Match

Essendon vs Melbourne

Commentary / 29 Apr 2018

Pre Game

59:30

Welcome to Etihad Stadium for the Essendon v Melbourne Round 6 clash.

59:33

Outs for Bombers: J.Begley, J.Green, M.Hartley, T.Bellchambers, D.Myers

59:34

Ins for Bombers: J.Laverde, M.Leuenberger, P.Ambrose, K.Mutch, B.McNiece

59:35

Outs for Demons: J.Wagner, C.Petracca, D.Kent, B.Stretch, J.Garlett

59:36

Ins for Demons: J.Lewis, C.Spargo, B.Fritsch, M.Hannan, T.McDonald

59:40

Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.

00:00

The last time these two sides played was in Round 6, 2017 at Etihad Stadium. Melbourne won that match by 38 points and Tom McDonald, who returns for his first game of 2018, was awarded three Brownlow votes for his 26 disposals, 12 marks and one goal.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

01:28

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jayden Laverde)

07:33

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (James Stewart)

08:01

Essendon are already dominating the uncontested football, as they lead the Demons 34-14 uncontested possessions and 9-4 uncontested marks. Essendon are ranked seventh in the AFL in both these categories in 2018.

09:35

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jesse Hogan)

11:16

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Devon Smith)

11:47

After six inside 50's, Essendon finally breakthrough as Devon Smith gets the first goal of the match. The Bombers average a goal from 25 per cent of inside 50's, the sixth-highest scoring rate in the AFL this season.

14:22

Four of Max Gawn's five hitout's in the first term have been to the advantage of the Demons midfielders. Only Ben McEvoy and Brodie Grundy have a higher hitout-to-advantage percentage in 2018 than Gawn (31 per cent).

14:47

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jake Stringer)

18:16

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Mitch Hannan)

21:43

Christian Salem has been important for the Demons in the first term. He leads all Melbourne players with nine disposals, five contested possessions to go with four pressure acts and the possession gain that launched Mitch Hannan's goal.

22:04

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)

25:13

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)

25:48

Melbourne have won three of their four defensive one-on-one contests in the first quarter. They average a win rate of 36 per cent from defensive contests in 2018, the second-highest win rate in the competition.

26:13

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Angus Brayshaw)

26:16

Melbourne's one goal for the first term came from general play through Mitch Hannan. They average two goals a game from general play, the second-lowest average of any side in the AFL this season.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

02:50

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Max Gawn)

03:42

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Charlie Spargo)

04:18

Charlie Spargo gets the first goal of his career as a result of the Demons locking the ball in their forward half since the opening bounce. The Demons have recorded six tackles to one and have won all three clearances in the second term.

05:03

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jayden Laverde)

06:49

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (James Stewart)

06:57

After the teams shared 24 inside 50's for three goals in the first term, they have shared three goals from six combined inside 50 entries early in this quarter.

09:31

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Devon Smith)

12:12

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Max Gawn)

13:01

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)

14:43

Tom McDonald has found his feet very quickly in his first match back from injury. He has six Intercept Possessions including two Intercept Marks, both game-highs.

15:15

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)

15:58

All three goals for Essendon this quarter have been launched from defensive half Intercept Possessions. The Bombers average four goals per game from this source, the fifth-highest average of any side in the competition.

17:38

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Charlie Spargo)

19:37

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)

22:03

Essendon have recorded 11 spoils in marking contests to the Demons five. Patrick Ambrose leads all players with four spoils, all on Jesse Hogan who has just two marks and three disposals in the first half.

23:03

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)

25:46

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Mitch Hannan)

28:29

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)

29:46

Andrew McGrath has recorded 19 disposals in the first half for the first time in his career. His previous best of 16 disposals in a first half was recorded against Adelaide in Round 1 this year.

31:21

The two former GWS Giants Academy members making their debut's today have had a good first half of AFL football. Kobe Mutch has 12 disposals and five marks, and Charlie Spargo has 10 disposals, three marks and two goals.

31:22

Matthew Leuenberger has matched up well against Max Gawn in today's match, his first for 2018. He has 13 disposals, eight disposals and three inside 50's, outperforming his direct opponent in each category. They also both have four score launches.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

01:45

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jesse Hogan)

01:46

Jesse Hogan gets off to the perfect start with a goal to tie the scores up early in the term after winning a 50 metre penalty. This is Melbourne's second goal from a 50 metre penalty in 2018.

03:45

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Tom McDonald)

04:22

Both of Melbourne's goals early in this term have been launched from midfield Intercept Possessions. They average four goals per game from this source, the equal-third lowest average of any side in the competition in 2018.

07:28

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Max Gawn)

09:33

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)

10:42

That makes it six goals in a row for the Demons since the 17 minute mark of the second term, all of which have come from set shots at goal and all of which have been launched from Intercept Possessions. Jake Melksham has three goal assists in this time.

11:43

Demons Interchange - Jesse Hogan off due to an injury.

12:07

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jake Stringer)

13:44

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Nathan Jones)

17:22

Zach Merrett has recorded five tackles in the first half of this quarter. No other player has recorded more than two tackles this quarter. He also leads all players this quarter with 113 metres gained, eight pressure acts and two inside 50's.

18:07

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)

20:15

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Brendon Goddard)

20:40

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)

21:16

Jake Stringer gets a goal to stop the run of seven goals for the Demons. Stringer's goal was just the second goal from 22 forward half Intercept Possessions for the Bombers in today's match. The Demons have four goals from 19 Intercept Possessions.

24:38

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Max Gawn)

26:11

Max Gawn now has his first multiple-goal game since Round 17, 2016 against St Kilda, a six-goal loss at Etihad Stadium.

28:08

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jake Melksham)

29:30

Demons Interchange - Charlie Spargo off due to an injury.

29:42

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (James Harmes)

30:39

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Mitch Hannan)

31:42

Michael Hurley kept Essendon in the game in the third term. He recorded seven disposals, three Intercept Possessions including two Intercept Marks to lead all Bombers in each category in the third quarter.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

00:26

Max Gawn has set a new season record with 10 hitouts-to-advantage in the third quarter. The previous best record was eight held by Ben McEvoy from the second quarter of his Round 2 clash with Geelong.

06:23

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Mitch Hannan)

07:03

Christian Salem has started well in the final term. He has recorded five disposals from two contested possessions as well as the score launch for the first goal of the quarter to Mitch Hannan.

09:10

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jesse Hogan)

11:17

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Joe Daniher)

11:34

The short recovery time from Anzac Day is starting to show in Essendon's performance. They have a kicking efficiency of 54 per cent in the final term, compared to 82 per cent for the Demons off one extra day's rest.

12:39

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jake Stringer)

14:00

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Tom McDonald)

15:21

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jake Melksham)

16:44

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)

17:39

Zach Merrett has been terrific for the Bombers. He has a team-high 28 disposals, 10 tackles, six inside 50's, seven intercept possessions to go with 23 pressure acts and 375 metres gained and the clearance to launch the last goal to the Bombers.

19:29

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jake Melksham)

22:14

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Dom Tyson)

23:11

Melbourne have outworked the Bombers in the second half of this match. They have recorded 11 more disposals and seven more tackles, as well as gaining 700 more metres of territory and kicking nine goals to two from Intercept Possessions.

23:33

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Devon Smith)

25:08

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)

26:25

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)

27:34

Jake Stringer gets his third goal in an efficient outing today. He only has nine disposals but leads all Bombers with five marks inside forward 50 and three contested marks.

28:21

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (David Zaharakis)

29:20

Neville Jetta has been outstanding for the Demons today. He has 12 Intercept Possessions including five Intercept Marks to lead all players on the ground, and the Demons have scored three goals from his Intercept Possessions.

29:55

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)

30:32

Michael Hibberd's 584 metres gained is a new season record for the Demons, surpassing Christian Salem's 519 metres gained last round against Hawthorn.

30:44

Melbourne's big third quarter of seven goals to one, including six goals from Intercept Possessions was the key to their big win today. Nathan Jones 24 disposals, nine clearances and seven inside 50's made him best on ground.