Match

Essendon vs Geelong Cats

Commentary / 13 May 2017

Pre Game

59:30
Welcome to MCG for the Essendon v Geelong Cats Round 8 clash.
59:33
Outs for Bombers: A.Francis, M.Gleeson, B.Stanton
59:34
Ins for Bombers: J.Stewart, J.Watson, A.McGrath
59:35
Outs for Cats: D.Lang, J.Murdoch, A.Black, J.Thurlow
59:36
Ins for Cats: M.O'Connor, J.Kolodjashnij, T.Stewart, Z.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
Over the past three weeks, the Bombers have retained 55 per cent of their kicks into the forward 50. This is the second-best percentage recorded in this period of time.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:38
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
02:23
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
03:13
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
04:34
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
05:12
It has been a strong start for Essendon; winning four of the first five clearances. They have been able to retain the ball inside their own 50, generating 2.1.13 from this zone.
06:21
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rhys Stanley)
07:38
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Mark Blicavs)
08:04
Both teams are pressing forward and retaining the ball in their forward half. Particularly Geelong, who have created 4 attacking midfield intercepts and two scores from this source.
11:08
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
11:30
The Bombers are dominating the uncontested possession count (30-7) and are using the ball more efficiently by footy (75-50 per cent). As a result, they have created three marks inside 50 and converted two goals from this source.
16:03
Essendon has created 7 defensive half intercepts and 3 inside 50's from this source. Once in their forward half, they have retained the ball and generated two goals from stoppages.
18:01
On the other hand. Geelong are struggling to move the ball in their forward half with a kicking efficiency of just 42 per cent.
18:32
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (James Parsons)
20:52
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
23:45
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Steven Motlop)
24:26
Geelong have gained the upper hand around the stoppages and it has paid dividends with that goal to Motlop. In the last 10 minutes, they have won the stoppages (6 to 2) and created 60 per cent of inside 50's.
26:41
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
27:08
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Cameron Guthrie)
27:41
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (James Stewart)
28:41
The Cats haven't been able to stop the flow of goals for the Bombers, who have now generated a goal from 39 per cent of inside 50's. This is well above their season average of 26.9.
31:54
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (James Stewart)
31:56
Despite losing the clearances (8-14), Essendon's kicking efficiency is 42 per cent greater in the forward half. As a result, they have launched 4 more goals from stoppages; culminating in the last to Stewart.
31:59
The siren has sounded to end Q1.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:34
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
04:12
The Bombers are leading the way with their pressure, applying 27 tackles to 9 and as a result, their kicking efficiency is 16 per cent higher.
06:27
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Darcy Parish)
06:44
Geelong continue to lead the clearances (16 to 9), contested possession count by 20 and inside 50's by 5. However, they have been inaccurate from corridor scoring shots with 1.4.10 from this source.
07:25
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
09:47
Michael Hurely is relishing as an intercept defender. He has a game-high seven intercepts as well as 261 metres gained and 3 score involvements.
11:06
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
12:37
The Bombers are capitalizing on Geelong's poor ball use in the forward half. From 16 attacking midfield chains, the Cats have generated just 4 behinds. Whilst, the Bombers in transition have launched 3.1.19 from their defensive half.
12:39
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
17:52
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
19:54
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (James Stewart)
20:11
Zach Merrett is ranked in the top 5 in the competition for disposals. Tonight he has maintained this form with 14 disposals, but also heavily pressuring the cats with 8 tackles. David Zaharakis has had 5 score involvements and a season-high 20 disposals.
21:27
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Mitch Duncan)
24:00
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
25:20
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Josh Green)
27:00
Geelong has been the most efficient side going inside 50 this year, launching a goal from 32.6 per cent of entries. Tonight, due to their inaccuracy (37.5 per cent), they have launched a goal from just 10 per cent of inside 50's.
28:50
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
29:00
Essendon were far more efficient in that half with a kicking efficiency 18 per cent higher than Geelong in their forward half. Their ball use has allowed them to generate four more goals from forward half chains.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:00
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
01:20
Cats Interchange - Mark Blicavs off due to an injury.
02:30
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
03:35
Zach Smith has been dominate around the stoppages with 6 clearances and 17 hit-outs. In conjunction, Geelong has begun to capitalize in this area launching 3 of their last 4 goals from this source.
04:00
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Patrick Dangerfield)
07:24
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
09:10
The Bombers have been efficient from possession chains in their forward half. They have launched six goals from 19 chains in this zone, compared to just two goals form 27 chains for Geelong.
09:42
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Darcy Parish)
11:33
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
13:05
The Bombers continue to take advantage of the Cats turnovers, creating four more intercepts. They are winning the uncontested possession count by 20 this quarter and have created a goal from 50 per cent of their entries.
15:05
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tom Stewart)
16:27
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
19:42
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Josh Green)
21:33
Since quarter time, Essendon has scored predominantly off the Cats turnovers. They have created 32 intercepts and launched a score from 25 per cent of these chains.
23:27
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Andrew McGrath)
24:14
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Patrick Dangerfield)
25:20
The pressure of both teams has been a vast contrast. The Bombers have applied 63 tackles, compared to just 17 for Geelong with 37 being its fewest in a game since 2010.
28:32
The Cats continue to dominate the clearances (35-20) and Inside 50's (39-33). But, their ball use continues to let them down with a kicking efficiency of just 55 per cent in the forward half.
30:08
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
30:12
The siren has sounded to end Q3.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
04:26
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
05:08
Essendon has won 65 per cent of its intercepts in the defensive half. In combination with their kicking efficiency of 70 per cent, they have launched four goals from defensive half intercepts.
06:57
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
08:46
SCORE GOAL - Cats (George Horlin-Smith)
09:21
Geelong have been able to find targets inside 50 throughout the game; creating 12 marks in this zone. Their goal kicking accuracy has been improved from 42 to 55 per cent by kicking 3.0.18 to start the quarter.
11:01
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
12:01
The Cats have erased 24 point final quarter deficits in 3 games this season and have started. They have started the quarter well, winning the clearances 6 to 3, creating 4 inside 50's and launching 3 goals from this source.
13:02
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
16:44
SCORE GOAL - Cats (James Parsons)
19:12
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Zac Smith)
19:19
Sam Menegola has had a major impact since quarter time with a game-high 21 disposals, 5 inside 50's and 305 metres gained. Patrick Dangerfield has had 11 contested possessions and 2 goals in this time.
20:58
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
21:23
That goal to Daniher was pivotal in arresting the Cats momentum, who had kicked six of the last eight goals. Daniher now has 5 goals and four marks inside 50.
23:08
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
24:46
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (George Horlin-Smith)
25:54
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
26:10
The Cats have been efficient this quarter, launching a goal from 50 per cent of their 12 inside 50's. It could be too late, after they created just 7 goals from 40 inside 50's in the first 3 quarters.
27:03
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Nakia Cockatoo)
27:44
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Steven Motlop)
28:31
Cats Interchange - Rhys Stanley and is possibly out for the game.
29:01
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
29:02
That transition goal to Fantasia reflects the Bombers game today. From ten fewer inside 50's, they have created 2 more goals from intercepts as well 8 goals from their defensive half.
31:35
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Patrick Dangerfield)
32:48
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
32:54
The siren has sounded to end Q4.