Match

Brisbane Lions vs Essendon

Commentary / 10 Jun 2018

Pre Game

59:30
Welcome to Gabba for the Brisbane Lions v Essendon Round 12 clash.
59:33
Outs for Lions: M.Robinson, C.Cameron
59:34
Ins for Lions: J.Berry, S.Mayes
59:35
Outs for Bombers: D.Zaharakis, J.Ridley, J.Stewart, J.Laverde
59:36
Ins for Bombers: M.Redman, M.Brown, J.Green, D.Myers
59:40
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:00
Since 2015, the Bombers have lost the clearance count by eight per game against the Lions which is the worst differential recorded by any team against Brisbane in this period.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:16
Brisbane has been outscored by an average of 15 points in first quarters this season (ranked last). Only one team has performed worse in a quarter this season, and that is Essendon in third quarters (outscored by 16 points on average).
02:02
Harris Andrews, who has taken two early intercept marks for the Lions, is averaging career-highs for intercept possessions (seven), spoils (11) and disposals (16).
03:05
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Eric Hipwood)
03:37
The first goal to Brisbane was sourced from a defensive 50 intercept. The Lions have generated an inside 50 from only 16 percent of their defensive 50 chains this season, which is ranked last.
05:42
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Dyson Heppell)
06:02
Essendon was able to source its first goal from a forward half intercept. The Bombers average only 20 points per game from this source (ranked 16th).
07:18
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Shaun McKernan)
07:27
The second goal for the Bombers was launched from a centre bounce clearance. Essendon has averaged nine points per game from this source.
10:33
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Stefan Martin)
10:52
The second goal for the Lions (kicked by Stefan Martin) was again launched by a Harris Andrews defensive half intercept. Martin averages more Player Rating points against the Bombers (16.9) than any other opponent.
12:08
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Daniel McStay)
14:12
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Tom Cutler)
14:17
Essendon is having trouble disrupting the ball movement of the Lions early with Brisbane leading in marks (16-6) and retaining possession from all six inside 50 entries.
14:55
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Tom Cutler)
16:18
Essendon is attempting to pressure Brisbane (leading in tackles 10-1), but the Lions are absorbing this pressure and lead in effective kicks (23-16) and forward half disposals (31-14).
18:44
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
19:17
Brisbane is ranked fourth this season in scores from stoppages with an average of 33 points per game. While the clearances are even early in the game, the Bombers lead in points from stoppages 12-1.
21:09
Essendon has a 22-11 lead in contested possessions which includes a 7-2 lead in looseball gets and a 6-0 free kick advantage.
22:56
Brisbane has scored just 0.2.(2) from its four forward half intercepts, while Essendon has scored 2.0.(12) from two such intercepts.
23:38
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Allen Christensen)
24:51
Brisbane has enjoyed 62 percent time in forward half, but some errant shots at goal has prevented this being converted on the scoreboard. The Lions are ranked second last for time in forward half this season.
26:38
Brisbane has an early 5-0 lead in intercept marks, with three of these taken by Harris Andrews. The Lions are ranked last for intercept marks this season with an average of 12 per game.
28:17
Essendon was able to convert all four set shots at goal in the opening quarter, while Brisbane only managed 2.4.(16) from its set shots at goal. Neither team registered a score from any other method.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:09
An early intercept mark by Mason Redman launched the scoring opportunity for Fantasia. Redman has averaged 22 disposals, five intercept possessions and six score involvements in six VFL games this season.
03:00
Three free kick to Stefan Martin at the defensive 50 stoppage was only the second free kick of the game to the Lions. Martin has won 24 more free kicks then he has given away this season, which is the best differential of any player.
03:39
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Dayne Zorko)
04:01
An opportunistic forward 50 stoppage goal to the Lions and Zorko was the third score to Brisbane from a forward half stoppage today. In the past four weeks, the Lions have averaged 18 points from forward half stoppages (ranked third).
06:14
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Dyson Heppell)
06:36
Essendon has now scored 2.0.(12) from defensive 50 chains, and averages 16 points per game from such chains (ranked fifth).
08:53
Bombers Interchange - Dyson Heppell and is possibly out for the game.
10:18
Essendon has generated 10 of the last 12 inside 50 entries in the game, but both teams have scored one goal each during this period.
11:32
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Mitch Brown)
11:58
The Bombers have enjoyed 79 percent time in forward half this quarter and 4-0 advantage in forward half intercepts, but have still not been able to convert this into a scoreboard advantage.
13:18
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Mitch Brown)
13:26
A smart crumb and goal to Mitch Brown gives the Bombers some reward for territorial control. Essendon lead the clearances 7-3 this quarter, with a forward half clearance the source of the goal to Brown.
16:11
Essendon is continuing to apply intense pressure on the Lions, and lead the tackle count 33-22 while continuing to also win contested possessions (51-38).
18:00
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Luke Hodge)
20:57
In the last ten minutes, Brisbane has managed to spend 64 percent time in forward half and break even in contested possessions during this period.
22:18
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (David Myers)
23:22
While Brisbane lead 23-11 in hitouts, Essendon lead 21-15 in first possession wins, 19-15 in clearances and 19-8 in score from stoppages.
25:45
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Eric Hipwood)
26:04
Brisbane has now scored a wasteful 0.4.(4) from its nine forward half intercepts. This season the Lions have averaged 21 points from 22 such intercepts.
27:19
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Hugh McCluggage)
29:07
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Josh Green)
29:22
In the last ten minutes, Brisbane has won the contested possession count 16-9, but with kicking efficiency of only 53 percent has undone this advantage. Essendon leads 76-57 in overall effective kicks.
31:25
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
32:24
Dayne Zorko is the No.1 ranked player in the AFL for pressure acts this season, and he is ranked first for pressure acts today. Zorko also has contributed a team-high eight contested possessions and four score involvements.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:13
Essendon has struggled badly in third quarters this season being outscored by an average of 16 points, and winning only one quarter.
01:00
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
01:07
The Bombers will have to complete the day without captain Dyson Heppell who leads Essendon this season for clearances, contested possessions, inside 50 entries, kicks and score involvements.
04:14
Harris Andrew has become a brick wall for Essendon, and has contributed game-highs for spoils (11), intercept possessions (eight) and intercept marks (six). Brisbane lead 10-6 in intercept marks.
06:40
In this quarter the Bombers lead the inside 50 count 6-1 and have spent 67 percent time in forward half. Essendon has now scored 3.2.(20) from 12 forward half intercepts.
09:38
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Shaun McKernan)
10:08
An excellent coast-to-coast goal to the Lions from a kick-in following the McKernan miss. This broke a run of four goals to the Bombers and was just the second inside 50 entry of the quarter for the Lions.
13:26
Mason Redman had a total of 19 disposals in his first three AFL games (all in 2016), and currently has a game-high 19 disposals today in an impressive return.
13:54
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Hugh McCluggage)
15:47
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
16:51
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Rushed)
17:20
While Essendon lead the inside 50 count (43-27), Brisbane lead in forward 50 disposals (34-27) in an indication the Lions have generated scoring opportunities.
18:38
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
20:23
The Lions lead 7-3 in one-on-one contest wins. Brisbane has won only 24 percent of its defensive one-on-one contests this season (ranked last).
20:33
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Devon Smith)
20:48
After converting their first four set shots at goal Essendon has scored 2.5.(17) from its subsequent set shots at goal, which matches the total return for the Lions from their set shots at goal today.
22:48
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Eric Hipwood)
22:58
The goal to Hipwood was the first of the day to the Lions from a forward half intercept. Brisbane has now scored 1.4.(10) from 14 such intercepts, while Essendon has scored 3.5.(23) from 16 forward half intercepts.
25:06
A pair of set shot misses by Devon Smith continues the woes in front of goal for the Bombers this quarter who have squandered 72 percent time in forward half and a 18-6 inside 50 advantage.
26:02
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Josh Green)
28:20
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
29:45
The last time the Bombers had more than 23 inside 50 entries in a quarter was in Round 6 of 2011 when they had 24 in the first quarter against the Suns. On that occasion Essendon scored a more productive 15.4.(94).

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
03:26
The Lions get the important first goal of the final quarter following a strong tackle in the forward 50 from Jarrod Berry. Brisbane now lead 6-1 in forward 50 intercepts and has scored 3.2.(20) from forward 50 chains to Essendon 1.0.(6).
05:29
Harris Andrews is continuing to dominate with game-highs for spoils (18), intercept possessions (10), and intercept marks (seven), with Essendon unable to find a way past the star Lion.
08:44
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Daniel McStay)
08:54
In the final quarter, the Lions lead disposals (33-21) and have had 79 percent time in forward half.
09:35
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Mitch Brown)
09:44
A goal against the flow to Mitch Brown who now has an equal game-high six score involvements and has been the No.1 target for the Bombers with kicks inside 50 (six times).
13:09
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Hugh McCluggage)
13:19
Brisbane has now recorded 3.7.(25) from its set shots at goal today. The Lions are ranked third last for accuracy from set shots at goal this season.
14:30
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Alex Witherden)
16:10
An opportunistic goal to McDonald-Tipungwuti gives the Bombers a return of 4.2.(26) in chains started in the defensive 50. This is the most Essendon has scored from such chains since Round 4.
18:31
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Oscar McInerney)
19:37
Brisbane now lead 12-3 in contested marks (Harris Andrews has contributed five). The nine intercept marks taken by Andrews is the most by any player in a game this season.
21:08
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Mitch Brown)
22:58
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Tom Cutler)
23:20
In the final quarter, Brisbane has enjoyed 65 percent time in forward half, and advantages in contested possessions (29-23) and contested marks (6-0), but has not been able to convert in front of goal.
24:12
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
26:35
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
27:32
Essendon has won the centre bounce clearances 13-7 and leads in scores from this source 12-0.
30:10
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Dayne Zorko)
30:30
Jake Stringer recorded career-highs of 29 disposals, 16 contested possessions and nine clearances against the Tigers last round, and has backed it up with 22 disposals and eight score involvements today.
31:34
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Allen Christensen)
31:40
A hard fought win for Essendon who dominated the territorial battle (inside 50 entries 65-44), applied good pressure (tackles 74-60) and used the ball better (kicking efficiency 73 percent to 66 percent).