Match

Western Bulldogs vs St Kilda

Commentary / 26 May 2017

Pre Game

59:30
Welcome to Etihad Stadium for the Western Bulldogs v St Kilda Round 10 clash.
59:33
Outs for Bulldogs: J.Redpath, C.Smith, T.Cloke, L.Webb
59:34
Ins for Bulldogs: T.English, J.Stringer, S.Biggs, J.Roughead
59:35
Outs for Saints: N.Riewoldt, L.Dunstan
59:36
Ins for Saints: S.Savage, D.Minchington
59:40
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:00
No Nick Riewoldt today for the Saints. Riewoldt has kicked a team-high 17 goals this season, and he has taken more contested and forward 50 marks against the Bulldogs in his career than he has against any other team.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:33
The Bulldogs winning the opening centre bounce clearance to start the game. This season they are ranked second last for centre bounce clearance differential, and last season they were ranked second.
01:34
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Billings)
01:39
St Kilda get the opening goal of the game through Jack Billings following a forward half intercept. Billings has been involved in 26 percent of the Saints scores this season, which is the equal-highest percentage at the club.
03:08
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
04:25
Jake Stringer get the first goal for the Western Bulldogs following an intercept in the defensive midfield. The Bulldogs have generated both their early scores from such intercepts, and average 14 points per game from this source.
06:07
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Jade Gresham)
07:41
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Mitch Wallis)
10:45
St Kilda has an early 4-0 advantage in contested marks. The Bulldogs rank third last this season for differential in contested marks.
15:02
St Kilda conceded 85 points from turnovers last week against Sydney (the most it has conceded this season). The Saints have already committed 11 turnovers with three of these unforced, but the Bulldogs have not take full toll of these opportunities.
16:27
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Daniel McKenzie)
17:24
St Kilda currently has kicking efficiency of 71 percent, while the Bulldogs have kicked at only 52 percent efficiency.
20:40
The Saints now enjoying a period of control, have had eight of the last ten inside 50 entries, and have also had six of the last eight clearances.
22:38
The different ball movement styles are evident early. St Kilda lead in effective kicks 49-17, and the Bulldogs have 39 handballs and just the 30 kicks.
25:10
Jake Stringer gives the Bulldogs the lead after St Kilda had generated 11 of the previous 13 inside 50 entries.
28:04
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
28:14
St Kilda lead in inside 50 entries (15-11), forward 50 marks (4-3), forward 50 disposals (13-4) and forward 50 tackles (8-0), but trail on the scoreboard.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:05
This season the Bulldogs are the No.1 ranked team at differential in scores from ball-ups. The Saints currently lead 5-0 in ball-up clearances.
02:52
St Kilda currently lead in both intercept marks (8-5) and contested marks (8-0).
04:17
Dylan Roberton currently leads all players for effective disposals (13) and metres gained (213).
04:46
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Tim Membrey)
06:06
St Kilda has generated three forward 50 intercepts, but has not scored from any of these opportunities. This season the Saints average 11 points per game from five such intercepts.
06:54
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jake Stringer)
07:16
The Bulldogs are ranked last this season for goal kicking accuracy. Today they have scored 1.3.(9) from their set shots at goal with accuracy again causing problems.
08:27
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)
11:35
St Kilda lead 10-3 for inside 50 entries this quarter, and now lead forward 50 tackles 11-0.
13:52
Despite having had more of the ball, the Saints currently lead the tackle count 39-23.
15:01
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jake Stringer)
15:22
Jake Stringer is continuing to cause St Kilda problems. He has kicked all three goals for the Bulldogs, has taken four of their five forward 50 marks, and has a game-high five score involvements.
16:42
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
17:36
The Bulldogs have retained possession from 65 percent of their inside 50 entries. St Kilda has retained possession from just 41 percent of its forward 50 entries.
19:19
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jake Stringer)
20:23
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jake Stringer)
20:32
The Bulldogs have generated the last five inside 50 entries, and have scored 2.2.(14) during this period.
24:16
Nine consecutive inside 50 entries to the Bulldogs, has contributed to them kicking three goals in a row. All three goals have come following an intercept in the attacking midfield.
27:43
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
27:53
The Bulldogs now lead 8-4 in forward 50 marks, and have retained possession from 60 percent of their inside 50 entries, compared to just 31 percent retention for St Kilda.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:45
Jake Carlisle has been moved forward to start the second half for the Saints. Carlisle kicked a career-high eight goals against the Bulldogs as a Bomber in 2014.
01:37
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jade Gresham)
02:00
The Saints get the first goal of the second half, and their first goal of the game from a chain started in the defensive 50. Paddy McCartin provided the assist on the Gresham goal, and this was his third score assist of the game.
03:13
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Jade Gresham)
07:27
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Bailey Dale)
07:50
The Bulldogs able answer the St Kilda goal with their fourth of the game following an intercept in the attacking midfield. They average 21 points per game from this source.
08:51
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Dylan Roberton)
09:40
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Robert Murphy)
10:25
Danger signs for the Saints early in the third quarter. The Bulldogs have now scored five goals following forward half intercepts, with the St Kilda backs appearing vulnerable.
10:37
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
12:04
Jack Newnes gets an important goal for St Kilda. Newnes currently has game-highs for disposals (24) and metres gained (430).
15:33
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Matthew Suckling)
16:10
The Bulldogs have scored 3.1.(19) this quarter from just the six forward 50 entries. This season the Bulldogs have scored a goal from only 22 percent of inside 50s (ranked 16th).
18:20
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)
19:21
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
20:25
Bailey Dale figured prominently in the last goal for the Bulldogs, and now has seven score involvements (only Stringer with eight has more).
21:50
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jordan Roughead)
24:27
The Saints have won the clearances 14-5 this quarter, and lead 8-1 in scores from stoppages, but have struggled to disrupt the Bulldogs ball movement, recording five missed tackles (they average five per game).
26:23
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jason Johannisen)
28:41
The Bulldogs are again finishing the quarter strongly with the last seven inside 50 entries and now have four of the last five goals.
30:17
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jake Stringer)
31:11
The Bulldogs only kicked one goal in the first half from a chain starting in the defensive half. They have kicked three such goals in the third quarter, with the Saints struggling to stop the Bulldogs ball movement.
31:48
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
31:58
The Bulldogs continued to control the game in the third quarter. While St Kilda won the clearances (16-8), the Bulldogs pressured the Saints into more turnovers (15-11) and were more effective at punishing these turnovers (4-1 goals from turnovers).

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
03:35
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jason Johannisen)
03:54
Nine of the last eleven goals to the Bulldogs now with the Johanissien goal. Johanissien now has a team-high 23 disposals, including eight score involvements.
07:28
After St Kilda won the territory battle early in the game, the Bulldogs now lead inside 50 entries (47-40), along with inside 50 retention (56 to 38 percent) and forward 50 marks (12-5).
10:21
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jason Johannisen)
11:09
The Bulldogs have scored 6.6.(42) from set shots at goal, while St Kilda has scored just 0.2.(2), with the Saints struggling to generate quality scoring opportunities.
12:06
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
13:39
An excellent snap from Mav Weller ends a run of four goals to the Bulldogs, and is the first goal the Saints have scored today following a forward 50 intercept.
14:53
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Caleb Daniel)
16:59
Paddy McCartin has a team-high seven score involvements, including three score assists and the last goal.
18:19
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Maverick Weller)
19:14
St Kilda has not been able to fully capitalise on a 15-5 advantage in hitouts to advantage, with clearances (36-31) and scores from stoppages (15-9) only marginally in its favour.
19:27
Bulldogs Interchange - Lachie Hunter off due to an injury.
20:06
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Paddy McCartin)
23:15
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Leigh Montagna)
24:45
Bulldogs Interchange - Robert Murphy and is possibly out for the game.
26:01
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Liam Picken)
27:39
The reigning premiers have impressed today with their pressure forcing St Kilda into excessive handballs and turnovers (217 kicks and handballs), and as a result they lead 75-34 in scores from turnovers.
28:10
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Tom Boyd)
29:52
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
30:02
In the end a comfortable 40 point win for the Bulldogs. Jake Stringer with nine score involvements (including five goals) was crucial early for the Bulldogs.