Pre Game
59:30
Welcome to Etihad Stadium for the Western Bulldogs v Essendon Round 3 clash.
59:33
Outs for Bulldogs: J.Trengove, J.Roughead, L.Webb
59:34
Ins for Bulldogs: T.Dickson, J.Redpath, M.Wallis
59:35
Outs for Bombers: M.Hartley, K.Langford, M.Dea
59:36
Ins for Bombers: O.Fantasia, D.Myers, M.Baguley
00:00
Essendon has been more direct with its ball movement this season, ranked first for percentage of kicks directed forward, and ranked second for percentage of kicks that are long.
Quarter 1
00:00
Q1 is now underway.
02:17
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Mitch Wallis)
02:29
The Bulldogs have had much of the early play with a 21-6 disposal advantage, Since 2014, the Western Bulldogs have averaged 18 more disposals per game against Essendon, which is the third-best differential recorded by any team.
03:18
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Toby McLean)
03:42
A defensive 50 turnover by Essendon gifts the opening goal to the Bulldogs. Western Bulldogs have averaged 27 points from forward half intercepts this season.
05:10
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
06:50
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jack Macrae)
07:17
An early missed shot at goal from Jack Macrae who has contributed 28 scoreboard impact points this season, which is ranked No.1 at the club.
08:00
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Bailey Dale)
08:43
Five early shots at goal for Western Bulldogs for a return of just the one goal. In 2017 the Bulldogs were ranked last for shot at goal accuracy.
09:15
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Lachie Hunter)
11:09
A frantic start to the game with only two around the ground stoppages. Essendon has had the fewest such stoppages in its games this season with just 44 per game.
11:43
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
12:57
Western Bulldogs have already generated nine forward half intercepts with Essendon unable to clear the ball. This has resulted in 79 percent of the game being played in the Bulldogs forward half.
13:09
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Caleb Daniel)
15:44
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Billy Gowers)
16:09
Nine scores from ten inside 50 entries for the Bulldogs who are dominating this game. Western Bulldogs have averaged a score from 39 percent of their entries this season (ranked third last).
17:21
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Darcy Parish)
18:18
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
18:36
All three of the scores for Essendon have come from stoppages. The Bombers have averaged 27 points from stoppages this season (ranked 14th).
20:23
Essendon has already recorded nine clanger kicks, and average only 20 such kicks per game.
21:13
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Josh Green)
22:53
Western Bulldogs lead 8-0 in forward 50 marks, but their errant kicking at goal has kept Essendon in the game. The Bulldogs are actually ranked second for such marks this season.
23:18
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)
24:17
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Bailey Dale)
26:16
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
27:23
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Jason Johannisen)
27:48
Western Bulldogs continue to pick holes in Essendon defensively with 12 shots at goal from just 15 inside 50 entries. Bulldogs lead 8-3 in intercept marks with the Bombers unable to disrupt the Bulldog ball movement.
29:11
An impressive first quarter from the Bulldogs who dominated time in possession (66 percent), and a massive 83-37 advantage in uncontested possessions.
Quarter 2
00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:18
Toby McLean recorded six score involvements in the opening quarter. Only one player has had more score involvements in a quarter this season (G.Ablett).
00:45
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
05:10
Western Bulldogs lead 43-14 in marks at quarter time which is the biggest differential in marks in a quarter this season.
05:26
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Mitch Wallis)
05:34
Four goals in a row to the Bulldogs who are currently scoring at will against Essendon, and dominating possession with an 11-1 advantage in second quarter marks.
07:37
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
09:18
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Conor McKenna)
09:26
Western Bulldogs have generated an inside 50 entry from all nine chains starting in the attacking midfield. Essendon has only been able to generate two entries from seven such chains.
10:52
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
11:29
Essendon is still yet to take a mark in the forward 50, while Western Bulldogs have taken ten. The Bulldogs also lead 28-15 in forward 50 disposals with Essendon still struggling to disrupt the ball movement of the Bulldogs.
13:04
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
13:55
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
14:34
The goal to Hooker was the second of the game to Essendon from a forward half intercept. The Bombers averaged 29 points from 22 such intercepts this season.
16:32
Michael Hartley, who is ranked in the top-five in the AFL for spoils since the start of 2017, was left out of the game today. Western Bulldogs currently lead 11-1 in forward 50 marks and 66-35 in total marks.
17:35
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Matthew Suckling)
20:26
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Billy Gowers)
21:23
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
23:39
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (James Stewart)
24:28
A badly needed goal to Essendon kicked by James Stewart who has contributed 45 scoreboard impact points this season, which is ranked No.1 at the club.
25:52
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Devon Smith)
26:14
Essendon lead the inside 50 count in the second quarter 15-8, and the contested possessions 28-22, but is yet to move the ball as fluently as the Bulldogs (kicking efficiency 61 percent compared to Bulldogs 73 percent).
30:05
The two teams have laid only 32 tackles combined in the first half. This season the average per team in the first half is 33, with this opens style contributing to the high number of uncontested possessions.
30:18
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Josh Dunkley)
31:14
A good first half from the Bulldogs who have controlled the game with 64 percent time in possession and a huge 166-92 advantage in uncontested possessions.
Quarter 3
00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:03
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Bailey Dale)
02:34
Essendon is already up to 20 clanger kicks which equals its season average. Western Bulldogs have had nine such kicks.
03:28
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Luke Dahlhaus)
03:58
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
05:14
Western Bulldogs are continuing to generate a rate of scores per inside 50 with 21 scores from 30 entries. This season the Dogs are ranked last for goals per inside 50 (15 percent).
07:19
The Bulldogs are again controlling the play in the third quarter with 79 percent time in forward half.
09:12
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Lin Jong)
09:49
After Essendon generated the first inside 50 of the quarter, the Bulldogs have had eight in a row, and now lead 16-3 in forward 50 marks.
10:08
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Josh Dunkley)
11:51
In the third quarter, Western Bulldogs lead contested possessions 21-13 and intercept marks 4-0, with the Bombers again struggling to get their hands on the ball.
12:26
A game-high 32 point lead to the Bulldogs who are swamping Essendon with the last seven scores of the game.
13:51
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
14:17
Western Bulldogs have scored 3.2.(20) from 21 defensive 50 chains, while Essendon has scored just 0.2.(2) from its 29 defensive 50 chains.
15:44
Western Bulldogs have completely dominated the marks leading contested marks 8-4, forward 50 marks 16-3, intercept marks 16-11 and uncontested marks 103-41.
16:41
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)
16:48
Bombers Interchange - David Zaharakis off due to an injury.
17:52
Bulldogs Interchange - Aaron Naughton off due to an injury.
18:25
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Zach Merrett)
19:49
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
20:14
The Bombers lead centre bounce clearances 12-5, and have scored 2.3.(15) to 1.1.(7) from this source.
22:07
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Lachie Hunter)
22:14
The goal to Hunter came from the fourth intercept mark the Bulldogs have taken in their forward 50. Essendon has not taken such a mark.
23:39
Western Bulldogs have now scored 4.8.(32) from 25 forward half intercepts. Essendon has scored 2.1.(13) from 15 such intercepts.
24:44
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)
25:35
Lachie Hunter has a game-high 11 score involvements for the Bulldogs, who have also retained possession from all four of his inside 50 entries.
26:19
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
26:55
The Bombers have scored from 25 percent of their defensive half clearances this season, which is ranked equal first. Today they have scored 2.0.(12) from four such clearances.
27:54
Essendon will be frustrated with its 26 clanger kicks, which is already more than it recorded in either of the first two rounds, and have provided a number of scoring opportunities for the Bulldogs who have had only 13 clanger kicks.
Quarter 4
00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:51
The Bulldogs have used Billy Gowers and Josh Dunkley five times each as targets for inside 50 kicks today. Gowers has been the Western Bulldogs inside 50 target more times than any other team mate this season.
01:51
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Zach Merrett)
04:11
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Bailey Williams)
04:19
The first goal of the final quarter goes to the Bulldogs and again comes from a forward half intercept. They have now scored 39 points from 27 such intercepts and continue to profit from errant kicks by the Bombers.
05:49
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Billy Gowers)
06:46
Western Bulldogs now lead 21-7 in forward 50 marks, and 21-13 in intercept marks with Essendon struggling to compete in aerial contests.
08:39
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
11:09
Essendon lead in hitouts to advantage 10-3, but the Bulldogs lead in first possession wins at stoppages 28-25 with their midfielders doing well to shark hitouts.
12:49
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
14:41
The top ten players on the ground for ranking points are all Bulldog playerss, and the top six players for disposals are also Bulldogs.
15:43
Western Bulldogs have already taken more marks today than any other team has in a game this season (136).
16:34
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Lachie Hunter)
17:04
Essendon has now conceded more marks inside 50 today (23) than it did in the first two games combined.
17:37
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Josh Green)
20:05
Three goals in a row to the Bombers for the first time today, and all three goals have come from chains starting in the defensive half.
21:57
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
22:58
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Toby McLean)
23:10
Toby McLean caps his game with his second goal from 11 score involvements. The Bulldogs now lead 52-15 in scores from forward half intercepts.
26:02
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
28:16
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
29:05
A great win for the Bulldogs who outplayed Essendon from the start, controlling the play with 60 percent time in possession and superior ball use leading to an advantage in marks (152-80).