Match

Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

Commentary / 30 Jul 2017

Pre Game

59:30
Welcome to Etihad Stadium for the Western Bulldogs v Essendon Round 19 clash.
59:33
Outs for Bulldogs: D.Morris, J.Redpath, M.Honeychurch
59:34
Ins for Bulldogs: T.Dickson, T.Cloke, L.Webb
59:36
No changes for Bombers.
59:40
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:00
This season the Western Bulldogs have kicked long with 44 percent of their kicks (ranked second). In 2016, the Bulldogs were ranked last in this measure.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:26
The Bombers get the opening goal of the game direct from the centre bounce clearance. Essendon has averaged 13 points per game from this source (ranked second).
03:01
Liam Picken with an early forward 50 mark for the Bulldogs, but unable to convert his set shot Picken was targeted a career-high 15 times against the Suns last week, resulting in him finishing with 15 disposals and a career-high six goals.
04:19
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
04:43
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (David Zaharakis)
06:02
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (David Zaharakis)
06:11
The first two goals go to the Bombers who have created three forward half intercepts and scored 1.2.(8) from these opportunities. Essendon averages 35 points from forward half intercepts (ranked fifth).
07:15
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
07:31
Another fast start from Essendon today. The Bombers have averaged 10 points in the opening ten minutes of games this season (ranked first), and have been the highest scoring team in first quarters.
08:56
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Lukas Webb)
09:46
The first goal for the Bulldogs comes from a forward half intercept. Western Bulldogs average 29 points from this source (ranked 13th).
11:42
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
11:51
Essendon has six scores from six inside 50s entries to start the game. This season the Bombers have scored from 51 percent of their inside 50s (ranked second).
13:28
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
14:33
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Tory Dickson)
15:01
The Bulldogs have now scored 2.1.(13) from three attacking midfield intercepts, with their forward half pressure forcing Essendon into error.
16:01
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
16:26
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jayden Laverde)
18:18
An excellent set shot at goal from Jason Johannisen, who is playing forward today for the Bulldogs, makes it three of the last four goals to the Bulldogs in a fast tempo game.
19:22
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
20:11
Essendon has had only 56 around the ground stoppages in its games this season (ranked last). There has been only one such stoppage at this stage of the game.
20:31
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Robert Murphy)
21:20
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Tory Dickson)
21:46
An errant kick-in from the Bombers gave the opportunity to the Bulldogs to score their third goal from a forward half intercept, and their third consecutive goal.
24:57
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Lukas Webb)
25:06
Four goals in a row to the Bulldogs who are opening up the Bombers on the turnover, and in counter attack. The last goal to Webb was the second to the Bulldogs launched from a defensive half stoppage.
27:21
The clanger kick count is 6-2 against Essendon. This season the Bombers have recorded the second most such kicks, with 23 per game.
27:33
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
29:43
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
29:53
Western Bulldogs lead the uncontested mark count 34-17. This season the Bombers average 92 such marks (ranked second), and the Bulldogs average 73 (ranked 15th).

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
02:28
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Travis Cloke)
03:04
The Bulldogs have had their issues with goal kicking accuracy this season, and have scored 2.5.(17) from set shots today while the Bombers have scored 2.1.(13) from their set shots at goal.
04:56
Seven of the last eight inside 50s have been to the Bulldogs who are starting to have the game played in their half of the ground.
05:17
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jason Johannisen)
05:56
Five goals in a row now to the Bulldogs who have already taken seven marks in the forward 50. This season the Bulldogs average 12 such marks (ranked 11th).
07:28
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Zach Merrett)
07:56
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Dyson Heppell)
08:21
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
09:17
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Travis Cloke)
09:31
An opportunistic goal from Travis Cloke gives the Bulldogs their first goal from a centre bounce clearance. This season they average 10 points per game from this source (ranked ninth).
10:15
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Toby McLean)
11:23
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
11:31
Four first half goals now to Joe Daniher who is looking dangerous against the young Western Bulldogs defence. Daniher now has an equal share of the lead in the race for the Coleman medal.
14:15
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Matthew Suckling)
14:31
Western Bulldogs have scored 5.1.(31) from eight forward half intercepts. Essendon has scored 1.4.(10) from ten such intercepts.
15:56
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
16:23
Western Bulldogs lead the clearances 6-3 this quarter, and this has helped to provide a 9-5 advantage for inside 50s and create opportunities force turnovers by Essendon in its defensive half.
17:02
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Tory Dickson)
18:38
Western Bulldogs lead intercept marks 6-1, and four of these marks have been taken in the forward half.
20:22
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jordan Roughead)
21:14
The Bulldogs currently have kicking efficiency of 75 percent. This season they have averaged kicking efficiency of 65 percent (ranked 12th).
22:36
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
23:37
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Darcy Parish)
24:57
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
27:29
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
27:45
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
27:55
Western Bulldogs average 29 points from 25 forward half intercepts this season. Today the Bulldogs have already scored 5.2.(32) from just the nine such intercepts, with the Bombers being heavily punished for defensive half turnovers.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
02:18
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
02:26
Joe Daniher has taken five of the seven forward 50 marks by the Bombers, and now has five of their eight goals.
04:55
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Tory Dickson)
05:11
A team-high seven score involvements (including two assists) now to Marcus Bontempelli, who is causing Essendon a lot of problems forward of the ball.
07:01
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
08:59
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Lachie Hunter)
09:06
A terrific snap by Lachie Hunter punishes another error in the defensive 50 by the Bombers. The Bulldogs have now scored 38 points from just ten forward half intercepts.
11:12
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Travis Colyer)
12:19
This time it is Bob Murphy who gets to punish the defensive 50 turnover by the Bombers. Five turnovers in this area of the ground have resulted in 4.0.(24) to the Bulldogs.
15:07
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
16:01
An awful mistake in the goal square from Cale Hooker denies the Bombers a certain goal. Both teams have generated four shots at goal in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs lead 3-1 in goals.
17:04
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
18:42
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
19:39
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Travis Colyer)
19:47
Both teams have won ten clearances from centre bounces. Essendon has scored 3.2.(20) from these opportunities and the Western Bulldogs have scored 1.1.(7).
21:59
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
23:53
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jason Johannisen)
24:40
Jason Johanissen now has six score involvements, including three goals and two assists, in an important role for the Bulldogs.
24:55
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
27:01
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Tom Liberatore)
27:22
Some more sloppy work in the defensive 50 by the Bombers, this time from a stoppage, sees the Bulldogs get a fifth goal from a chain started in this area of the ground. Essendon has not scored a goal from a forward 50 chain.
29:29
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
29:52
A clever goal from Bontempelli after some good work by Wallis in the chain leading to the goal. Wallis lead the Bulldogs for contested possessions (eight) and has been involved in seven scores for the Western Bulldogs.
32:22
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jordan Roughead)
32:37
Three goals in a row to the Bulldogs, and again this goal comes from a defensive 50 error by Essendon, this time a ruck free kick against Bellchambers.
34:25
Bombers Interchange - David Myers off due to an injury.
34:42
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
34:52
An efficient quarter from the Bulldogs who scored 7.1.(43) to the Bombers 4.5.(29). Essendon has been made to pay for some sloppy work at both ends of the ground, and the Bulldogs have a season-high 100 points at three quarter time.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:22
The last quarter begins with Cale Hooker squandering another scoring opportunity for the Bombers. Hooker has taken four forward 50 marks, but only scored the one goal today.
02:16
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
04:49
Western Bulldogs now lead clearances 30-19 and contested possessions 111-102, with this inside work helping to give the Bulldogs a territorial advantage.
06:10
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
07:44
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
07:54
The Bombers finally get the opening goal of the final quarter, and not surprisingly it is from Joe Daniher. Essendon has generated four of the first five inside 50s, and had the first three shots at goal in the final quarter.
09:17
Bulldogs Interchange - Lewis Young off due to an injury.
09:44
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)
11:18
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Lukas Webb)
11:29
Western Bulldogs lead loose-ball gets 51-41, and Essendon lead contested marks 12-5, in a sign of the different strengths of the two teams.
14:45
Western Bulldogs lead forward 50 marks 15-13, and have nine different players who have taken such a mark, while the Bombers have only the three players.
14:54
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Tom Liberatore)
17:51
A third goal-line scramble and review goes against the Bombers who continue to burn chances, having generated five of the last six inside 50 entries.
19:58
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
20:09
Essendon finally get a goal to reward all of the opportunities it is creating. The Bombers have had eight shots at goal in the final quarter, with four of these not registering a score.
22:41
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
22:49
Fittingly it is Bontempelli who kicks a crucial late goal for the Bulldogs, and just as fittingly it comes from another defensive 50 error from the Bombers (this time a free kick).
24:16
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Caleb Daniel)
24:24
Another forward 50 stoppage goal from the Bulldogs, and Bontempelli again involved (his tenth score involvement). The Bulldogs have scored 7.1.(43) from forward 50 chains, and Essendon has scored 0.4.(4).
25:48
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jason Johannisen)
26:19
Western Bulldogs lead the clearances 35-21, and this has been converted into a 51-30 advantage in scores from clearances.
27:38
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Toby McLean)
27:59
Another goal gifted to the Bulldogs by an Essendon error, this time a free kick and 50 metre penalty against Brendon Goddard. The Bulldogs have scored 4.1.(25) from free kicks or 50 metre penalties.
28:56
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
29:06
Aside from another strong game from Bontempelli, the Bulldogs also got great service from Roughead in the ruck, who won 11 hitouts to advantage and 11 contested possessions, while also keeping Bellchambers to just five disposals.