Match

Brisbane Lions vs Essendon

Commentary / 01 Apr 2017

Pre Game

59:30

Welcome to Gabba for the Brisbane Lions v Essendon Round 2 clash.

59:33

Outs for Lions: B.Keays

59:34

Ins for Lions: J.Frost

59:35

Outs for Bombers: J.Green

59:36

Ins for Bombers: B.Howlett

59:40

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

00:00

Essendon took the most uncontested marks in the round last week against Hawthorn. They grabbed 128 uncontested marks for the match, up from their league-high average of 91.6 in 2016.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

02:18

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)

02:58

Joe Daniher kicks the first goal of the game from a set shot from 45 metres out. Last season Daniher kicked 29 goals and 22 behinds from set shots with an overall accuracy of 57.3 per cent.

03:55

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Dayne Beams)

05:51

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Michael Close)

06:18

The Lions have started strongly at the stoppages, dominating the clearances and hitouts both four to nil respectively. Tom Rockliff has won three of these clearances for the Lions.

08:32

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)

08:58

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Travis Colyer)

10:32

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Daniel Rich)

14:28

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Dayne Zorko)

15:28

The Lions are making the most of their dominance in the midfield, with two of their three goals sourced from a stoppage. Stefan Martin has won six hitouts so far, flourishing as his clubs sole ruckman.

16:11

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)

20:23

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Cale Hooker)

21:14

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Zach Merrett)

22:02

The tackling pressure applied by Essendon is starting to impact the scoreboard, with the Bombers last two scoring shots coming from free-kicks awarded for holding the ball. Essendon have laid six tackles, compared to just the one tackled laid by the Lion

24:06

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Eric Hipwood)

28:11

The siren has sounded to end Q1.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

00:53

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)

02:20

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)

02:54

Essendon have again started the quarter strongly, kicking two quick goals to extend the margin to 18 points. Essendon have recorded the first three inside 50s for the quarter, and have won the first three clearances.

05:43

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Lewis Taylor)

06:08

The Bombers are now up by 19 in contested possessions, and up by five in this quarter alone. After a slow start, they are now on top at the stoppages, leading clearances by seven despite trailing in the hitouts.

06:36

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Dayne Beams)

10:01

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Brendon Goddard)

11:13

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)

12:31

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)

14:18

Brisbane restricted Essendon to just 26 marks in the first quarter and managed to grab 28 themselves. However Essendon are dominating this stat in the second quarter (20-2) and are controlling all the play because of this.

14:27

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Dayne Zorko)

15:29

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)

16:57

The Bombers have now kicked the last eight goals of the match, extended the margin to a game-high 39 points. Essendon lead the inside 50s this quarter (10-4), and have restricted the Lions to just 34 disposals for the second term.

17:41

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Dyson Heppell)

18:31

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Ben Howlett)

20:20

Zach Merrett is enjoying a stellar start to the season. After collecting a game-high 37 disposals last week, he has already amassed 17 disposals tonight. He leads the match in metres gained with 352, and also has a game-high four inside 50s.

22:27

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Dyson Heppell)

25:03

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Lewis Taylor)

25:13

Essendon have managed to kick three goals sourced from a centre bounce stoppage this quarter. They lead the centre bounce clearances five to one this second term.

27:44

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Mitch Robinson)

28:15

The first goal of the quarter for the Brisbane Lions comes as a result of improved kicking efficiency. The Lions have been kicking at just 61 per cent efficiency this quarter, yet are up to 83 per cent efficiency in the last 10 minutes.

30:03

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Michael Close)

30:09

The siren has sounded to end Q2.

30:19

Two late goals by the Lions manages to reduce the margin to 29 points. Both of these goals were sourced from forced forward half turnovers as the Lions closed out the quarter positively.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

00:14

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Lewis Taylor)

02:09

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Lewis Taylor)

03:29

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Tom Bell)

04:15

It has been all the Lions to begin the second half. They have the only four inside 50s for the quarter and are winning the contested football eight to two.

07:57

Lions Interchange - Lewis Taylor off due to the blood rule.

09:41

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Harris Andrews)

09:47

The Lions continue to fightback, reducing the margin to 15 points after it was up to 42 points late in the second quarter.They are controlling the possession of the football, with 88 per cent of the quarter being played in their attacking half.

12:14

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Ryan Lester)

13:01

Brisbane now have the last five goals of the match, and have collected 30 more disposals than Essendon this quarter. They now lead the match by nine in inside 50s.

14:35

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Rushed)

15:31

Stefan Martin has led the fightback for the Lions. In a remarkable feat, this quarter he has collected nine disposals, won five clearances, five contested possessions and four inside 50s with his six hitouts.

15:37

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)

17:05

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)

18:10

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Cale Hooker)

18:53

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)

21:00

Essendon have managed to stem the flow in the last 10 minutes of this match. They have evened up the inside 50s to 5 apiece, and are in front in disposals and marks during this time-frame.

22:31

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Dayne Beams)

23:34

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Eric Hipwood)

23:51

The Lions are now the closest they have been to Essendon since the 21st minute mark of the first quarter with the lead being reduced to just five points. The Lions are dominating clearances (13-4) and tackles (20-14) this quarter.

25:50

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (David Zaharakis)

31:55

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Dayne Zorko)

31:59

An amazing turnaround from the Lions sees the margin just five points at the final break. They kicked four goals sourced from turnovers that quarter, three of these turnovers forced in their attacking half of the ground.

32:09

The siren has sounded to end Q3.

32:19

Stefan Martin and Dayne Zorko combined for 10 clearances that quarter. In comparison, the entire Essendon side only managed eight clearances. The Lions also won the contested possession count 44-29, and laid an extra six tackles.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

01:16

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Eric Hipwood)

01:25

The Lions have hit the lead for the first time since the 16th minute mark of the first quarter following an Eric Hipwood goal to open the final term. They have now kicked nine of the last 11 goals of the match.

02:13

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Mitch Robinson)

02:44

Lions Interchange - Daniel McStay off due to the blood rule.

06:50

Lions Interchange - Dayne Beams off due to an injury.

08:10

The Lions captain Dayne Beams has had a massive match tonight, with an equal game-high 29 disposals with 10 of these being contested. He is going at 80 per cent efficiency by foot, and been involved in five scoring chains for his side.

08:58

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)

10:10

Despite trailing in marks (66-101) tonight, Brisbane have taken more contested marks than Essendon. Eric Hipwood has grabbed a game-high three contested marks in a promising display by the young key position forward.

10:27

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Eric Hipwood)

14:21

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Kyle Langford)

14:26

The Lions are enjoying a time in possession dominance this quarter, with 81 per cent of the final quarter been played in their forward half. They have an advantage of six in the inside 50s, yet are only kicking at a wasteful 42 per cent efficiency.

14:51

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Rushed)

15:48

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Kyle Langford)

18:32

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)

18:46

Jobe Watson has racked up 31 disposals, his best individual haul since he collected 36 disposals against Carlton in round three, 2015. He has an equal game-high 11 contested possessions, and a team-high six clearances to lead the way for Essendon.

23:32

It has been all Essendon in the last 10 minutes as they close out this see-sawing match. They have had seven of the last eight inside 50s, have won 13 more disposals and have laid four more tackles than the Lions.

26:26

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (David Zaharakis)

26:41

Essendon have all but sealed the victory following a late David Zaharakis goal. Essendon have kicked four goals tonight from scoring chains originating in their defensive 50 zone compared to just the one for the Lions.

29:15

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)

29:21

The siren has sounded to end Q4.

29:31

Orazio Fantasia finishes the night with five goals following his four goals last week against the Hawks to cap off a great start to the season. He has now kicked at least three goals in seven of his last 10 matches played.