Pre Game
59:30
Welcome to MCG for the Essendon v Geelong Cats Round 9 clash.
59:33
Outs for Bombers: D.Myers, K.Mutch, M.Hurley, B.McNiece, D.Parish
59:34
Ins for Bombers: J.Ridley, M.Guelfi, D.Clarke, K.Langford, M.Dea
59:35
Outs for Cats: E.Ratugolea
59:36
Ins for Cats: T.Hawkins
59:40
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:00
Coming in to this match, among other areas in which the Bombers have been struggling, they have conceded a score from 50f their oppositions inside 50 entries this season, ranked 18th defensively.
Quarter 1
00:00
Q1 is now underway.
04:57
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Shaun McKernan)
05:06
McKernan with the first goal of the match, and the first mark inside 50 of the match for either side. Goddard with the goal assist by foot. The Bombers lead the inside 50 count early 5-2.
07:27
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
09:16
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Shaun McKernan)
09:52
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Shaun McKernan)
10:21
McKernan now with all three scores for the Bombers 2.1 (13), and three scores from his three kicks to this point in the game.
11:14
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Joel Selwood)
13:54
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Mark Baguley)
14:16
Baguley earns the Bombers the first free kick inside forward 50 of the match, as Blicavs is caught holding the ball. Blicavs giving away the first 50 metre penalty of the game sees a certainty of Baguley's kick on goal.
18:08
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Shaun McKernan)
18:36
McKernan continuing to score from every kick, now with 3.1 (19) from four kicks. The Bombers are dominating field position leading the inside 50 count 16-7, including six of the last seven.
19:23
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
22:07
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Dyson Heppell)
22:54
A flying start to the Bombers with five goals to none as Heppell kicks his first goal of the day from his now equal team high six disposals. Heppell has had three contested possessions, two inside 50s, one clearance, and one tackle.
24:55
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (Stewart Crameri)
26:18
The Cats now with the last two clearances of the match, breaking a streak of eight consecutive clearances for the Bombers. Merrett for the Bombers leading all players with three to his name.
29:47
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (Patrick Dangerfield)
31:48
The Bombers with high velocity start have taken an 18 point lead into the first break. Heppell with a team high, and equal match high eight first quarter disposals. The Bombers lead the inside 50 count 21-12.
Quarter 2
00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:25
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (James Stewart)
04:21
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
04:53
Essendon's early pressure in this match paying dividends, now with five of its seven goals from turnovers. Geelong have committed 25 turnovers to Essendon's 22. The Bombers have executed 36 tackles to Geelongs 26.
05:56
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Shaun McKernan)
07:12
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Conor McKenna)
08:48
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Tom Bellchambers)
08:59
The Bellchambers' shot on goal came thanks to a chain of possessions that originated from a Goddard intercept mark at half back.The Bombers lead the intercept mark count 8-5, Dea for Essendon with a game high three to his name.
12:38
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
15:18
The Bombers have had the last eight inside 50s of the match and the all six scores of the quarter. The Bombers lead the disposal count 47-23 so far in the second quarter and also lead contested possessions 19-13.
18:02
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Gary Ablett)
22:36
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
22:55
The Bombers transition the football uninterrupted from defensive 50 to attacking 50 for the sixth time today, on this occasion resulting in the behind to McDonald-Tipungwuti. The Bombers have kicked a total of 2.1 (13) from these six chains.
26:44
Langford executes his fifth clearance of the half, an equal match high with his team mate Merrett. The Bombers lead the clearance count 24-16 across the match so far, with Duncan the leading clearance player for the Cats with four.
29:03
The Bombers continued their impressive form that quarter, holding the Cats to only one behind and extending their lead to 44 points. Merrett is the leading disposal getting on the ground with 17, including five clearances and seven contested possessions.
Quarter 3
00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:21
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Joel Selwood)
01:34
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Devon Smith)
02:44
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Shaun McKernan)
04:18
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Shaun McKernan)
05:19
McKernan now with four marks inside 50 for the Bombers, including two this quarter, to take Essendon's total for the match to eight. Geelong is yet to take a single mark inside 50 for the match.
08:15
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (James Stewart)
10:14
The Bombers now controlling the air in this this quarter, having taken six contested marks to the Cats one. The Cats were leading this count 10-5 in the first half of the match. Hooker, Hawkins and Dangerfield each with three to their names.
10:57
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Conor McKenna)
12:34
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Jordan Murdoch)
13:24
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (Patrick Dangerfield)
15:02
Geelong has won the two centre bounce clearances for the quarter to take a lead across the match 7-5. Dangerfield and Merrett both with two to their names.
16:11
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Devon Smith)
18:13
Hooker takes his third intercept mark of the quarter, on this occasion a contested mark in a one-on-one contest with Kelly. Hooker now with a match high six intercept marks, with the Bombers leading 18-12 across the match.
23:06
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)
23:17
McDonald-Tipungwuit with the intercept possession at half forward for the Bombers as he cuts off Stewart's handball and passes to Fantasia by foot to earn his second goal assist of the match.
26:17
Although inaccurate, the Bomber with 1.6 (12) win their first third quarter of the year keeping the Cats to 1.2 (8). Now with a total lead of 48 points, the Bombers have increased their lead every quarter and have been in front since their first score.
Quarter 4
00:00
Q4 is now underway.
04:34
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Cory Gregson)
07:00
After the first inside 50 of the quarter, the Bombers have conceded the last six inside 50s. The Cats are attempting to make a dent in the bombers' lead, leading the disposal count this quarter 29-20 and contested possessions 12-6.
08:57
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
10:15
Stringer kicks his first goal from his first contested mark of the match. Including that Stringer mark, the Bombers have had the only two contested marks inside forward 50 today.
12:14
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Shaun McKernan)
12:52
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Mark Blicavs)
15:30
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
16:44
In his debut game, Jordan Ridley for the Bombers is up to 23 disposals, the third highest for his team today. Ridley has had seven marks, four contested possessions, and four tackles.
17:11
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Conor McKenna)
19:34
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (Joel Selwood)
20:10
Smith has executed two tackles this quarter, to take his tally to a match high 10, the only player in double figures. Smith now has four of the top five tackling performances for the Bomber so far this year.
21:46
SCORE
BEHIND - Cats (Cory Gregson)
24:31
With 18 disposals for his side, Stringer has gained 427 metres, a team high (Zaharakis has a team and match high 33 disposals). Stringer has also had five marks and five score involvements
24:56
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
26:40
SCORE
GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
28:04
The siren has sounded to end Q4.