Match

Essendon vs St Kilda

Commentary / 30 Mar 2019

Pre Game

00:00

St Kilda recorded a tackle efficiency of 70 per cent last round. This was the second-highest percentage recorded by any side.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

01:34

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Shaun McKernan)

05:04

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)

05:29

Both sides are using the ball poorly in the forward half with St Kilda's kicking efficiency (50 per cent) and Essendon's (25 per cent).

06:02

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Tim Membrey)

07:15

St Kilda have been able to transition relatively easily, creating an inside 50 from 3 of 7 defensive half chains.

08:09

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Jack Newnes)

08:44

The Saints are using a lot of run and carry with a kick to handball ratio of just 0.78 and 22 handball receives from their 30 uncontested possessions.

10:37

The Bombers have retained the ball in their forward half well. They have created 4 inside 50's from their attacking midfield including 2 repeat entries from intercepts.

11:24

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Jack Steele)

12:39

Essendon launched a goal from just 9.6 per cent of inside 50 entries last week. Today, they just the 2 behinds from 6 inside 50's so far.

14:24

SCORE GOAL - Saints (Josh Bruce)

15:15

St Kilda deserved that goal. They have had 6 of the last 8 inside 50's and also lead the clearances (3 to 5) in this time.

16:24

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Jack Sinclair)

17:06

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Tim Membrey)

17:39

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Jack Billings)

18:18

The Saints have launched 7 inside 50's from midfield intercepts, but have not taken their opportunities launching 1.3.9 from this source.

19:07

SCORE GOAL - Saints (Tim Membrey)

26:18

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Jack Steven)

27:02

The Saints created 23 intercepts and launched 9 more inside 50's for the quarter, as a result they launched 5 more scores from turnovers.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

01:07

The Saints have won the first 3 centre clearances of the game.

02:15

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)

03:27

Both teams are struggling in front of goal with St Kilda converting just 2 of 10 opportunities and Essendon 0 from 5.

05:59

SCORE GOAL - Saints (Josh Bruce)

06:38

St Kilda have now launched 3 goals to nil from just 6 more intercepts in their midfield (15 to 9).

07:16

SCORE GOAL - Saints (Luke Dunstan)

07:38

Luke Dunstan has a game high 5 score involvements, 3 inside 50's and 2 clearances from just 7 disposals.

08:40

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)

10:22

SCORE GOAL - Saints (Matthew Parker)

11:47

SCORE GOAL - Saints (Dean Kent)

12:09

The Saints have had 9 of the last 15 inside 50's and lead the clearances (8 to 6) in this time. They have been efficient inside 50 launching a goal from 55 per cent of these entries.

13:27

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Mark Baguley)

14:23

It has been a frenetic start to the 2nd quarter with a goal coming from 60 per cent of inside 50's, 2 of which have come from centre bounce clearances.

20:58

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Josh Bruce)

23:17

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Dean Kent)

23:30

The Saints have launched an inside 50 from 26 per cent of defensive half chains, resulting in (2.3.15). The Bombers have launched an inside 50 from just 19 per cent of these chains, resulting in (0.1.1).

25:33

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)

28:43

Tom Bellchambers has won 14 of 21 ruck contests and has amassed 5 hit-outs to advantage to St Kilda's 1.

29:04

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Devon Smith)

30:47

SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jade Gresham)

32:35

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (David Myers)

33:29

Both sides won 7 forward half clearances in that quarter, but it was St Kilda who take their chances. They created 3 goals to Essendon's nil from this source.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

03:56

It has been a high turnover fast paced start to the quarter,each team has created 5 intercepts, whilst St Kilda has 3 kicking turnovers to Essendon's 1.

06:32

Since quarter time Essendon has had 18 inside 50's to St Kilda's 13, Dylan Shiel has been influential in this time with 4 inside 50's as well as 3 score involvements.

09:13

SCORE GOAL - Saints (Tim Membrey)

10:24

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Zach Merrett)

12:33

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)

13:52

The Bombers are dominating the quarter, they lead the inside 50's (12 to 5). The majority have come from repeat entries with 8 entries sourced from attacking midfield intercepts.

14:01

Bombers Interchange - Jake Stringer off due to an injury.

15:38

Michael Hurley has been influential in the defensive half with an equal game high 7 intercepts and 287 metres gained.

17:50

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Tom Bellchambers)

19:05

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Jack Newnes)

19:08

The Bombers lead the contested possession count (37 to 25), tackles (13 to 9) and inside 50's (17 to 6).

21:21

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Mitch Brown)

22:44

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Dylan Shiel)

24:09

The Bombers now have 19 inside 50's. This is their most in a quarter since they played St Kilda in Round 21 last year (21 inside 50's).

24:56

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Dean Kent)

26:13

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Dean Kent)

26:54

Essendon's kicking efficiency has improved from 62 per cent in the first two quarters to 70 per cent. They created 29 intercepts in that quarter, which was the source for 4 of their 6 scores.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

00:33

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Orazio Fantasia)

02:40

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jake Stringer)

03:22

Bombers Interchange - Andrew McGrath off due to an injury.

04:52

Essendo now lead the clearances (28 to 23) and inside 50's (46 to 39), but have converted just 14 per cent of entries into a goal.

06:08

Dean Kent has a game high 7 score involvements since quarter time.

06:37

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)

07:50

Zach Merrett leads all players with a game high 443 metres gained. Whilst, Jade Gresham has 414 metres gained for St Kilda as well as 5 clearances (all since quarter time).

08:54

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Josh Bruce)

09:08

St Kilda's goal kicking accuracy from set shots is just 30 per cent (3.7.25). In comparison, the Bomber's is 57 percent (4.3.27).

11:24

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Blake Acres)

12:22

SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Sinclair)

13:35

The Saint's pressure (15 tackles to 7) and kicking efficiency (65 per cent) has been pivotal in this quarter. They have launched 3 inside 50's to 1 from intercepts and have the only goal of the quarter form this source.

14:11

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jake Stringer)

14:57

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)

20:50

Jake Stringer has had a game high 14 contested possessions today. He had more contested possessions (16) in just one game last year, against Richmond in round 11.

23:56

SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jade Gresham)

24:35

From ball ups and throw-ins St Kilda has won 5 less clearances, but they have launched (4.4.28) to (1.2.8).

26:26

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Dyson Heppell)

29:50

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Shaun McKernan)

30:47

St Kilda's superior disposal efficiency in the forward half (66 per cent to 56) was the difference today. They launched 7 more scores from forward half chains.