Match

Essendon vs West Coast Eagles

Commentary / 21 May 2017

Pre Game

59:30
Welcome to Etihad Stadium for the Essendon v West Coast Eagles Round 9 clash.
59:34
No changes for Bombers.
59:35
Outs for Eagles: J.Hill
59:36
Ins for Eagles: J.Cripps
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
As part of today's umpiring panel, Eleni Glouftsis becomes the first female to be named as a field umpire in AFL history, and the fifth female umpire to officiate a match joining goal umpires Katrina Pressley, Chelsea Roffey, Sally Boud and Rose O'Dea.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:55
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
01:01
Two back-to-back free kicks gifts Joe Daniher the first goal of the match. From set shots, Daniher has the worst accuracy of the top 30 goal scorers in the competition through the first eight rounds.
03:45
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Josh J. Kennedy)
06:35
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jobe Watson)
07:47
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
09:10
Daniher gets his second goal for the match already. Both Daniher goals have been launched from stoppages, an area the Bombers are dominating early in this match with seven hitouts including three hitouts-to-advantage from 11 ruck contests.
09:31
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Rushed)
10:53
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Nathan Vardy)
11:30
West Coast average 19.8 uncontested possessions more than their opponents through the first eight rounds in 2017, ranked third in the AFL in this time. They lead this count 32-3 already today.
12:52
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Luke Shuey)
14:49
Eagles Interchange - Sharrod Wellingham off due to an injury.
15:03
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
15:21
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Matt Dea)
17:59
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jack Darling)
20:10
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Darcy Parish)
20:11
Essendon record the first back-to-back goals of the match. They have 23 pressure acts in their forward half compared to West Coast's nine, and are kicking at 67 per cent efficiency in their forward 50 compared to the Eagles 33 per cent.
22:16
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
22:46
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti registers his sixth rundown tackle this season, a category he leads the AFL in 2017, and gets the Bombers fifth goal. Their six goals in the first term last week against Geelong is their season-high in this category.
26:11
West Coast rank fourth in the AFL averaging just over two free kicks more than their opponents per game in 2017. They are yet to win a free kick today, currently losing this count 0-9.
27:30
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Mark LeCras)
30:18
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
30:28
Essendon have recorded 15 pre-clearance contested possessions to the Eagles eight, including 10-3 in their forward half. They average 5.8 less pre-clearance contested possessions per game than their opponents in 2017, ranked 17th in the AFL.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:37
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
02:49
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Travis Colyer)
03:42
Travis Colyer helps Essendon extend their lead to 28 points, the largest margin of the game so far. The Bombers now have four goals to the Eagles one from general play in today's match.
04:22
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Travis Colyer)
05:29
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Josh J. Kennedy)
08:05
Sam Mitchell has recorded three disposals this term to lead the Eagles in this category, but after eight minutes of play the Eagles total number of disposals in this term is nine, compared to the Bombers 29.
08:12
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
09:28
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
10:59
Essendon are dominating the stoppages again this period, despite the hitout count being only 6-5 in their favour. They have recorded 8-2 first possessions leading to seven Essendon clearances to none.
11:46
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
13:15
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
15:46
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Josh J. Kennedy)
15:52
The Eagles finally get a goal through Josh Kennedy to break the Bombers run of eight straight goals. Their kicking efficency has been much better, going at 89 per cent by foot, but they have less than half the amount of disposals and kicks than Essendon.
16:46
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Josh Green)
18:37
Liam Duggan just won the Eagles first stoppage clearance since the 25 minute mark of the first term. The Bombers have scored 4.3 (27) from stoppages in this quarter alone to the Eagles zero.
19:52
All but one possession chain that has originated in the Bombers forward half has resulted in a score this quarter. By comparison, the Eagles have just one possession chain that has launched in their forward half, but have not scored from this zone.
21:37
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
24:09
Eagles Interchange - Sharrod Wellingham off due to an injury.
24:26
The Bombers average 2.2 (14) per game in 2017 from snap shots at goal. In this quarter alone they have scored 5.3 (33) from snap shots at goal, with Joe Daniher kicking three of his four goals goals from snap shots today.
25:14
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jack Darling)
25:47
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Liam Duggan)
27:39
Dom Sheed has recorded seven disposals, 160 metres gained, four contested possessions, and two inside 50's, all team-high's this quarter. He is also the only Eagles player with a score assist this term, notching three of them.
28:41
Bombers Interchange - Orazio Fantasia off due to an injury.
28:52
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
29:58
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
32:18
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (David Zaharakis)
32:24
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
32:34
West Coast have kicked just two goals from set shots in today's match. They average over eight goals per game from this source, ranked eighth in the AFL in 2017.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:15
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Mark LeCras)
04:01
After a very quiet second term where he recorded just two disposals, Andrew Gaff is already up to three disposals in this term. In his last six games against the Bombers he averages 27.2 disposals per game, more than any other Eagle since 2012.
04:13
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Darling)
05:50
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
07:38
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Josh J. Kennedy)
10:23
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Josh Green)
12:59
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jack Darling)
13:19
On both occasions the Bombers have gone inside 50 this term, they have scored a goal. West Coast have entered forward 50 eight times this term for 1.3 (9). West Coast rank fourth in the AFL in 2017, averaging a goal from 27.8 per cent of inside 50's.
16:45
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (James Stewart)
17:50
West Coast and Essendon both average less clearances than their opponent through the first eight rounds in 2017. Essendon currently lead the Eagles 27-17 in this count today, and have outscored their opponents 8.3 (51) to 0.2 (2) from this source.
18:46
Bombers Interchange - Matt Dea off due to the blood rule.
20:31
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jack Darling)
21:43
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
22:18
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
23:08
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jack Darling)
23:57
Jack Darling has been working hard for the Eagles this quarter, recording six disposals, 159 metres gained and four shots at goal in this term, all team-high's. However he is costing his team points, scoring 1.3 (9) from those four shots at goal.
24:37
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
26:45
Eagles Interchange - Tom Barrass off due to an injury.
27:13
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Mark LeCras)
29:14
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Josh J. Kennedy)
29:18
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
29:28
Since the 11 minute mark of the first term, the Eagles have scored 3.12 (30) from 25 forward 50 entries. From just 10 more forward 50 entries, the Bombers have scored 14.9 (93) in that time.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
04:19
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Josh J. Kennedy)
04:56
Back-to-back goals for the back-to-back Coleman Medallist gets the Eagles back within 10 goals. The Eagles have recorded the last three inside 50's in this term, and got a hand from a silly free kick against Brendon Goddard for the last entry.
06:02
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
07:48
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Nathan Vardy)
10:58
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Rushed)
11:29
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Josh Green)
12:06
Elliot Yeo has been held relatively quiet compared to his earlier form this season, but he has still provided a lot of drive for the Eagles. He has 14 kicks, 520 metres gained and four inside 50's, all team-high's in this match.
15:19
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Matthew Leuenberger)
17:08
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Chris Masten)
21:30
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
23:47
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Darling)
24:07
That Eagles goal to Jack Darling means that they have finished the game well, as they are in position to win a quarter on the scoreboard for the first time today, leading 3.2 (20) to 3.1 (19).
26:00
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Luke Shuey)
27:49
Since 2015, the Eagles have never gone a game without scoring a goal launched from a stoppage. They have been outscored 0.4 (4) to 9.3 (57) from this source in today's game.
29:01
Zach Merrett has continued his sparkling form this year with 37 disposals and 30 uncontested possessions, both game-high's.
29:55
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
30:05
Essendon controlled this game from start to finish, recording 87 more uncontested possessions and 30 more contested possessions, and kicking 11 more goals from only one more inside 50 entry than their opponents.