Match

Essendon vs Melbourne

Commentary / 30 Apr 2017

Pre Game

59:30

Welcome to Etihad Stadium for the Essendon v Melbourne Round 6 clash.

59:33

Outs for Bombers: P.Ambrose, A.Francis, M.Leuenberger, B.Stanton, J.Kelly

59:34

Ins for Bombers: M.Dea, M.Gleeson, T.Bellchambers, B.Howlett, C.McKenna

59:35

Outs for Demons: B.Stretch, J.Hogan, T.Smith, J.Spencer, J.Harmes

59:36

Ins for Demons: O.McDonald, J.Lewis, M.Hannan, C.Pedersen, T.Bugg

59:40

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

00:00

The Demons have recorded a time in possession differential of 5:13 this season, the best in the AFL.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

01:34

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)

04:18

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Cameron Pedersen)

06:00

In his fourth season of AFL football, Demon Christian Salem is averaging a career-best 23.0 disposals per game. He has five already in the opening six minutes today.

06:39

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Darcy Parish)

08:16

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jeff Garlett)

08:17

Melbourne's Jeff Garlett has kicked a goal in each of the Demon's six games this season, including three bags of three.

11:46

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jack Watts)

13:30

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)

15:00

Melbourne have laid 13 tackles to the Bombers seven, in spite of leading the disposal count 63 to 49.

16:35

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Cale Hooker)

19:55

Even though he averages just 4.8 marks per game this season, Essendon captain Dyson Heppell has taken four grabs to lead all players on the ground to this point.

20:07

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)

20:09

The Bombers have just the two behinds to show for the last five inside 50s.

26:31

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jayden Hunt)

27:40

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Dom Tyson)

29:18

The siren has sounded to end Q1.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

00:01

Even though the Demons makeshift ruck pairing of Cam Pederson and Tom McDonald trail in hitouts after one quarter 12 to five, the Bombers only lead the hitouts to advantage three to two.

01:11

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Mitch Hannan)

02:40

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Christian Petracca)

04:41

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)

06:18

While both of the Bombers goals have been kicked from a distance of less than 30 metres from goal, all three of the Dees have been from beyond 30.

06:59

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)

07:00

After kicking 3.4 in a best-on-ground performance last round, Essendon's Joe Daniher's three minor scores to open today means his season record currently stands at 12.13.

11:34

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)

12:25

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)

12:26

For the fourth time in six games this season, Orazio Fantasia has multiple goals for the Bombers.

16:33

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)

20:00

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)

20:32

Jayden Hunt of Melbourne has already gained a match-leading 358 metres so far in the first half.

22:15

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jack Watts)

24:23

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Andrew McGrath)

25:53

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Christian Petracca)

26:46

Tom McDonald has recorded 46 spoils this season, the second most of any player in the AFL. However, so far today he has just the two, well down on his season average of 9.2 per game.

28:58

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)

30:06

The siren has sounded to end Q2.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

00:01

Of all players in today's game, only Demon defender Oscar McDonald spent the entire first half on the ground without being interchanged.

02:21

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)

03:03

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jeff Garlett)

04:20

Michael Hibberd collected 27 disposals, six marks and recorded 588 metres gained in his first game for Melbourne last round. Opposing his former team Essendon, he currently has 16 disposals at 81 per cent efficiency, with four marks and 267 metres gained

05:05

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Tom McDonald)

05:06

Even though has now kicked goals now in consecutive weeks, Demon Tom McDonald has just the ten majors in 110 AFL games.

07:13

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jack Watts)

09:20

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jake Melksham)

10:54

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Ben Howlett)

11:21

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)

13:00

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)

14:20

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Christian Petracca)

14:30

Prior to today's game Melbourne had given away six after disposal free kicks, the equal most of any side. True to form, they have added to this tally in the third term.

15:25

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)

18:11

The leading tacklers on the ground are Demons Jack Viney and Clayton Oliver, each with five. For the season, Viney averages 6.2 tackles per game, and Oliver 7.8.

18:46

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Travis Colyer)

22:16

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Tomas Bugg)

24:06

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Cameron Pedersen)

24:07

One factor contributing to the Demons slight edge on the scoreboard may be their disposal efficiency inside forward 50. They are going at 62 per cent compared to just 47 per cent for the Bombers.

26:18

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jeff Garlett)

28:02

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Mitch Hannan)

28:03

The Demons have the last six clearances and last three inside 50s. Each of these inside 50s has ended with a goal.

31:19

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jack Watts)

32:59

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)

35:03

The siren has sounded to end Q3.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

01:33

Since 2013, the Bombers have won the disposal count by 93 per game against the Demons, a differential 43 higher than any other side against Melbourne. As it stands today, the Demons look to have improved the ledger, currently leading 312 disposals to 285

02:13

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jack Watts)

03:59

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Mitch Hannan)

10:44

Oscar McDonald has a game-high 11 spoils, of which four have gone to the direct advantage of a teammate. Next most spoils on the ground is five from his brother Tom McDonald and Bomber Matt Dea.

11:22

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Travis Colyer)

13:44

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Tom Bellchambers)

15:27

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jordan Lewis)

15:29

Ten of Melbourne's fifteen goals have been the direct result of a disposal chain that began with an Essendon turnover. This includes all three of their final term majors.

17:18

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Cameron Pedersen)

17:54

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (David Zaharakis)

18:40

Essendon has dominated the contested marks today, 21 to nine. The highest individual tally is shared Bombers Michael Hurley and Joe Daniher with four each.

19:01

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)

21:42

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)

23:01

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Christian Petracca)

23:02

Four goals today represents a new career-high in the 23-game career of Melbourne's Christian Petracca.

25:24

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)

25:56

Bombers Interchange - Mitch Brown and is possibly out for the game.

26:58

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Mitch Hannan)

29:16

The siren has sounded to end Q4.