Match

Western Bulldogs vs Gold Coast Suns

Commentary / 05 May 2018

Pre Game

59:30

Welcome to Mars Stadium for the Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast Suns Round 7 clash.

59:33

Outs for Bulldogs: E.Wood, M.Bontempelli

59:34

Ins for Bulldogs: L.Young, M.Honeychurch

59:35

Outs for Suns: T.Lynch, S.May, J.Lonergan, M.Barlow, B.Fiorini

59:36

Ins for Suns: C.Ballard, C.Ah Chee, M.Rischitelli, B.Crossley, B.Scheer

59:40

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

00:00

The Bulldogs have recorded a set shot accuracy of 38 percent this season, ranked 18th and 14.5 percent below the AFL average. Meanwhile, Gold Coast has averaged 4.25 disposals per turnover this season, the worst rate recorded by any side.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

01:04

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Josh Dunkley)

01:40

Josh Dunkley gets the Bulldogs off to a positive start with the first goal of the game. Dunkley averages 0.6 goals per game over his 30-game career with a below average accuracy rate of 42.2 percent.

01:59

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Ben Ainsworth)

04:45

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Rushed)

06:10

The Suns have had plenty of ball inside their forward 50 early in this match, recording five of the first six inside 50's. However they have had little reward. Gold Coast register a score just 28.3 percent of the time they go inside 50, ranked last.

10:45

Jack Macrae is already on track for a big game, having recorded eight disposals (four contested possessions) and two inside 50s. Last time the Bulldogs played at Mars Stadium, he finished with 41 disposals, 26 uncontested possessions and eight clearances

12:57

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Sam Day)

15:16

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Ed Richards)

15:55

Gold Coast rank 1st in the competition for tackles per game this season, with 72.5, and the Suns are continuing that trend today. To this point, they lead the tackle count 13-3. Both Touk Miller and Jack Martin have recorded a game-high three tackles.

16:23

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Jarryd Lyons)

19:42

Both sides are struggling to find targets by foot in these windy conditions, with the Suns recording a 55 percent kicking efficiency, slightly better than the Bulldogs at just 50 percent. Gold Coast rank 18th in the AFL for kicking efficiency in 2018.

20:02

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Alex Sexton)

23:19

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Toby McLean)

25:51

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Brayden Crossley)

26:59

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Brad Scheer)

27:51

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Aaron Young)

29:24

The Suns get some late reward with a goal to extend their lead. Gold Coast lead the contested possession count 45-35, continuing the Bulldogs woes in this area, having lost the contested possession count by an average of 10 per game, ranked 18th.

29:25

The siren has sounded to end Q1.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

01:20

In his first as game as captain, Lachie Hunter is having a productive afternoon for the Bulldogs, with ten disposals (three contested possessions), and a kicking efficiency of 75 percent. Hunter averages 21.5 disposals per game against the Suns.

04:10

Jack Martin kicks the Suns third consecutive goal for the game. All three of the Suns goals today have come from intercept possessions.

06:15

Gold Coast are benefitting from the Bulldogs undisciplined play, with a free kick advantage of 15-3 so far. This is against the trend, as the Bulldogs have been one of the most disciplined teams this year, ranked 17th for free kicks against.

07:02

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Sam Day)

08:17

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Aaron Young)

09:20

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Mitch Honeychurch)

14:04

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jason Johannisen)

14:10

The Bulldogs with a goal very much against the run of play this quarter. The Suns have dominated, leading inside 50s 10-5, disposals 66-54, contested possessions 31-25 and having the ball in their forward half for 65 percent of the quarter so far.

15:20

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Rushed)

15:52

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Billy Gowers)

17:29

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Patrick Lipinski)

17:32

Three quick goals to the Bulldogs to level the scores. In the last six minutes, the Bulldogs have lifted their work around the contest recording a plus-6 differential in contested possessions, 3-1 lead in clearances, and 4-1 inside 50s.

20:22

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Patrick Lipinski)

21:25

Patrick Lipinski with the Bulldogs fourth consecutive goal, as they take the lead. Lipinski has not missed any shots at goal this year, recording 6.0 from his three games so far.

21:38

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)

22:43

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Charlie Ballard)

22:55

A main driver of the Bulldogs resurgence in this game has been Luke Dahlhaus. He has 16 disposals (seven contested possessions), two clearances and an equal team-high four score involvements.

25:37

After neither side recorded a goal from a stoppage in the first quarter, the Bulldogs have asserted their dominance in this area in the second quarter. They have scored 3.1 (19) to the Suns 0.0 (0) from this source in this quarter.

28:39

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jack Macrae)

30:08

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Sam Day)

31:00

Despite the Suns having a plus-30 uncontested possession differential, a plus-six inside 50 count, and an overall plus-30 disposal differential in that quarter, the Bulldogs made the most of their inside 50s, recording seven shots on goal from 12 entries

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

00:59

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Billy Gowers)

01:35

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Brayden Crossley)

04:44

Suns Interchange - Matt Rosa off due to an injury.

05:36

The Bulldogs have found the open space in this third quarter, recording a plus-10 differential in uncontested possessions, for an inside 50 advantage of 5-1 for a result of 0.1 (1). The Bulldogs score a goal from 16.7 percent of inside 50 entries in 2018

07:04

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Lin Jong)

09:23

Touk Miller has had a very good game for the Suns, with 19 disposals (seven contested possessions), six tackles, five clearances, four inside 50s and four score involvements. He averages 19 disposals per game in the 2018 season.

11:16

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Mitch Honeychurch)

11:51

Jack Macrae has been prolific in the third quarter, recording nine disposals in under 12 minutes of play. He has also been involved in both goals for the Bulldogs this quarter, directly assisting that last goal to Mitch Honeychurch.

13:28

The ball has been camped in the Bulldogs forward half this quarter, currently sitting at 82 percent of the time. The Bulldogs have won the time in forward half differential by 3:34 per game this season, ranked fifth in the competition.

16:19

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Lachie Hunter)

17:27

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Alex Sexton)

19:43

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jack Macrae)

20:01

Jack Macrae kicks his first goal of the game, to continue his dominance for the Bulldogs. He has had a game-high 26 disposals, a team-high 12 contested possessions, four tackles, a game-high six clearances and a game-high seven score involvements.

22:26

Jarrod Witts has dominated the stoppages, recording 36 hitouts compared to the Bulldogs with a total of just 15. Despite this, the Bulldogs have managed to not only win the clearances 34-26, but have scored 5.4 (34) from this source to the Suns 1.3 (9).

23:01

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Rushed)

24:35

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Touk Miller)

29:43

While the Bulldogs have gradually increased their kicking efficiency in this game, the Suns are still struggling to hit a target, sitting at 59 percent for the game, which is influencing efficiency inside 50, with just 19 shots at goal from 51 inside 50s

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

00:43

Since 2014, the Suns have averaged nine forward 50 marks per game against the Bulldogs, the fewest of any side. That trend has continued today, with Gold Coast recording just six marks inside 50, with no Suns player taking multiple marks inside 50.

03:24

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jason Johannisen)

03:59

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Caleb Daniel)

04:25

Both teams have used the corridor to good effect today, with the Bulldogs recording 7.4 (46) and the Suns 6.3 (39) through this zone. The difference is in efficiency, with the Bulldogs score coming from 11 less inside 50s in this zone than the Suns.

07:07

Over seven minutes into this quarter and the Gold Coast Suns are yet to record an inside 50 entry. The ball has been in the Bulldogs forward half for 85 percent of the quarter thus far, but the Bulldogs have only recorded one point for their effort.

09:16

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jason Johannisen)

12:13

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Tim English)

12:20

After 13 consecutive inside 50 entries, the Bulldogs finally get their reward with a goal to Tim English. In this last quarter, the Bulldogs lead disposals 49-31, contested possessions 21-12, clearances 8-2 and inside 50s 13-0.

14:55

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Aaron Young)

16:27

Jarrod Witts has averaged 4.5 clearances per game this season, the equal third most of any ruckman this season. He has continued that form today, with four clearances thus far, to go with 19 disposals (12 contested possessions) and 50 hitouts.

16:38

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Ben Ainsworth)

17:48

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Matthew Suckling)

18:31

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Billy Gowers)

18:34

The Bulldogs get back in front through a goal from Billy Gowers. Despite their dominance this quarter, with 16-3 inside 50s, the Bulldogs have recorded just 2.4 (16). This season they are ranked 18th in goal kicking accuracy, at just 38.5 percent.

20:34

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Bailey Williams)

21:43

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Matt Rosa)

22:54

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Jack Martin)

23:05

The Suns captain David Swallow has led from the front today, with 26 disposals, a team-high 17 contested possessions, six clearances, and seven score involvements. He has won 17 forward 50 groundball-gets so far this season, ranked 3rd in the competition

24:50

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)

25:30

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Matthew Suckling)

27:05

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Lachie Hunter)

29:04

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Luke Dahlhaus)

31:20

Jack Macrae finishes with 40 disposals, the second consecutive game at Mars Stadium that he has recorded over 40 disposals. He had 23 contested possessions, 12 clearances and 10 score involvements in a clear best-on-ground display.