Match

Essendon vs Collingwood

Commentary / 25 Apr 2017

Pre Game

59:30
Welcome to MCG for the Essendon v Collingwood Round 5 clash.
59:33
Outs for Bombers: C.McKenna, K.Langford
59:34
Ins for Bombers: A.Francis, B.McNiece
59:35
Outs for Magpies: J.Smith, J.White, J.Blair
59:36
Ins for Magpies: T.Phillips, D.Wells, M.Cox
59:40
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:00
This season, both the Bombers (29.5 disposals) and Magpies (29.2) have averaged significantly more disposals per game than their opposition. However Essendon (5.21) and Collingwood (5.32) are both ranked in the bottom six for disposals per turnover.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:49
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
02:16
The Bombers have started well with a goal to Daniher from their first entry inside forward 50, launched from an intercept in defensive 50. Essendon has launched 24 per cent of its scores from the defensive 50 this season, ranked first in the league.
03:27
Bombers Interchange - Jobe Watson off due to the blood rule.
05:39
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Aaron Francis)
05:50
A great start for Essendon with two set shot goals from as many forward 50 entries. The Bombers have recorded 15 kicks at 73 per cent efficiency compared to the Magpies with eight kicks at just 25 per cent efficiency.
06:58
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Jamie Elliott)
07:35
Jamie Elliott has kicked his first goal since Round 23, 2015 (also against Essendon) after missing all of last season and the start of 2017. Elliott led Collingwood's goal kicking with 35 goals in 2015 and now has 105 goals from 74 career games.
10:29
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
11:35
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
12:00
Essendon is finding some success via repeat forward 50 entries. The Bombers have won four intercepts in their attacking midfield zone, taking three of the resulting possession chains inside 50 resulting in 2.1 (13).
14:57
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Alex Fasolo)
19:17
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Tim Broomhead)
21:17
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
21:25
In the wet conditions, Essendon's ball use has been more effective when in attack. The Bombers' kicking efficiency in their forward half is 62 per cent, considerably better than the Magpie's at 35 per cent.
24:33
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
24:35
Essendon is finding players in space when entering forward 50, already taking six marks in that zone from just 11 entries. The Magpies have only taken two marks inside 50 from 13 entries.
26:31
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Travis Colyer)
30:29
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
30:39
Michael Hurley has made an impressive start to this match in defence, winning five intercepts and amassing eight disposals. All five of his kicks have been effective and two of his intercepts have launched scores for the Bombers.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:48
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Jamie Elliott)
02:25
Jamie Elliott now has both goals for Collingwood following a leading mark and goal from just inside 50. Since his debut, the Magpie forward is ranked third in both marks on a lead and goals at his club.
04:40
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Mason Cox)
05:56
Collingwood has tightened its presence around the ball this quarter. The Magpies have won three more clearances and five extra contested possessions, after conceding five fewer clearances and 12 fewer contested possessions in the first term.
06:47
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Rushed)
09:05
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
11:29
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
11:57
The Bombers have capitalised on clearance wins from throw-ins. From 21 stoppages when the ball is out of play, Essendon has won only one more clearance than Collingwood, however it has launched 2.2 (14) to just one behind from that source.
14:53
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
15:33
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
16:51
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Steele Sidebottom)
17:27
After only three disposals in the first term, Steele Sidebottom leads all comers with nine disposals and 207 metres gained in the second quarter, now franked with a long-range snap.
19:51
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Dyson Heppell)
20:13
It's goal-for-goal in the second term as Dyson Heppell kicks Essendon's second goal for the quarter, following a free kick for holding the ball against Adam Treloar. Collingwood has conceded three free kicks for holding the ball for the game.
23:34
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Alex Fasolo)
24:16
Alex Fasolo has kicked Collingwood's second for the day from the goal square, this one from off the ground. This is his third goal off the ground for Fasolo in his career.
25:17
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Taylor Adams)
26:58
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Rushed)
28:09
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Jack Crisp)
28:40
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Jamie Elliott)
29:50
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Alex Fasolo)
30:11
Collingwood has been wasteful with 1.5 (11) from set shots, compared to Essendon with 5.3 (33). Prior to this match the Magpies had only converted 36.2 per cent of set shots this season, by far the worst rate in the league.
30:56
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Adam Treloar)
30:59
After five consecutive behinds to Collingwood, Adam Treloar has broken the streak with his first goal. The Magpie midfielder has amassed game-highs in disposals (18) and tackles (seven).
32:31
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
32:41
Collingwood has narrowed the margin to nine points at half time after denying Essendon's run in the second quarter. The Magpies gathered 31 more uncontested possessions than the Bombers and with better conversion could have scored more than 4.7 (31).

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:31
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Zach Merrett)
02:32
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
04:18
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
05:04
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
05:12
After two early set shot misses, Cale Hooker has kicked the first goal for the day from outside 50 metres. The Bombers have had five of the first six forward 50 entries and have had the ball in their forward half for 83 per cent of this quarter.
07:01
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Alex Fasolo)
07:49
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Josh Green)
08:49
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Jamie Elliott)
09:17
Collingwood hits straight back from the centre bounce with Elliott's third goal, the first launched from a centre clearance for the match. This season the Magpies outscore their opposition from centre clearances by nine points per game (ranked second).
11:53
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Daniel Wells)
14:04
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Darcy Moore)
14:27
Three goals in five minutes to Collingwood as it turns a 17-point deficit quickly into a one-point lead. In that period the Magpies recorded 12 kicks at 92 per cent efficiency, compared to the Bombers with seven kicks at just 43 per cent efficiency.
14:59
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
16:58
Essendon takes the lead straight back with a clearance to Brendon Goddard directly setting up Joe Daniher from outside 50 on the run. Goddard leads all players on the ground with three possession chains launches leading directly to a score.
18:44
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
19:12
Goals flowing here as Orazio Fantasia kicks his third for the match. The Bomber forward averages 1.7 goals per game since the start of 2016, the second highest average of all players at Essendon.
23:25
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Josh Green)
24:09
The Bombers have been on top around the stoppages this quarter, winning six more clearances than the Magpies. In the past five minutes Essendon has won five clearances and launched two goals directly from this source.
25:59
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Tom Phillips)
27:24
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Daniel Wells)
27:53
In this quarter Josh Green (Essendon) and Daniel Wells (Collingwood) have both kicked their first two goals for their respective new clubs. Green kicked 107 goals for Brisbane Lions and Wells kicked 150 goals for North Melbourne.
29:48
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Taylor Adams)
29:50
Collingwood has now scored 1.8 (14) from set shots, compared to Essendon's 7.5 (47) from the same shot type.
30:25
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
30:35
Ultimately, Essendon increased its lead by a goal after a topsy-turvy quarter where the Magpies led briefly and the Bombers led twice by 17 points. The Bombers were more efficient with five goals from 11 entries, compared to four from 18 by the Magpies.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:25
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Brodie Grundy)
02:29
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
02:50
Orazio Fantasia has been a weapon for the Bombers in the forward line, now with four marks inside forward 50 and now a game-high four goals. His career high is five goals only three weeks ago against Brisbane Lions.
03:34
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Jamie Elliott)
04:06
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Josh Green)
04:19
To start this quarter, Collingwood has won all three clearances but hasn't been able to control possession, with just one kick from six effective. Nine of Essendon's ten kicks have been effective allowing it to amass 11 more uncontested possessions.
04:42
Both goals to the Bombers this term have been launched directly from consecutive kick-ins. This season Essendon averages 11.5 points per game launched from kick-ins, the highest average of any team in the competition.
05:05
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
08:51
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
09:46
Cale Hooker has taken Essendon's 15th mark inside forward 50 for the match and kicked the Bombers' third for the quarter, taking the lead to a match-high 26 points. This season, Essendon averages 12.5 marks inside 50 per match (ranked 12th).
10:31
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Darcy Moore)
18:26
Jeremy Howe can hold his head high after a sound performance off half-back. The Collingwood defender has won a game-high (and career-high) 15 intercept possessions, including five intercept marks.
19:06
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
19:55
Essendon's transition from the defensive half has been too effective for Collingwood, with 9.4 (59) launched from possession chains behind half way. In comparison, the Magpies have launched just 1.2 (8) from the same zone.
20:21
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Daniel Wells)
22:38
SCORE GOAL - Magpies (Jack Crisp)
23:49
Essendon has been led by Hurley (10 intercepts and 23 disposals) in defence, Heppell (seven clearances, 26 disposals and a goal) in the midfield and Daniher (eight marks, 14 kicks, 607 metres gained and 3.4) in the forward line.
24:41
SCORE BEHIND - Magpies (Rushed)
28:24
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
28:34
Essendon has won its first Anzac Day match since 2013, only conceding the lead for 55 seconds across the match. The Bombers were far more efficient with 15 goals from 43 forward 50 entries, compared to the Magpies' 11 goals from 66 entries.