Match

West Coast Eagles vs Fremantle

Commentary / 13 Apr 2019

Pre Game

00:00
In 2018, Fremantle averaged conceding five more points than they scored from Clearances, the fourth-worst differential measure in this category last year. Through the first three rounds of 2019, they lead the AFL averaging 16 more points launched from Clearances than their opponents per game.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:02
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Petruccelle)
02:46
Fremantle have given away two straight free kicks for holding immediately after a centre bounce, gifting the Eagles two Centre Clearances in a row and all the momentum to begin the first term.
06:18
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Michael Walters)
07:21
In his 50th game for the club, Ed Langdon has really stepped up in the absence of Nat Fyfe early in the first quarter. He has seven disposals from four contested possessions for 138 metres gained, all game-highs.
08:06
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Rushed)
09:35
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Rushed)
12:00
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Darling)
13:41
A terrific goal from right on the boundary about 20 metres out from goal to Jack Darling. West Coast have scored a goal from 90 per cent of shots at goal from this distance to goal, the highest accuracy in this zone in the AFL this year.
13:42
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Brandon Matera)
15:57
Fremantle are getting plenty of touches of the ball but their kicking efficiency is really letting them down. They are going at 59 per cent efficiency by foot early in the first term, and three of their seven kicks inside 50 have gone directly to the opposition.
17:02
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Liam Ryan)
19:26
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Petruccelle)
20:01
Both teams coming into this Derby had been among the most efficient scoring teams in the AFL in 2019. Fremantle have scored from 8 per cent more inside 50''s than their opponents in the first three rounds; the Eagles have done the same from 6 per cent more, ranked second and third in the AFL respectively. But the Eagles have four goals from 11 inside 50''s tonight; Fremantle, none from 10.
21:24
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Matt Taberner)
22:39
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Rushed)
24:54
Rory Lobb just won Fremantle''s first hitout of the match after the Eagles won nine of the first 11 ruck contests. As a result, West Coast have outperformed the Dockers from one of the stronger elements of their gameplan, outscoring them 3.0.18 to 0.2.2 from this source.
25:43
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Josh J. Kennedy)
27:34
Alex Pearce has had a strong start to this match, winning two of his four defensive one-on-one contests in the first term. He hadn''t conceded a mark from a defensive one-on-one contest in 2019 until Josh Kennedy took a mark on him and kicked the final goal of the first quarter.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:21
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Rory Lobb)
05:31
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Matt Taberner)
06:52
The Eagles kick-mark game style is just starving the Dockers of possession to eat back into this lead. The Eagles have already recorded 30 uncontested possessions this quarter to just 13 for the Dockers, which includes 20 uncontested marks to five.
08:07
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jack Darling)
09:51
David Mundy has been busy early this term, recording four groundball-gets. No other player on the ground has more than one this quarter. Only Nat Fyfe (29) has recorded more groundball-gets this season for the Dockers than Mundy (25).
11:19
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Matt Taberner)
11:26
Dockers Interchange - Joel Hamling and is possibly out for the game.
12:18
Just like that, David Mundy''s fifth contested possession for the quarter, a contested mark, launches Fremantle''s first goal. He also leads all players with three clearances to go with four score involvements.
13:22
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Adam Cerra)
14:19
This is now Matt Taberner''s eighth straight game with at least two contested marks recorded. That is the longest active streak in the AFL in this category, ahead of Harry McKay (five games in a row).
15:44
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Rushed)
16:03
In a similar vein, this is Josh Kennedy''s 15th match in a row with two or more marks inside forward 50. He also leads the AFL for this record, ahead of Tom Hawkins who is next best at seven straight games.
20:07
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Josh J. Kennedy)
21:32
Brad Hill is leading his team this term with 150 metres gained, however he is costing his team with this aggressive ball movement, as the Dockers have not retained possession from any of his four disposals this term.
21:52
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Darling)
23:25
Luke Shuey has a game-high three clearances this term, however all three of them have resulted in opposition giveaways, an area where the Eagles have been hurting themselves this quarter (seven turnover from clearances to zero for Fremantle).
25:44
Adam Cerra is having a decent game guarding fellow young gun Jack Petruccelle. He leads all players with four Intercept Marks tonight. Brad Sheppard leads all players with eight Intercept Possessions.
26:39
Tom Hickey has been a standout for the Eagles through the first half, and should be employed heavily in the ruck during the second half. He has won 12 hitouts from 14 ruck contests, which gives him the highest first half hitout win percentage (86) in any game this year.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:36
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Oscar Allen)
04:50
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Josh J. Kennedy)
05:24
Josh Kennedy kicks his second goal of the game and the first of the second half to add to the Eagles lead. He has two goals from two contested marks tonight, as part of a game high six score involvements.
07:32
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Matt Taberner)
08:55
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Jesse Hogan)
09:54
After a quiet first half, with just five disposals and two inside 50''s, Jesse Hogan finally records his first goal in Fremantle colours. His goal was Fremantle''s first from a set shot tonight. Prior to tonight they averaged eight goals per game from this shot type, the fourth-highest average in the AFL in 2019.
12:25
Back-to-back goals for the first time tonight for Fremantle, and find themselves now just three straight kicks down midway through the third term. Both goals have been launched from their Attacking Midfield zone this term. They average 27 points per game from this zone in 2019, the equal sixth-highest average score total from this zone this year.
15:54
Dockers Interchange - Luke Ryan off due to the blood rule.
16:55
Fremantle have been far more aggressive in pursuing the ball outside the contest this quarter, winning 18 post-clearance contested possessions to just eight for the Eagles this term.
18:00
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Rushed)
20:51
Shannon Hurn has had a strong quarter in defence for the Eagles. He is the only Eagle with multiple Intercept Possession this term (five), including two Intercept Marks. He also has 145 metres gained this quarter.
21:11
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Lachie Schultz)
21:41
Lachie Schultz has proven a headache for the Eagles defenders, recording a game-high 20 Pressure Acts so far tonight. He has caused a turnover from 11 per cent of Pressure Acts in his two previous matches this season, the highest Forced Turnover rate among the top 20 Dockers for total Pressure Acts.
26:59
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Cam McCarthy)
28:43
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jack Darling)
29:38
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Oscar Allen)
30:01
A costly late turnover from Reece Conca gifts young forward Oscar Allen a goal to regain some momentum. Only GWS have a higher point-per-Intercept Possession rate than the Eagles after the first three rounds of 2019.
30:43
David Mundy has lead from the front and is a big reason the Dockers are still in this game. He has a game-high 16 contested possessions through three quarters tonight, his highest three-quarter contested possession count sine Round 19, 2016 against Sydney, and third-highest total of his career after three quarters.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:19
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Rushed)
02:43
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Oscar Allen)
04:47
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jamie Cripps)
04:55
The Eagles have had a few opportunities to really create some separation and ice this game, but have failed to capitalise. Three forward half Intercept Possessions have only reaped 0.1.1 this term.
06:34
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Rushed)
07:57
Fremantle are shooting themselves in the foot in the final quarter and are making it hard for themselves to get back to within three goals. They have retained possession from just 31 per cent of disposals in the final term, compared to 67 per cent for the Eagles.
09:06
SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Liam Ryan)
15:15
A terrific effort from young forward Oscar Allen to force the free kick and get the ball in quickly to allow Jack Darling to just about seal the result for the Eagles. West Coast have been a class above in the final term, earning 65 per cent time in forward half and three repeat entries inside 50 to wall off the Fremantle attack.
18:13
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Matt Taberner)
18:30
Matthew Taberner gets his second goal and keeps the dim hopes of the Dockers alive with six minutes remaining. He has worked hard to accrue 19 disposals and 452 metres gained, but his two goals from six shots at goal has proved costly.
19:30
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Michael Walters)
20:37
Michael Walters gets just reward for a big effort in tonight''s match and the Dockers are still alive with five minutes left. He has stuck all of his eight tackle attempts to double his tally for this season after recording just eight effective tackles from 21 attempts in the first three rounds (38 per cent efficiency).
21:35
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Bradley Hill)
25:31
A tremendous effort by Jack Redden in this final term. His nine disposals from four contested possessions, but more importantly 90 per cent possession retention rate has helped the Eagles outlast the Dockers in tonight''s match.
26:18
SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Josh J. Kennedy)
27:01
Josh Kennedy finishes off the Dockers tonight with one minute remaining. He has had an off night, only scoring from four of his seven shots at goal but along with Darling, they have kicked three goals each to lead the charge for the Eagles.
27:34
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Michael Walters)
28:18
If ever a player deserved to be best on ground in a losing effort, David Mundy would be fairly judged the winner of the Glendinning-Allan medal for his performance tonight. 36 disposals from 23 contested possessions, 529 mertres gained and 10 clearances is an outstanding performance from the stand-in captain.
29:17
Shannon Hurn a rightful winner of the Glendinning-Allan medal for his outstanding captain''s performance in the Eagles eighth-straight derby win. His 15 Intercept Possessions in tonight''s match, including a game-high six Intercept Marks, is a new career-high and he lead his team with 481 metres gained.