Match

Essendon vs Adelaide Crows

Commentary / 23 Mar 2018

Pre Game

59:30
Welcome to Etihad Stadium for the Essendon v Adelaide Crows Round 1 clash.
59:40
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:00
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.

Quarter 1

00:00
The Bombers and the Crows were ranked first and second respectively for scores per forward 50 entry in 2017. Essendon averaged a score from 50.4 per cent of entries compared to Adelaide's 50.1 per cent.
01:28
The Bombers have intercepted the Crows' first two forward 50 entries with marks for Heppell and Stringer.
02:32
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Darcy Parish)
03:13
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Paul Seedsman)
04:46
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Darcy Fogarty)
04:47
Darcy Fogarty boots the first goal of the game with his first kick in AFL football.
06:15
The Bombers have won the first possession at the opening three stoppages of the game, managing to clear two of these.
07:51
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (James Stewart)
09:25
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Rushed)
10:00
Bombers Interchange - Matt Dea off due to the blood rule.
10:45
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Andrew McGrath)
13:39
Tom Bellchambers has three early hitouts to advantage, his career high first quarter output is five which he has achieved seven times.
14:02
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Curtly Hampton)
15:46
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
18:47
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (David Mackay)
19:42
The Crows have had the last six inside 50s of the game.
21:38
The Crows have now had the ball in their forward half for 72 per cent of the game.
22:11
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Tom Bellchambers)
23:50
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Rory Atkins)
24:45
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (James Stewart)
25:19
Two of Essendon's four goals have been sourced from defensive 50 chains. Throughout 2017, the Bombers averaged 2.7 goals per game in this area (ranked second).
28:37
Bombers Interchange - Zach Merrett and is possibly out for the game.
28:53
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Josh Jenkins)
29:50
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
30:00
Tom Bellchambers finished the quarter with six hitouts to advantage which is his most ever in a first term.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
02:35
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
02:57
The Bombers have the first three inside 50s of the second quarter, converting one of these to a goal.
08:17
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
09:05
Essendon has converted two of its five kick ins to goals. In 2017, the Bombers scored from 12.9 per cent of kick ins (ranked first).
09:35
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
12:01
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Josh Jenkins)
12:28
During the second quarter, neither team has been able to generate an inside 50 from a defensive 50 chain from nine total attempts.
15:49
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Darcy Parish)
16:03
The Bombers lead second quarter inside 50s 12 to four and have outscore the Crows by only four points in this time
16:54
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Josh Green)
18:47
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Eddie Betts)
21:13
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Brendon Goddard)
22:53
The Essendon skipper Dyson Heppell has had a big second term with 11 disposals at 91 per cent efficiency as well as four inside 50s.
24:07
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Josh Jenkins)
25:44
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Lachlan Murphy)
27:29
In the last five minutes the Crows have had the ball in their forward half for 77 per cent of time.
28:08
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
29:22
The siren has sounded to end Q2.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:12
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Bryce Gibbs)
03:45
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
04:48
The game has been evenly poised on either ends of the ground. The Crows narrowly lead inside 50s 31 to 29 and have had the ball in their forward 50 for 25 per cent of the game compared to Essendon's 26 per cent.
06:49
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Mitch McGovern)
07:45
The Crows have been efficient going forward in the third term, kicking three goals from their six entries.
09:15
Crows Interchange - David Mackay off due to an injury.
10:26
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Lachlan Murphy)
12:21
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
12:48
The Crows have been dominating the stoppages in the third term, they lead clearances six to two.
14:31
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Darcy Fogarty)
16:53
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
18:22
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
19:09
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Eddie Betts)
19:52
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Richard Douglas)
22:19
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (James Stewart)
25:11
The Crows have replicated Essendon's movement from the defensive 50 this term, with two goals of their own from D50 chains.
26:12
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Josh Jenkins)
26:45
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Hugh Greenwood)
28:03
The Crows have made the Bombers pay in the third term, they have scored 6.2(38) from Essendon turnovers.
31:13
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Rory Atkins)
31:23
Crows Interchange - Curtly Hampton and is possibly out for the game.
33:28
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
33:38
Bryce Gibbs had a major impact in the third quarter with eight disposals, four marks and two goals.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
02:07
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Josh Green)
02:28
The Bombers get themselves back into the game with an early goal from their second forward 50 entry of the term.
05:28
The Crows have won the first five clearances of the final quarter.
06:33
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Cameron Ellis-Yolmen)
06:48
The Crows' stoppage dominance eventually pays off with a goal from their sixth consecutive clearance.
08:39
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (James Stewart)
10:20
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Brendon Goddard)
10:43
The Bombers lead fourth quarter inside 50s eight to three and have scored 3 goals to one.
11:56
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Richard Douglas)
15:27
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Mitch McGovern)
18:03
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (James Stewart)
19:23
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Hugh Greenwood)
19:35
The Bombers have had the ball locked in their forward half for 68 per cent of the final term.
20:42
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Josh Green)
22:11
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Josh Green)
24:08
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
24:09
The Bombers kick their fifth of the quarter to go in front, they have had eight of the last nine inside 50s of the game.
26:12
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Josh Begley)
26:38
Josh Begley kicks Essendon's fifth goal in a row to extend their lead.
27:48
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Josh Begley)
30:07
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Devon Smith)
30:57
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Josh Begley)
32:08
Standouts for the Bombers include Heppell and Zaharakis who each amassed 35 disposals on their way to victory. McGrath's run and carry was also impressive through the middle with 26 disposals and a goal.