Match

Essendon vs Fremantle

Commentary / 27 Aug 2017

Pre Game

59:30
Welcome to Etihad Stadium for the Essendon v Fremantle Round 23 clash.
59:33
Outs for Bombers: C.Bird, J.Green
59:34
Ins for Bombers: J.Watson, T.Colyer
59:35
Outs for Dockers: R.Nyhuis, C.McCarthy, S.Darcy, G.Logue, J.Deluca
59:36
Ins for Dockers: S.Kersten, L.Neale, J.Griffin, T.Sheridan, S.Collins
59:40
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:00
Lachie Neale is back in the team today for the Dockers. Neale has had more scoreboard impact this season, averaging career-highs for score involvements (5.9), inside 50s (3.0) and score assists (1.1), along with AFL Player Rating points (15.1).

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:02
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
02:07
The two opening scores of the game go the Bombers and both have come from forward half intercepts. Essendon has scored from 38 percent of its forward half intercepts this season (ranked first).
03:14
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (James Stewart)
03:32
The second goal to the Bombers came from the centre bounce. Essendon averages 14 points from centre bounces this season (ranked second).
05:01
A great start for the Bombers who have won the first three clearances, and had the first four inside 50s, and first three scores. Fremantle is yet to register an effective kick.
05:58
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Tom Bellchambers)
10:07
After Essendon had the first five inside 50 entries to start the game, Fremantle has had the last four inside 50s leading into the free kick shot at goal to Nat Fyfe.
10:21
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Nat Fyfe)
13:02
Bombers Interchange - Patrick Ambrose off due to the blood rule.
13:33
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jobe Watson)
14:13
An early missed set shot at goal from Bomber favourite Jobe Watson. This season Watson has now kicked an inaccurate 2.7 from his shots at goal.
16:52
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Rushed)
18:30
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Tommy Sheridan)
18:38
An excellent snap from Sheridan gives the Dockers their second goal, and this one came from a forward 50 stoppage. Essendon has conceded the fourth most points this season from such stoppages.
21:23
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
23:07
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
23:13
The goal to Joe Daniher was the second the Bombers have sourced from a forward half intercept. Last week Fremantle conceded 10.0.(60) to Richmond from this source.
26:39
Nat Fyfe currently leads all players for contested possessions (seven), and has won three of the six Fremantle clearances.
28:33
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Jonathon Griffin)
28:53
Three of the last four goals now to the Dockers who have worked back well into the game. Fremantle lead ground-ball gets (25-20) with its senior midfielders on top in this area.
31:58
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
32:08
Fremantle did not take a mark in the forward 50 in the opening quarter, and average only nine such marks per game (ranked last). The Dockers took a season-high 23 forward 50 marks against the Bombers when they met earlier in the year.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:22
The clearances are becoming a problem for the Dockers, with Essendon now leading this count 15-8, and the last clearance launched the goal to Merrett.
02:27
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Zach Merrett)
03:15
Another hot start to the quarter from the Bombers, who have again registered multiple goals before the Dockers have recorded an effective kick.
06:09
Bombers Interchange - Mark Baguley off due to the blood rule.
06:40
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Matt Taberner)
06:50
A strong contested mark and goal to Taberner gives the Dockers their first forward 50 mark of the game. Taberner took a career-high six such marks against the Bombers earlier in the season.
08:19
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Jonathon Griffin)
09:02
Two goals now to the experienced ruck Griffin who was brought back into the team to replace the suspended Sean Darcy. Essendon currently lead the hitouts to advantage 7-2.
11:03
Essendon has only retained possession from 36 percent of its inside 50 entries, while Fremantle has retained possession from 62 percent of its entries. Neither team has taken an uncontested mark in the forward 50.
14:40
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
14:51
Essendon has scored 3.3.(21) from its set shots at goal, while Fremantle has scored an accurate 3.0.(18) from its set shots.
15:40
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
16:01
The Bombers have now scored 4.2.(26) from 14 forward half intercepts. Fremantle has scored 1.1.(7) from six forward half intercepts.
17:18
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Matt Taberner)
17:33
Matt Taberner has now taken eight forward 50 marks this season against Essendon, and has taken six such marks against all other teams.
19:21
Jobe Watson has won a team-high ten contested possession for Essendon. No other Bomber has won more than five.
20:02
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Hayden Crozier)
21:48
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
24:33
The absence of Cale Hooker up forward is showing for the Bombers, who have found Fremantle defenders with their kicks inside 50. The Dockers lead 4-1 in defensive 50 intercept marks.
25:33
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Josh Begley)
28:36
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
28:46
Jobe Watson has won a game-high 11 contested possessions in the first half. Only two times in his career has Watson won more contested possessions in the first half of a game.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:23
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
01:39
An early missed set shot from a Joe Daniher free kick to start the third quarter. Essendon leads the free kick count 19-8, and Daniher has now scored 2.3.(15) from his set shots at goal.
03:52
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Nat Fyfe)
03:58
The first goal of the third quarter goes to Nat Fyfe and the Dockers, and it is their second of the day from a forward 50 stoppage. Fremantle average just six points per game from this source (ranked second last).
06:13
Fremantle has won the first five clearances to start the third quarter, after conceding a 23-12 advantage to the Bombers in the first half.
06:37
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (James Stewart)
07:03
Essendon has already targeted Joe Daniher with 14 of its kicks inside 50. This is the most the times he has been the target of such a kick this season.
08:09
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Hayden Ballantyne)
10:43
Some sloppy work in the defensive 50 by the Bombers was punished by the last goal to the Dockers. Fremantle has now scored 2.1.(13) from forward half intercepts.
12:00
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Tommy Sheridan)
12:33
A centre bounce goal to the Dockers who have taken control of the stoppages in the third quarter. Fremantle has won all seven clearances and scored two goals from this source this quarter.
15:03
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jayden Laverde)
15:23
Both of the Essendon goals this quarter have come from chains starting in the defensive half. Jayden Laverde had scored five behinds this season prior to the last goal.
16:04
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Zach Merrett)
18:02
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (James Stewart)
18:14
Three goals in three minutes gives the Bombers a game-high 26 point lead.
19:25
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Zach Merrett)
19:34
Zach Merrett now has a career-high four goals, and game-highs for metres gained (469) and disposals (25).
20:28
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Rushed)
22:08
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (David Myers)
23:00
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Heath Hocking)
23:29
Essendon has kicked five goals with its last 16 kicks and during this period Fremantle has had just one effective kick.
25:01
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Hayden Ballantyne)
25:29
Hayden Ballantyne has had an equal team-high four score involvements (including the last goal), and contributed four tackles and 11 disposals for the Dockers.
26:11
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Harley Bennell)
28:41
After Fremantle won the first eight clearances of the quarter, Essendon has steadied to win 8 of the last 11 and regain control of the game. Jobe Watson has a game-high eight clearances.
29:43
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Dyson Heppell)
31:04
The Bombers now lead the free kick count 24-11, and free kicks for holding the ball 5-0. Essendon has applied good forward half pressure, and lead forward 50 tackles 7-2.
31:33
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
31:43
Fremantle scored a wasteful 1.3.(9) in the third quarter from centre bounce clearances, after not scoring from this source in the first half.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:31
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Matt Taberner)
01:45
Matt Taberner has taken a game-high four contested marks (three of these inside 50) and continues to cause Essendon problems.
03:10
Dockers Interchange - Hayden Ballantyne off due to an injury.
04:18
A spectacular torpedo goal from Harley Bennell makes it three goals in a row to the Dockers. Bennell has had four disposals early in the final quarter, including one goal and one assist.
06:55
Fremantle leads the inside 50 count 6-2 in the final quarter, and has taken three forward 50 marks already. The Dockers had only taken four such marks in the first three quarters.
07:02
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Hayden Crozier)
11:08
Five goals in a row to the Dockers who are picking holes in a fading Bomber defence. Fremantle has generated eight inside 50 entries from nine chains in the final quarter, with Essendon unable to disrupt the Docker ball movement.
13:09
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Josh Begley)
13:35
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Zach Merrett)
14:14
A crumbing goal from Heath Hocking ends the Docker streak of five goals. Hocking has had four score involvements (including two goals) as a late replacement for Cale Hooker.
16:04
Fremantle has won six of the last eight clearances, as the game continues to swing with the team winning in this area.
17:44
Fremantle lead forward 50 marks 6-0 in the final quarter. The inside 50 count is only 10-8 in favor of the Dockers, who are moving the ball more effectively.
19:48
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (James Stewart)
20:05
A career-high four goals to James Stewart who has now kicked 22 goals for the Bombers this season.
21:26
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
22:09
Fremantle has continued to disrupt the Essendon ball movement, and lead in spoils (44-24), including a 17-9 advantage in spoils gaining possession.
25:54
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Rushed)
26:10
The 40-30 advantage in clearances the Bombers have has been driven by a 15-6 lead in hitouts to advantage. Tom Bellchambers has had all of these hitouts.
29:12
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Rushed)
29:35
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
29:45
The Bombers hang on for a wobbly but important 15 point win to advance to the finals. Fan favourite Jobe Watson finished with a game-high 20 contested possessions. Watson has only bettered this mark once in his career.