Match

Essendon vs Adelaide Crows

Commentary / 12 Aug 2017

Pre Game

59:30
Welcome to Etihad Stadium for the Essendon v Adelaide Crows Round 21 clash.
59:33
Outs for Bombers: O.Fantasia, T.Bellchambers, M.Hartley, M.Baguley, Z.Merrett
59:34
Ins for Bombers: A.McGrath, M.Dea, J.Kelly, J.Laverde, M.Leuenberger
59:36
No changes for Crows.
59:40
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:00
Adelaide has scored 42 points per game from forward half intercepts this season (ranked first). Since Round 11, the Bombers have averaged 40 points from this source (ranked No.1 in this period).

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
02:23
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Taylor Walker)
02:31
Adelaide get the first score of the game from a long range set shot from Taylor Walker. When these two team met earlier in the season, Walker kick five goals and finished with a season-high 30 AFL Player Rating points.
04:18
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Mitch McGovern)
05:03
Adelaide lead the contested possession (7-4) and marks (8-1) early in the game with its slick ball movement already troubling Essendon.
06:07
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Conor McKenna)
06:17
The McKenna goal for the Bombers was launched from a forward half stoppage. Essendon averages only 11 points per game from this source (ranked last).
07:58
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Rushed)
09:13
Essendon has only taken one uncontested mark at this stage of the game. The Bombers average 103 marks per game (ranked third).
13:03
Both of the goals to Adelaide have come from contested marks in the forward 50. The Crows average 15 marks in this zone (ranked first) and average 13 contested marks (ranked second)..
15:18
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (David Myers)
15:32
Adelaide has looked far better with ball in hand, and has kicking efficiency of 69 percent, while Essendon has kicking efficiency of just 48 percent.
16:14
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Taylor Walker)
16:52
All three goals for the Crows have come from chains started in the defensive 50, with the Bombers unable to disrupt their ball movement. Adelaide average 18 points per game from this source.
17:54
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Charles Cameron)
18:58
The goal to James Stewart was launched from a kick-in. Essendon averages seven points per game from this source (ranked first).
22:19
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (James Stewart)
24:58
Adelaide is dominating the aerial contests, leading in contested marks (6-2), intercepts marks (5-0) and total marks (32-8).
25:17
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Brodie Smith)
25:52
A bad turnover in the defensive 50 by the Bombers gifted the last goal to the Crows. This was the first goal of the game to either team to come from a forward half intercept.
28:40
Adelaide was very impressive in the opening quarter, winning the clearances (9-5) and contested possessions (36-30), and using the ball more effectively (kicking efficiency 71 to 54 percent).
28:45
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
28:55
Adelaide has not allowed Essendon to control the ball, leading in marks (36-11) and effective kicks (45-20). The Crows have won all ten of their games in 2017 when they have had more effective kicks than their opposition (AFL average is 70 percent).

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:27
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (James Stewart)
01:59
The Crows are applying great pressure to the Bombers and have already won five free kicks for holding the ball, and they average this many per game in 2017.
04:15
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
04:21
Both of the early goals in the second quarter to Joe Daniher have come from one-on-one contest wins. The Crows have lost only 26 percent of their defensive one-on-one contests this season (ranked fourth).
06:04
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (James Stewart)
07:57
Essendon lead in forward half tackles (17-7) and this has helped it to a 11-9 advantage in forward half intercepts. Both teams have scored two goals from forward half intercepts.
10:08
Three goals in a row to Joe Daniher gives the Bombers a lead. In the second quarter, Essendon lead contested possessions (19-8) and inside 50s (7-1).
11:14
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Richard Douglas)
11:37
A quick answering goal to the Crows and Douglas comes from the centre bounce clearance. Adelaide has averaged 12 points from this source (ranked sixth).
12:11
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Rushed)
12:49
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Tom Lynch)
15:55
After announcing his retirement this week, Essendon star Jobe Watson is having a difficult night, and is currently the only Bomber yet to have an effective disposal.
18:04
Matt Crouch currently has 12 contested possessions, which is more than double the next best player on the ground.
20:24
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Mitch McGovern)
20:32
Adelaide has forward half kicking efficiency of 76 percent, while Essendon has forward half kicking efficiency of just 54 percent, which is more than offsetting a 23-17 lead for inside 50s to the Bombers.
23:40
Four goals in a row to Adelaide who is looking a class above at the moment. The Crows have now scored 4.3.(27) from 13 forward half intercepts, while the Bombers have scored 2.2.(14) from their 12 such intercepts.
25:23
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Josh Jenkins)
25:48
Another defensive 50 turnover by the Bombers gifts a goal to the Crows (their third from this source). The potent Crow forward line is starting to build another big score, having averaged 156 points against Essendon in their last three games.
27:36
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Tom Lynch)
29:41
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
29:51
The last time these two teams played at the Docklands (in 2015), Essendon led at quarter time by six points, before Adelaide went on to win by a massive 112 points.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
02:26
Six consecutive goals to the Crows who are in complete control of this game, with the last goal again coming from a forward half intercept.
06:03
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (David Mackay)
06:20
Adelaide has now had the last ten scores in the game with the Bombers under siege in their back line. The Crows have six players who have taken a forward 50 mark, while Essendon has just the two such players.
08:59
The Crows have won the last five clearances in the game and lead contested possessions 16-9 this quarter, with the Bombers struggling to match the contested work of Adelaide.
09:55
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
12:25
SCORE GOAL - Crows (David Mackay)
12:35
Adelaide is continuing to make Essendon pay for mistakes, and has now scored 7.3.(45) from 19 forward half intercepts. The Crows average 42 points from 29 such intercepts.
12:43
Bombers Interchange - Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti off due to an injury.
13:59
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
16:43
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
16:50
Two goals in a row to Cale Hooker with the second following an intercept mark, the third goal of the night for the Bombers from a forward half intercept.
17:45
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jobe Watson)
18:20
The Jobe Watson goal came from a centre bounce clearance, and was the Bombers second of the night from this source. Essendon average 14 points per game from this source (ranked first).
19:50
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (David Zaharakis)
20:26
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
22:11
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Riley Knight)
23:48
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
24:05
Another long range goal to Cale Hooker (his third of the quarter) makes it four goals in a row to the Bombers. Essendon lead 20-9 in scores from stoppages despite trailing 21-24 in clearances.
26:16
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Taylor Walker)
26:18
Crows Interchange - Rory Sloane off due to an injury.
27:43
David Zaharakis has team-highs for score involvements (seven) and metres gained (422) in a prominent role for the Bombers.
28:16
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Brodie Smith)
28:50
An excellent assist from Taylor Walker set up the last goal for Brodie Smith who has had ten disposals and 213 metres gained in the third quarter.
30:17
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Josh Jenkins)
30:23
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
30:33
Adelaide lead forward 50 marks 14-5, and has eight different players who taken such a mark. Essendon has not been able to find multiple options in the forward 50, with just the three key forwards (Daniher, Hooker and Stewart) taking a forward 50 mark.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:29
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Eddie Betts)
02:01
The behind to Eddie Betts was hist first score of the night. Betts has kicked 58 career goals against the Bombers, which is the most he has kicked against any team.
03:30
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
05:04
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Rushed)
06:55
Tom Lynch has an equal team-high nine score involvements, 15 disposals and eight marks in another strong display for the Crows.
07:12
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
08:30
Two long range goals to the Bombers gets the margin back to 21 points, and Essendon has now kicked four goals tonight from outside 50 metres.
10:09
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Josh Jenkins)
10:20
Both teams have now kicked three goals from centre bounce clearances, with the Crows able to answer any mini challenge that Essendon has mounted.
14:28
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Hugh Greenwood)
14:38
Forward 50 marks are now 17-6 in favor of the Crows with their ball use creating more quality opportunities for their forwards.
16:20
Adelaide also lead in contested marks 22-9, with the Bombers unable to diffuse high kicks into the forward 50. Michael Hartley who is ranked No.1 in the AFL for spoils was left out of the Essendon team for this game.
16:30
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Mitch McGovern)
18:41
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Travis Colyer)
20:16
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Josh Jenkins)
20:25
Another goal from beyond the arc for the Bombers who have tried valiantly to keep up is immediately answered by the classy Crows. Adelaide lead inside 50s 12-5 this quarter, and 6-2 for forward 50 marks.
22:29
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Josh Jenkins)
23:02
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Rushed)
23:16
The 21 marks taken inside 50 by the Crows is an equal season-high for them. Adelaide has scored 10.8.(68) from set shots at goal, and Essendon has scored 8.2.(50) from its set shots at goal.
26:06
Adelaide lead contested marks 24-11. The most contested marks taken in a game this season is 25 (by Adelaide in Round 6 against Richmond).
26:26
Crows Interchange - Jake Kelly and is possibly out for the game.
27:22
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Brad Crouch)
28:00
Adelaide has generated 13 forward 50 intercepts (the most it has had in a game this season) and scored 4.3.(27) from these opportunities.
29:19
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
29:29
The Crows dominated in the aerial contests, winning contested marks (24-11) and forward 50 marks (22-8). Adelaide also scored an equal season-high 38 points from defensive 50 chains.