the game. The Demons won seven of the eight centre clearances and won five extra intercepts than the Dockers.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
02:43
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jesse Hogan)
04:48
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Aaron vandenBerg)
05:06
Melbourne has now kicked the last 11 scores of the match. With Vandenberg's goal the Demons have now directly generated 5.5 (35) from 32 intercepts. The Dockers have won 26 intercepts but these have resulted in just one goal.
06:25
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Rushed)
11:02
It has now been a full quarter since Fremantle has kicked a goal. Since this time the Demons have taken the ball inside 50 on 26 occasions, while the Dockers have done likewise just five times.
11:34
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
14:16
Dockers Interchange - Garrick Ibbotson off due to the blood rule.
14:37
Tom McDonald has been an excellent rebound player out of the Melbourne backline. The defender has won a game-high eight intercepts, recording 14 disposals at 100 per cent efficiency. From these intercepts Melbourne has created four scores and three goals
14:59
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
16:20
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Dean Kent)
17:10
Melbourne has now taken six marks inside 50 and has kicked 5.2 (32) from set shots. Fremantle has only taken two marks inside its forward zone and has not scored from a set shot.
18:36
Melbourne has been willing to move the ball quickly out of its backline. The Demons have played on from 80 per cent of their 20 marks in their defensive half, while the Dockers have done likewise from only 52 per cent from their 23 defensive half marks.
22:08
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Matthew Pavlich)
24:03
Melbourne's forward press has been very effective. The Demons have already won 26 forward half intercepts, in turn directly kicking 3.6 (24) from the resultant possession chains. The league average is 23 forward half intercepts per game this season.
26:23
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Nathan Jones)
28:06
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
28:16
Melbourne dominated the battle for territory in the second quarter, keeping the ball locked inside its forward half for 64 per cent of its duration. The Demons recorded 21 forward 50 entries compared to just six by the Dockers.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
02:17
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Matthew Pavlich)
03:18
Melbourne has won the first four hit outs of the quarter (all to Max Gawn), however Fremantle has taken away each resulting clearance. The fourth to Lachie Neale has set up Pavlich's second consecutive goal for the Dockers.
04:46
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Matt Taberner)
06:40
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jesse Hogan)
06:52
Dockers Interchange - David Mundy and is possibly out for the game.
08:23
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Aaron vandenBerg)
09:00
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Neville Jetta)
10:42
Melbourne has now had 30 more forward 50 entries than Fremantle (47-17) across the match. Inside 50, the Demons have had 52 disposals compared to just 14 by the Dockers. The league average is 50.2 disposals inside 50 per team per game this year.
12:47
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jesse Hogan)
13:15
Melbourne has capitalised heavily on Fremantle errors in the midfield. From 41 midfield intercepts, the Demons have directly generated 7.5 (47) from the resulting possession chains. The Dockers have kicked just 1.1 (7) sourced from 22 midfield intercepts
15:16
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Chris Mayne)
16:28
Fremantle is still struggling to maintain field position this quarter, however it has remained competitive with efficiency inside 50. The Dockers have kicked 2.1 (13) from four entries compared to 2.2 (14) from the Demons' ten entries.
18:07
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Bernie Vince)
20:36
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Rushed)
22:17
Demons Interchange - Oscar McDonald and is possibly out for the game.
22:47
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Chris Mayne)
23:39
Fremantle has won nine defensive half intercepts this quarter and transitioned four inside 50, directly generating two goals. In the first half the Dockers won 32 intercepts in their defensive half but only took five inside 50 with none generating scores
25:30
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Michael Walters)
26:24
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Matthew Pavlich)
27:01
Since Melbourne opened up a 50-point lead Fremantle has steadied. Although the Demons have won all three centre clearances in this period, the Dockers have won nine intercepts with three resulting in marks inside 50 and converted goals.
30:41
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
30:51
Fremantle wrestled back some ascendancy in the third term, led by Stephen Hill. The Docker midfielder recorded 11 disposals, two centre clearances, three inside 50s and four score involvements. He generated 182 metres gained for the quarter.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:31
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jack Watts)
03:15
Tom McDonald has now recorded 10 intercepts and his 23 disposals have come at 100 per cent efficiency. The Melbourne defender has also had a team-high seven spoils.
04:14
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jesse Hogan)
04:23
With his fourth goal, Jesse Hogan has taken his season tally to 38 (equal-fifth highest in the league). The Demon forward has taken a game-high 11 marks with three coming inside 50. Hogan averages 3.6 marks inside 50 per game this season (ranked fourth).
06:23
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Hayden Ballantyne)
13:33
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jesse Hogan)
14:31
Nathan Jones is the first player in the match to reach 30 disposals, the 27th time he has done so in his 216-game career. The Melbourne captain has also won six clearances (five at the centre bounce), registered four inside 50s and kicked a goal.
16:45
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Dean Kent)
17:33
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Nicholas Suban)
18:59
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Hayden Ballantyne)
19:55
In his first season, Melbourne defender Jayden Hunt has recorded 28 disposals and a game-high 575 metres gained. Both of these marks are personal bests from his 12 career games.
22:03
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Jonathon Griffin)
24:20
There has not been much reward for effort this quarter with both teams managing just 1.3 (9) and two complete misses. Fremantle has taken the ball inside 50 on 13 occasions and Melbourne has done likewise ten times.
27:32
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Neville Jetta)
27:58
Melbourne's accuracy has faded heavily since quarter time. The Demons kicked 6.3 (39) from their first nine shots, however since then the Demons have kicked 6.12 (48) and recorded six misses.
29:13
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
29:23
Melbourne's six-goal first quarter has set up its first win against Fremantle since Round 13 2011. The Demons particularly capitalised on Docker errors in the midfield, kicking 8.6 (54) from 51 intercepts won in this zone.