Match

Western Bulldogs vs St Kilda

Commentary / 23 Jul 2016

Pre Game

59:30
Welcome to Etihad Stadium for the Western Bulldogs v St Kilda Round 18 clash.
59:33
Outs for Bulldogs: J.Stringer
59:34
Ins for Bulldogs: T.Liberatore
59:35
Outs for Saints: D.Minchington
59:36
Ins for Saints: S.Savage
59:40
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:00
The Saints have generated just 14 percent of their score this season from chains starting in the forward 50 (ranked last), but have generated 23 percent of their score from chains starting in the defensive 50 (ranked first).

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:07
The Saints with the opening goal direct from the first centre bounce clearance. St Kilda average 12.9 points per game from such a source (ranked 8th).
02:45
Saints Interchange - Maverick Weller off due to the blood rule.
03:10
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Shane Savage)
03:59
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Josh Bruce)
05:24
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Clay Smith)
06:22
The Western Bulldogs get their first goal f the game from a chain started in the defensive 50. The Bulldogs average 13.2 points per game from such chains, which is ranked 15th.
07:26
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jack Redpath)
09:02
The defence for both teams under pressure early, with the first five inside 50 entries in the game all resulting in scores. The AFL average is a score from 38 percent of forward 50 entries.
11:31
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Tory Dickson)
11:57
The Western Bulldogs have scored a goal from just 19 percent of forward 50 entries this season (ranked 16th). Tonight they have three goals from their first four forward 50 entries.
13:04
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Maverick Weller)
13:49
Mav Weller able to score a crumbing goal after Nick Riewoldt attracted a crowd in the marking contest. Riewoldt has taken more forward 50 marks in his career against the Bulldogs than any other team (82).
17:01
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Matthew Suckling)
19:20
Nine of the last ten forward 50 entries to the Bulldogs, as they start to get the game more on their terms. This season the Bulldogs are ranked second for both inside 50 differential and time in forward half.
20:45
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Clay Smith)
24:56
The Western Bulldogs have already applied 10 tackles in their forward 50. They average 11.8 per game (ranked 10th).
26:36
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Dylan Roberton)
28:02
SCORE GOAL - Saints (David Armitage)
28:47
St Kilda has generated five forward half intercepts and scored 2.1.(13) from these. This season the Saints have averaged 26.6 points per game from such intercepts (ranked 13th).
30:37
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Liam Picken)
30:42
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
30:52
Matt Suckling led all players for metres gained (258) and inside 50 entries (5) in the opening quarter, whilst Jack Steven with 12 disposals at 92 percent efficiency and four score involvements was again prolific for the Saints.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
02:58
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Tom Boyd)
04:25
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Nick Riewoldt)
04:41
St Kilda able to punish the Bulldogs turnover with their third goal from a forward half intercept. The Bulldogs have scored just one of their four goals from such a source.
06:30
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
09:39
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
09:46
The Western Bulldogs lead in forward 50 marks (4-2), and in combination with free kicks and 50 metres penalties, eight of their nine scores have come from set shots at goal. Only two of the Saints scores have come from set shots (both goals).
11:28
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Nathan Wright)
13:32
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Nick Riewoldt)
15:07
St Kilda has generated an inside 50 entry from 27 percent of its defensive 50 rebounds this season (ranked third). Tonight the Saints have had 12 chains starting in the defensive 50, but only generated one forward 50 entry from these chains.
17:40
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Steven)
17:52
Jack Steven currently has game-highs for contested possessions (9), disposals (22), score involvements (6) and clearances (4).
20:47
In the second quarter the Saints lead in clearances (10-4), contested possessions (29-19) and inside 50 entries (11-5), but have not yet put this on the scoreboard with three goals to two.
25:25
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Nick Riewoldt)
25:47
Nick Riewoldt continuing to cause problems for the Bulldogs, with three goals this quarter, and the last coming from a forward half clearance. St Kilda now lead the clearances 12-5 this quarter (the Bulldogs are ranked first for clearance differential).
29:20
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
29:24
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
29:34
Jack Steven had 26 disposals in the opening half, which is his career best, and the second most any player has had in an opening half this season (Matt Priddis had 29 disposals in the first half against Brisbane in Round 1).

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:53
The third quarter starts the same as the first, with the Saints scoring a goal from a Tim Membrey contested mark in the forward 50. The Saints now lead in contested marks (13-2), and have scored the last four goals in the game.
05:31
Early in the third quarter, the Bulldogs have kicking efficiency of 50 percent compared to the Saints 92 percent, with the Bulldogs burning their last two forward entries as a result.
06:34
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Nick Riewoldt)
06:56
St Kilda has won the first four clearances to start the third quarter, and both of its goals this quarter have come from this source. The Saints lead 5.1.(31) to 3.1.(19) in scores from stoppages.
10:24
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Tim Membrey)
10:32
The behind from Membrey was the Saints first miss from a set shot tonight, after six goals. St Kilda lead in forward 50 marks 8-4, with Membrey and Riewoldt combining for six of these marks and six goals.
10:55
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Tory Dickson)
12:10
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Lin Jong)
12:14
Bulldogs Interchange - Jack Redpath off due to an injury.
12:32
Two quick goals to the Bulldogs, with the first from a kick-in chain, and the second from a centre bounce clearance. The Bulldogs average 4.9 points per game from kick-ins (ranked 10th), and 14.6 points from centre bounce clearances (ranked 2nd).
13:33
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
16:08
The Western Bulldogs have now won the last four clearances, with two of these from centre bounces resulting in goals, and contributing to the Bulldogs having 10 of the last 11 forward 50 entries.
17:41
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
18:12
St Kilda having all sorts of trouble clearing the ball from its defensive half. The Saints are still yet to score a goal from a chain starting in the defensive half, and have generated just two forward 50 entries from 29 defensive 50 chains.
20:03
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jade Gresham)
20:32
The Saints able to break a run of three goals to the Bulldogs with a goal coming from a forward half stoppage. This season they have averaged 13 points from such a source, and tonight they have scored 4.0.(24).
28:27
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
28:30
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
28:40
The Bulldogs lead forward 50 entries 41-33, and with the Saints still yet to score a goal from a chain starting in the defensive half, the Bulldogs will look to win the territory battle in the final quarter.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
04:42
Saints Interchange - Leigh Montagna off due to an injury.
05:21
Bulldogs Interchange - Jack Redpath and is possibly out for the game.
05:41
A scrappy start to the final quarter with the Saints having kicking efficiency of just 33 percent (the Bulldogs 63 percent), allowing the Bulldogs four intercept marks early in the quarter.
07:35
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Nathan Wright)
08:28
St Kilda has now kicked 7.1.(43) from set shots at goal, compared to the Bulldogs 5.5.(35). The Saints have converted 60 percent of their set shots this season (ranked 13th).
08:40
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Jack Billings)
11:41
Bulldogs Interchange - Mitch Wallis and is possibly out for the game.
15:06
St Kilda winning the territory battle in the final quarter, with the inside 50 count 8-2 in the Saints favor.
17:57
Sean Dempster again giving the Saints great service, with a game-high 11 intercept possessions, and 20 disposals at 85 percent efficiency.
21:34
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Josh Bruce)
22:43
Whilst the Bulldogs marginally lead forward 50 entries (46-44), the Saints have had 48 disposals at 71 percent efficiency in this area, compared to the Bulldogs 34 disposals at 56 percent efficiency.
23:39
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Maverick Weller)
25:22
St Kilda lead in contested marks 20-9 and forward 50 marks 9-6, with the Bulldogs missing the injured Morris.
25:54
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Tom Hickey)
27:17
In the final quarter, St Kilda lead forward 50 entries 15-6, and whilst the Saints have only scored 1.4.(10), the Bulldogs have been kept scoreless.
29:31
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
29:41
St Kilda was able to keep the Bulldogs scoreless in the final quarter. This is the first time since 2013 (Round 4) that the Bulldogs have had a scoreless quarter.