Match

Essendon vs Port Adelaide

Commentary / 15 Apr 2018

Pre Game

59:30
Welcome to Etihad Stadium for the Essendon v Port Adelaide Round 4 clash.
59:33
Outs for Bombers: M.Brown, C.McKenna
59:34
Ins for Bombers: M.Hartley, M.Guelfi
59:35
Outs for Power: D.Barry, S.Powell-Pepper
59:36
Ins for Power: T.McKenzie, K.Amon
00:00
The Power have averaged 6.37 disposals per turnover this season (ranked first), while the Bombers have recorded only 4.73 disposals per turnover (ranked third last).

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:24
The Power winning the opening centre bounce clearance, have scored from 31 percent of its centre bounce clearances this season (ranked No.1).
01:21
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (James Stewart)
01:52
The opening goal goes to the Bombers and was sourced from a defensive 50 intercept. Essendon has averaged only eight points per game from this source (ranked 15th).
02:20
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Chad Wingard)
04:22
Essendon has made a more impressive start today and lead in effective kicks 9-1, marks 5-0, and contested possessions 9-5.
04:43
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (David Myers)
05:28
The second goal for the Bombers was sourced from a forward 50 stoppage. Essendon has averaged only three points from this source (ranked second last).
08:03
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Mark Baguley)
08:22
Essendon has three goals from just the three inside 50 entries. The Bombers have retained possession from 58 percent of their kicks into the forward 50 this season (ranked first).
11:50
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Todd Marshall)
12:47
Essendon was ranked second last for scoring differential in the first ten minutes of games prior to today. Last season the Bombers were the No.1 ranked team in this measure.
14:14
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Darcy Parish)
15:47
In the last ten minutes, the Power lead the inside 50 entries 8-3 and time in forward half (58 percent).
16:55
SCORE GOAL - Power (Todd Marshall)
17:07
Todd Marshall, the leading goal kicker for the Power this season, gets the first goal of the day for Port Adelaide, with this goal source from a midfield intercept. The Power currently lead 8-3 in midfield intercepts.
20:56
A third goal to the Bombers to come from a forward 50 stoppage. Essendon had only kicked one goal in total across the first three games from this source.
21:17
Power Interchange - Tom Rockliff off due to an injury.
24:06
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
25:21
SCORE GOAL - Power (Jack Watts)
25:27
Port Adelaide has generated an inside 50 entry from both of its kick-ins, with Essendon struggling to defend these plays. The second of these kick-ins launched the goal to Jack Watts. The Power average six points from this source (ranked third).
27:25
Essendon lead the clearances 13-7, and scores from stoppages 20-1. The Bombers are ranked third last for clearance differential this season.
29:47
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (James Stewart)
31:02
Port Adelaide retained possession from 46 percent of its forward 50 entries, while Essendon retained possession from 73 percent of its entries in the opening quarter.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
02:11
Tom Jonas has made a strong start disrupting Essendon ball movement. Jones leads all players for intercept marks (four), spoils (three) and intercept possessions (six).
03:49
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (James Stewart)
03:58
Three goals now to James Stewart for the Bombers who lead 3-1 in forward 50 marks. Stewart has been the target of five inside 50 entries for Essendon, and no other Bomber has been targeted more than once.
05:03
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (David Myers)
05:38
Four goals to the Bombers from stoppages, with the last one coming from a centre bounce. Port Adelaide lead the centre bounce clearances 5-4.
08:37
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
08:43
Essendon lead the uncontested possession count 21-6 this quarter, with the Power again struggling to control the ball early in the quarter.
10:54
Essendon lead in corridor disposals 57-33, with this direct ball movement contributing to some dangerous forward 50 entries.
11:34
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Todd Marshall)
15:19
Four goals in a row to the Bombers, who have won the last four clearances (and now lead 21-11 in this area) and lead 27-1 in scores from stoppages.
17:33
SCORE GOAL - Power (Jack Watts)
18:25
Todd Marshall providing the assist on the Jack Watts goal has team-highs for score involvements (four) and forward 50 disposals (five), in another promising display from the young Power player.
19:18
Power Interchange - Chad Wingard off due to the blood rule.
20:03
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Rushed)
21:03
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Charlie Dixon)
22:43
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Josh Green)
23:07
Power Interchange - Charlie Dixon off due to an injury.
24:09
In the last ten minutes, the Power have won the clearances 5-0 and enjoyed their most productive period of the game.
25:01
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Jared Polec)
26:44
Port Adelaide has won the contested possession count 11-5 and disposals 26-17 in the past ten minutes with its midfield gaining ascendancy.
27:21
SCORE GOAL - Power (Sam Gray)
27:44
The recent win of clearances to the Power (6-1 in the past ten minutes) has produced two goals from stoppages to Port Adelaide.
30:25
A crucial late goal for the Bombers, and it was sourced from a defensive 50 intercept. Essendon has now scored 3.1.(19) from 14 such intercepts, while Port Adelaide has not scored from any of its ten defensive 50 intercepts.
32:20
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Robbie Gray)
32:34
Robbie Gray has been prolific for Port Adelaide and leads all players for contested possessions (ten), disposals (20) and inside 50s (four), while also having an equal game-high five score involvements.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:28
Just the six disposals in the first half for Tom Rockliff. Rockliff has averaged 28 disposals per game against Essendon across his career (his third-highest return against any team). His 13.3 disposals per game this season is his lowest since 2005.
00:53
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
03:41
Essendon has started the third quarter with the first three inside 50 entries, and 6-3 lead in contested possessions, a 3-1 lead in tackles and 100 percent time in forward half.
05:03
Bombers Interchange - Zach Merrett off due to an injury.
05:05
Port Adelaide able to get the opening goal of the third quarter on the back of a forward half intercept. This was first goal of the game to the Power from this source, who average only 19 points per game from forward half intercepts (ranked 16th).
07:12
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Brendon Goddard)
10:18
The ball has been locked in the forward half this quarter (time in forward half 84 percent), but both teams have the one goal.
11:00
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
11:25
Some good forward pressure from the Bombers in the forward 50 forced the turnover that led to the Fantasia goal. Essendon lead 4-0 in forward 50 tackles this quarter, and 8-3 for the game.
12:49
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
13:30
In the third quarter, Essendon lead intercept marks 4-1 and inside 50 entries 8-1, with Port Adelaide registering four unforced turnovers.
15:32
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Ollie Wines)
16:50
Another piece of good forward pressure from Essendon (forward 50 tackles 7-1 this quarter), leads a second goal for the quarter from a forward 50 intercept. The Bombers average nine points per game from this source.
17:02
Power Interchange - Todd Marshall and is possibly out for the game.
22:10
Essendon lead 60-34 in forward half contested possessions, which includes 27-12 in loose ball gets with the smaller Essendon forward line at time able to swarm on these contests.
23:46
SCORE GOAL - Power (Karl Amon)
25:05
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Devon Smith)
27:20
Port Adelaide has won the last four clearances, with the last one of these providing the goal to Westhoff. In the last ten minutes, the Power lead 15-8 in contested possessions.
29:48
Three goals in a row to Port Adelaide who has taken control late in the quarter. In the last ten minutes, the Power lead 13-3 in effective kicks.
32:19
Port Adelaide scored 2.0.(12) from three attacking midfield intercepts in the third quarter. Essendon generated seven such intercepts, but could not score from any of these opportunities.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:39
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Mark Baguley)
02:02
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
02:52
Essendon with the first seven effective kicks of the final quarter, and the first three inside 50 entries, but only the two points to show for these opportunities.
03:53
Four goals in a row to the Power who have again scored the opening goal of the quarter after conceding multiple forward 50 entries. Port Adelaide has now scored 3.0.(18) from defensive 50 chains.
07:02
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
07:23
A badly needed goal to the Bombers comes from Joe Daniher who has a team-high seven score involvements including four score assists, but just the one goal.
09:00
Michael Hurley has taken a career-high 15 marks for Essendon. No other Bomber has taken more than six marks.
11:11
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
12:37
SCORE GOAL - Power (Tom Rockliff)
13:16
Both teams have kicked two goals in the final quarter, despite the Bombers leading in marks 21-6 and effective kicks 27-11.
14:05
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Joe Daniher)
14:34
Essendon has won the last four clearances (leads 40-35 in this area), and now lead 46-22 in scores from stoppages.
17:45
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Justin Westhoff)
18:03
Port Adelaide lead the contested marks (11-8) and one-on-one contest wins (13-7). The Power had only taken a mark in four percent of their offensive one-on-one contests prior to today (ranked second last).
19:40
SCORE GOAL - Power (Jack Watts)
20:19
Three goals to Jack Watts who has been the target of nine forward 50 entries for the Power. Charlie Dixon (five) is the only other Power player to have been targeted more than two times.
21:34
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (James Stewart)
22:40
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Sam Gray)
23:07
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Rushed)
23:37
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
23:44
The goal to McDonald-Tipungwuti was sourced from a kick-in after a couple of Power misses. Essendon had averaged ten points from this source prior to today (ranked first).
24:35
Power Interchange - Dougal Howard off due to the blood rule.
26:37
Bombers Interchange - James Stewart off due to an injury.
27:08
SCORE GOAL - Power (Riley Bonner)
27:49
In the last ten minutes, Port Adelaide leads the contested possession count 15-8, continuing the trend of previous quarters where the Power have conceded the ascendancy early before working back into the game.
29:34
Robbie Gray is now up to a career-high 38 disposals for the Power. He has also contributed a game-high nine clearances.
31:02
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Chad Wingard)
31:26
An important win to the Bombers who jumped Port early with a three goal lead at quarter time, and were able to hold that margin. Essendon edged the Power in most areas including inside 50 entries (57-47) and time in forward half (55 percent).