Match

North Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs

Commentary / 14 Apr 2017

Pre Game

59:30

Welcome to Etihad Stadium for the North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs Round 4 clash.

59:33

Outs for Kangaroos: S.Durdin, R.Clarke

59:34

Ins for Kangaroos: S.Thompson, J.Simpkin

59:35

Outs for Bulldogs: C.Daniel, S.Biggs

59:36

Ins for Bulldogs: J.Dunkley, C.Smith

59:40

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

00:00

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

00:10

The Kangaroos are ranked 17th at winning the first possession at stoppages. However, they convert 88 per cent of first possessions into clearances, which is ranked number one in the competition.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

00:47

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jamie Macmillan)

04:14

It has been an extremely contested game early on. North Melbourne are leading the tackle count 8 to 3, but their kicking efficiency is just 25 per cent.

06:04

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jake Stringer)

06:27

The Bulldogs have cut-off three of North Melbourne's forward half chains in their defensive midfield, which is the source of the first goal to Jake Stringer.

07:42

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)

08:57

Kangaroos Interchange - Robbie Tarrant off due to the blood rule.

11:24

The difference between the two sides so far has been their ball use. North Melbourne have created one inside 50 from 7 midfield chains, whilst the Bulldogs have created four inside 50's from 6 midfield chains.

11:55

Kangaroos Interchange - Lindsay Thomas off due to an injury.

13:21

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

14:07

Bulldogs Interchange - Tom Boyd off due to an injury.

15:08

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)

15:39

In the first 15 minutes,The Bulldogs have created 10 of the 13 inside 50's. They have generated an inside 50 from 50 per cent of intercepts and have launched 2 goals from this source.

16:17

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)

19:00

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)

19:19

Bulldogs have been very effective in their defensive half. They have created four intercept marks and won 100 per cent of one-one contests in this zone.

21:52

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Todd Goldstein)

23:43

North Melbourne have been able to restrict the Bulldogs to a score from just 23 per cent of inside 50's, 29 per cent below their average.

25:56

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

28:36

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Braydon Preuss)

29:10

The siren has sounded to end Q1.

29:20

In that quarter, the Bulldogs won the inside 50's by 9 and time in forward half by 26 per cent, but did not create a forward 50 mark. On the other hand, North Melbourne created a mark from all four of their forward 50 targets.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

02:51

North Melbourne is winning the clearance count by 4. They have been led by Jack Ziebell with a game-high 6 contested possessions and four clearances.

03:48

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Travis Cloke)

05:53

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Travis Cloke)

07:48

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

09:42

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Kayne Turner)

10:34

Since their first goal, the Bulldogs have created just two inside 50's from 10 defensive half chains. In this time, North Melbourne has generated three goals from chains launched in their defensive half.

12:24

North Melbourne have won 75 per cent of centre clearances in this game and have created 7 of the last 8 inside 50's.

14:02

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Lindsay Thomas)

15:22

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Lachie Hunter)

16:28

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Sam Gibson)

17:38

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jake Stringer)

18:27

North Melbourne's pressure has forced the Bulldogs into a low kick to handball ratio of 0.72, well below their average of 1.19. Luke Dalhaus and Lin Jong have relished with 28 disposals and 4 intercepts collectively.

21:37

The Bulldogs kicking efficiency is 14 per cent higher than North Melbourne around the ground. However, their kicking efficiency in the forward 50 is just 20 per cent.

22:49

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

23:57

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)

24:37

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Josh Dunkley)

25:34

Both teams have been extremely poor from set shots with the Bulldogs shooting at 16 per cent and North Melbourne at 25 per cent.

27:32

The siren has sounded to end Q2.

27:42

This was partly due to their ability to find targets inside 50, creating seven marks inside 50 including three to Ben Brown. Jamie Macmillian was pivotal from the defensive half with 13 disposals and 373 metres gained.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

00:34

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

01:32

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

02:37

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Matthew Suckling)

03:15

Since quarter time, North Melbourne have launched 3.3.21 from 15 intercepts. In comparison, the Bulldogs have generated just two behinds from 17 intercepts.

04:56

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

05:33

In the last 30 minutes of the game, North Melbourne's kicking efficiency has been 14 per cent higher than the Bulldogs. They have targeted Ben Brown on 9 occasions, creating five marks and four goals from these entries.

06:12

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jy Simpkin)

07:18

Neither team had launched a goal from a clearance in the first half, but the game has opened up in this quarter. Both teams have launched their last goal from centre clearances.

08:35

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)

10:01

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Lindsay Thomas)

13:12

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Josh Dunkley)

14:04

The Bulldogs had launched just one goal from 42 defensive half chains before that goal. They will look to use the ball more effectively in their forward 50, where they have had 6 more turnovers than the Kangaroos.

17:03

North Melbourne are winning the time in forward half by 38 per cent, inside 50's by 5 and contested possession count 27 to 21 this quarter.

20:24

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Robert Murphy)

22:02

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Travis Cloke)

22:24

The Bulldogs have been more competitive in the clearances this quarter, winning the count by one. They have also been more effective launching a goal from 37.5 per cent of clearances.

23:39

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Taylor Garner)

24:38

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Lin Jong)

25:15

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jake Stringer)

25:42

Both teams are relying on their defensive players to create scores in transition. Robert Murphy has had 447 metres gained and five inside 50's, whilst Jamie Macmillian has a game-high 508 metres gained and six intercepts.

26:40

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jake Stringer)

27:17

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Luke Dahlhaus)

28:27

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)

30:00

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)

31:20

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Kayne Turner)

32:24

Luke Dalhaus and Mathew Suckling have had five score involvements each in this quarter.

33:25

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Josh Dunkley)

33:28

The siren has sounded to end Q3.

33:38

After the Kangaroos created the first two goals, the Bulldogs hit kicking five of the next seven. They won the clearances by three and were clinical, generating a score from 64 per cent of these including two from centre clearances.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

01:16

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Matthew Suckling)

03:58

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Luke Dahlhaus)

04:21

The Bulldogs launch the third-highest percentage of their score from clearances this season. This source has come into fruition in the second half, where they have launched 4.3.27 from 15 clearances.

05:54

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)

07:21

The Kangaroos have been more accurate from set shots (50 per cent to 25) and at generating goals per inside 50 (20.5 per cent to 16) in this game.

07:58

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jack Macrae)

13:00

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)

13:43

The Bulldogs goal kicking accuracy of 36 per cent could be significant in this came. North Melbourne has capitalized by generating 3.1.19 from their defensive 50 compared to 0.3.3.

13:57

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jy Simpkin)

15:34

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Taylor Garner)

16:40

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

16:41

Ben Cunnington has won 9 clearances since quarter time. He also has game-high 30 disposals and 7 score involvements. Whilst Luke Dalhaus has 12 score involvements for the Kangaroos.

17:45

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Liam Picken)

18:36

Both teams have relied heavily on quick, efficient inside 50's. In the second half, they have launched 5 goals collectively from centre bounce clearances.

20:50

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Tom Liberatore)

21:25

Bulldogs Interchange - Travis Cloke and is possibly out for the game.

21:57

In this second half, the Kangaroos have struggled to restrict the Bulldogs scoring. They have created 17 more inside 50's and generated a score from 59 per cent of these entries.

22:11

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jake Stringer)

24:43

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Matthew Suckling)

25:58

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jack Ziebell)

26:41

North Melbourne are winning the centre clearances by 7 so far. They have launched 4 goals from this source for the quarter.

29:58

The Bulldogs have created 8 more intercepts in this game, but have only launched one more goal from this source. Luke Dalhaus has been extremely influential with a game-high 32 disposals and 14 score involvements.

31:32

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Lindsay Thomas)

31:37

The siren has sounded to end Q4.