Match

Melbourne vs Gold Coast Suns

Commentary / 05 Aug 2018

Pre Game

00:00
Gold Coast is ranked last this season for differential in all of contested possessions, kicking efficiency, inside 50 entries and points for. Melbourne is ranked in the top-2 in all of these measures.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:48
The first two inside 50 entries have gone the way of the Suns. Melbourne is the No.1 ranked team for inside 50 differential this season with an average of 13 per game more than its opposition.
02:24
A few early stoppages to start the game which is on trend for Gold Coast this season. The Suns average 69 around the ground stoppages in their games, which is the second most of all teams.
02:58
Suns Interchange - Peter Wright and is possibly out for the game.
03:44
The first goal of the game goes to Nathan Jones and the Demons following a midfield intercept. Melbourne averages 65 points per game from intercepts this season (ranked second).
05:58
A forward 50 stoppage was the source of the second goal to the Demons. Melbourne has scored from only 30 percent of its forward half clearances this season (ranked third last).
07:39
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Tom McDonald)
10:54
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Christian Salem)
11:03
A second forward half stoppage goal to the Demons who have had the last six inside 50 entries after Gold Coast had the first three of the game.
12:29
Melbourne has an early 5-0 lead in intercept marks with two of these taken by Max Gawn. The Demon ruckman has taken more intercept marks this season (33) than any of his team mates.
15:31
Gold Coast has applied some strong pressure in its forward line today, with seven tackles in its forward 50. The Suns average 12 such tackles per game.
15:39
SCORE GOAL - Suns (Nick Holman)
16:21
A reward for the Suns after generating seven consecutive inside 50 entries with the goal to Nick Holman.
16:59
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
18:14
Three of the four goals to the Demons have come from chains starting in their forward 50. Melbourne averages 16 points per game from such chains.
19:50
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Charlie Spargo)
20:03
A brilliant assist from Clayton Oliver on the goal to Charlie Spargo. Melbourne has kicked five goals from just the nine inside 50 entries in an ominous start. The Demons average a goal from 25 percent of inside 50 entries (ranked second).
21:33
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Clayton Oliver)
22:35
A strong mark and goal from Petracca keeps the potent Demons rolling. Melbourne leads 4-1 in forward 50 marks and 6-2 in contested marks, and is the No.1 ranked team for forward 50 marks this season.
24:56
Petracca this time provides the assist on the Spargo goal, and the Demons have their highest ever first quarter score against the Suns, and their highest first quarter score this season.
26:30
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
27:33
Melbourne is continuing to dominate across all areas, leading contested possessions (46-28), effective kicks (32-11) and marks (23-7).
27:58
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Clayton Oliver)
28:38
Melbourne lead the clearances 11-6 and have converted this into 4.3.(27) in scores from stoppages with the Suns yet to score from this source.
30:32
Melbourne has scored more than 57 points in an opening quarter only three time in its history, with the last time being in Round 10 of 1972 when it scored 73 points against North Melbourne.
31:58
Clayton Oliver displayed his ability to impact the scoreboard in the opening quarter with an equal game-high five score involvements including three shots at goal and one assist. The star Demon also has a game-high 11 disposals.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:52
In the opening quarter the Suns had nine players who recorded only one or no disposals, and had only six players record more than one contested possession.
01:49
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Tom McDonald)
02:48
Will Brodie has a team-high six contested possessions for the Suns, including three hardball gets. Melbourne leads 25-9 in hardball gets.
03:26
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Aaron vandenBerg)
06:24
SCORE GOAL - Demons (James Harmes)
06:33
Seven goals in a row to the Demons, who have now scored 5.0.(30) from 11 forward half intercepts. Gold Coast has not scored from any of its eight such intercepts.
08:30
Melbourne already has a massive 11-1 advantage in forward 50 marks with Gold Coast unable to disrupt the ball movement of the slick Demons.
10:20
Melbourne already has its highest first half score of the season, and its superiority in ball control is illustrated in its advantages in both marks (43-10) and effective kicks (61-18).
14:15
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Jack Leslie)
14:24
A rare score for the Suns after an intercept from Kade Kolodjashnij, who has launched both of the scores for the Suns with intercepts.
15:06
SCORE GOAL - Suns (Alex Sexton)
15:39
The Suns finally have been able to convert a forward half intercept with the Sexton goal. Gold Coast averages 20 points per game from 22 such intercepts, and is ranked last at converting such intercepts into scores.
16:45
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Jack Leslie)
18:02
SCORE GOAL - Demons (James Harmes)
18:19
A third goal from a forward 50 stoppage to the Demons with the Harmes goal. While Witts has done well to restrict the hitouts to advantage of Gawn (four each), Melbourne still leads 23-13 in first possession wins at stoppages.
20:07
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Angus Brayshaw)
20:48
A strong contested mark and goal from Angus Brayshaw, gives the Demons a 9-2 lead in contested marks to go with a 14-2 lead in forward 50 marks.
21:11
SCORE GOAL - Suns (Alex Sexton)
26:55
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Aaron vandenBerg)
28:13
SCORE GOAL - Suns (Alex Sexton)
28:15
In an indication of the difference in midfield depth, Melbourne has nine players who have recorded four or more ground ball gets, while Gold Coast has just the two such players (Miller and Brodie).

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
02:59
The Demons average 36 spoils and 15 intercept marks this season. In an indication of their attacking intent today, they have recorded ten spoils and 13 intercept marks.
04:44
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Wil Powell)
04:58
Melbourne is ranked second for contested marks this season (13 per game) while Gold Coast is ranked last (eight). Today has continued to form with the Demons leading 11-5 in this count.
06:26
The Demons have averaged 16 points per game from their centre bounce clearances this season (ranked No.1). Despite scoring heavily today and leading the centre bounce clearances 10-5, Melbourne has not yet scored a goal from this source.
08:33
Melbourne has outscored its opposition by 212 points in the third quarter of matches this season (ranked No.1), but has been kept scoreless early in this quarter by Gold Coast.
09:43
The Suns have lost the uncontested possession count by 58 per game this season, which is ranked last and 34 more than the next worst side. Melbourne currently leads 154-88 in this count.
10:08
Another goal from a forward half intercept to the Demons who have now scored 7.0.(42) from 19 such intercepts. Melbourne averages 34 points (ranked third) from 31 such intercepts (ranked second) this season.
13:13
A career-high four goals now to Alex Sexton, who is now the leading goal kicker for the Suns this season and is averaging career-highs for goals, score assists and Player Rating points.
14:32
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jeff Garlett)
16:58
Melbourne is the No.1 ranked team for hitout to advantage differential this season, recording 9.5 per game more than its opposition and only losing this count once. Gold Coast currently leads 7-5 in hitouts to advantage.
18:28
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Jack Leslie)
19:57
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
20:50
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
21:29
Gold Coast only played on following a mark five times in the first half, but has done so six times this quarter in an indication of an attempt to move the ball with more speed.
22:04
The first goal of the game to Melbourne from a defensive 50 chain with Jeff Garlett on the end of some swift ball movement. The Demons average a competition-high 19 points per game from such chains.
23:23
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
24:27
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Tom McDonald)
26:56
A more competitive quarter from Gold Coast who only conceded small advantages to Melbourne in contested possessions (34-29), uncontested possessions (62-55) and marks (30-26).

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:35
SCORE GOAL - Suns (Alex Sexton)
00:48
Five goals to Sexton from just the seven kicks with the goal sourced from a defensive midfield intercept. The Suns have scored 2.3.(15) from 14 such intercepts, but only scored 1.0.(6) from 14 forward half intercepts.
02:23
SCORE GOAL - Demons (James Harmes)
02:43
James Harmes is averaging career-highs for disposals, contested possessions, tackles and clearances this season and has three goals among his nine score involvements today.
04:42
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jesse Hogan)
05:08
Melbourne now has a season-high 22 forward 50 marks, and also a season-high 56 points from forward half intercepts.
07:23
Demons Interchange - Joel Smith and is possibly out for the game.
08:44
Joel Smith had contributed a team-high four intercept marks and five tackles in an intercept role for the Demons prior to his injury.
10:04
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Brayden Fiorini)
11:56
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jeff Garlett)
14:44
The Demons have now taken 25 marks in the forward 50, which is the most by any team in a game this season.
15:12
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Clayton Oliver)
16:37
Another contested mark and goal to the Demons who continue to punish turnovers by the Suns. Melbourne lead 31-16 in forward half intercepts, but a massive 63-6 in points scored from this source.
18:18
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)
20:58
Melbourne has recorded 16 tackles in its forward 50, with the latest leading to the Garlett goal. The Demons average 12 such tackles per game, with this pressure today contributing to the heavy scoring from forward half intercepts.
23:20
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Christian Petracca)
23:49
Christian Petracca recorded career-highs of eight inside 50s and six score assists last round against Adelaide. He has been influential again today with his 11 score involvements including two goals and two assists.
24:52
SCORE GOAL - Suns (Michael Rischitelli)
25:09
Michael Rischitelli who kicked the last goal for the Suns has averaged 20.8 disposals per game across his career against the Demons, which is his highest return against any team.
27:02
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jeff Garlett)
30:29
A massive win for the Demons who monstered the younger Suns at ground balls (125-86), and their ability to launch attacks from forward half intercepts resulted in 28 forward 50 marks and 75 points scored from this source.
30:42
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
30:48
The siren has sounded to end Q4.