Match

Western Bulldogs vs Gold Coast Suns

Commentary / 22 Jul 2017

Pre Game

59:30

Welcome to Cazaly's Stadium for the Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast Suns Round 18 clash.

59:33

Outs for Bulldogs: J.Stringer

59:34

Ins for Bulldogs: E.Wood

59:35

Outs for Suns: R.Thompson, S.May, G.Ablett, J.Lyons

59:36

Ins for Suns: J.Lonergan, B.Fiorini, J.Scrimshaw, D.Macpherson

59:40

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

00:00

In 2017 the Suns average 2.6 more centre clearances per game than their opposition (ranked 2nd) while the Bulldogs win 2.1 fewer centre clearances per game than their opposition (ranked 17th). Last season the Bulldogs were ranked second in this metric.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

02:09

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Jack Martin)

02:12

A good start for the Suns as they transition their second successive possession chain from defensive half intercepts inside forward 50. Jack Martin is on the end of the possession chain and has kicked his 17th goal for the season.

03:39

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)

05:31

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Jack Martin)

06:29

Peter Wright has used the wind assistance that Gold Coast enjoys in the first quarter to his advantage, easily making the distance with a set shot from outside 50 metres. Of his 51 career goals, nine have been from further than 50 metres.

08:04

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Easton Wood)

09:25

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Easton Wood)

12:22

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Tom J. Lynch)

12:24

Western Bulldogs have taken five marks inside 50 but are battling to convert into the face of a strong wind, with just two behinds from three successive set shots. The Suns have capitalised the other way, with all three goals launched from intercepts.

17:28

In the past ten minutes, Western Bulldogs have taken the ball inside 50 five times and have taken four marks in that zone. Luke Dahlhaus has finally converted with his second set shot to give the Bulldogs their first goal for the game.

20:57

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Liam Picken)

21:18

The Bulldogs have outworked the Suns at the stoppages, already winning five more clearances this term. The Bulldogs have won eight clearances in the midfield, transitioning all but one possession chains inside 50 and converting two into goals.

22:01

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Ben Ainsworth)

23:22

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Liam Picken)

23:25

Western Bulldogs have taken eight marks inside forward 50 this quarter, the most by the club in any quarter this year. Liam Picken has taken three marks inside 50 and now kicked his goal from second set shots.

25:36

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Bailey Williams)

25:57

Suns Interchange - Sean Lemmens off due to the blood rule.

27:49

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Liam Picken)

28:03

Liam Picken now has his third goal and fourth mark inside 50 for the term. The Bulldogs have taken nine marks inside 50 for the quarter, the most for the club in any game since Round 18 2015.

30:11

The siren has sounded to end Q1.

30:21

Western Bulldogs enjoy a slight lead on the scoreboard but it arguably counts for more after kicking into a strong breeze in Cairns. The Bulldogs amassed 48 more disposals and 27 more marks than the Suns, and took all eight contested marks of the term.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

05:21

Bulldogs Interchange - Dale Morris and is possibly out for the game.

05:56

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Jack Martin)

06:04

The Suns have absorbed some early pressure in the second quarter as the Bulldogs created six forward 50 entries, before transitioning to forward 50 for a goal through Martin. Three of Gold Coast's four goals have been launched from defensive half.

10:27

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Liam Picken)

10:39

We are only early in the second term but Liam Picken has now kicked four goals, a career-high from his 193 career games. He had kicked three goals in a game on three occasions, including the 2016 semi final and grand final.

12:19

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Rushed)

13:10

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Bailey Dale)

13:59

Gold Coast has recorded 20 more disposals than Western Bulldogs this term, however 17 of these have been handballs. The Bulldogs have created four more forward 50 entries and now have outscored the Suns two goals to one.

14:31

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Aaron Hall)

20:20

After the Bulldogs capitalised on a strong performance at the stoppages in the first term, the Suns have improved and have won five more clearances than their opposition this quarter. David Swallow has won four clearances this term.

22:29

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Toby McLean)

26:12

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Bailey Dale)

26:47

With two goals this quarter, Bailey Dale has matched his career-high of two goals in a game. This is the first of the Bulldogs' seven goals of the game from general play.

27:37

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Mitch Wallis)

27:54

The siren has sounded to end Q2.

28:04

The Suns were unable to convert their extra possession into scoring opportunities, taking the ball inside 50 on just seven occasions compared to 15 by the Bulldogs.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

01:05

Lachie Hunter had a strong first half through the midfield, with 15 disposals including 12 kicks (just under his season average of 12.9 per game this year). He recorded a game-high 415 metres gained and was involved in four of the Bulldogs' scores.

01:40

SCORE GOAL - Suns (David Swallow)

02:20

David Swallow won the first two clearances to start the second half and now has also kicked a goal, after the Gold Coast midfielder also won four clearances in the second term. Following his goal he has also won the next centre clearance for the Suns.

04:32

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Luke Dahlhaus)

05:47

Matthew Suckling's disposal has been important for Western Bulldogs. With his seventh kick he has recorded his second goal launch (a game-high), setting up Luke Dahlhaus.

06:06

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Aaron Hall)

11:03

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Ben Ainsworth)

12:03

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Ben Ainsworth)

12:40

Gold Coast is controlling field position this quarter, with the ball inside its forward half for 64 per cent of its duration. The Suns have laid five tackles inside forward 50, with the latest by Ah Chee setting up Ainsworth.

13:50

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Ben Ainsworth)

14:38

The Suns' have won six of the seven clearances this term and their resulting forward pressure is paying dividends. Now Ben Ainsworth has trapped Bailey Williams with the ball to win the free and with a checkside has kicked his second consecutive goal.

16:34

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Liam Picken)

17:50

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)

23:02

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Liam Picken)

23:05

Today Liam Picken has lifted his personal best goal tally from three to five. On ten occasions his team mates have targetted him inside 50 and from these he has also taken a career-best five marks inside 50.

25:14

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Bailey Dale)

27:05

Although the Bulldogs have been caught in defensive 50 a couple of times this term, in general they have been able to clear defence easily. The Bulldogs have transitioned 39 per cent of defensive 50 chains to forward 50, with four resulting goals.

27:49

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)

29:40

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Darcy MacPherson)

29:44

The siren has sounded to end Q3.

29:54

Gold Coast pulled the margin back by a goal in that term and the game is still for the taking at three-quarter time. The Suns won six extra clearances to control field position, with their entire score for the quarter launched from forward of centre.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

02:07

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jack Redpath)

02:48

Western Bulldogs have kicked the opening goal of a quarter for the first time of the game. This game's scoring has been primarily sourced from intercepts, as the Bulldogs have now launched 8.5 (53) and the Suns 7.0 (42) from that mode.

10:03

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Tom Liberatore)

10:43

Western Bulldogs have now put this game to bed after pushing the lead out to a game-high 26 points. Since Gold Coast cut the margin to one point, the Bulldogs have been in possession for 53 per cent game time, compared to just 29 per cent by the Suns.

11:20

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Robert Murphy)

13:14

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Trent McKenzie)

14:28

Suns Interchange - Alex Sexton off due to an injury.

14:30

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Liam Picken)

15:29

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)

20:16

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jordan Roughead)

20:33

Most of the life is now gone from this game. Western Bulldogs have kicked their fifth goal without reply from a mark inside 50 and 50-metre penalty to Jordan Roughead. The Bulldogs have now taken 17 marks inside 50, well above their season average of 11.

21:53

Gold Coast supporters will be pleased by some early signs of Jack Scrimshaw on debut. Playing in the back line, the debutant has won five intercepts (including three intercept marks) and applied three spoils.

22:46

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Liam Picken)

23:29

Liam Picken has now kicked his sixth goal for the game, in the process doubling his previous best and setting a new individual AFL record at Cazaly's Stadium. The previous high was set by Jack Riewoldt in 2012 with five goals.

25:00

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Robert Murphy)

25:53

Since Gold Coast pulled the margin back to one point at the 14-minute mark of the third quarter, Western Bulldogs have kicked 7.6 (48) to 0.3 (3) by the Suns.

27:20

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Matthew Suckling)

28:24

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Mitch Wallis)

28:31

Western Bulldogs have completed dominated this term, outscoring the Suns by 33 points set up by six more clearances and 12 more forward 50 entries. The Bulldogs' score of 109 points is the largest AFL tally kicked at Cazaly's Stadium.

30:50

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jack Redpath)

30:55

The siren has sounded to end Q4.

31:05

In the third quarter this game was locked at eight goals apiece, but the Bulldogs have kicked the last eight goals of the game to win by 54 points. The Bulldogs created 18 more forward 50 entries than the Suns and took 12 more marks in that zone.