Match

North Melbourne vs Sydney Swans

Commentary / 18 May 2019

Pre Game

00:00

Nick Blakey had his best match as a Swan last week against Essendon. He successfully laid all five tackles he attempted, three of which resulted in winning holding the ball free kicks, the most of any player in that match. He also recorded two score assists, an equal game-high.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

01:38

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Nick Blakey)

04:44

Kayne Turner gets the first goal of the game from North Melbourne's first inside 50 of the match. North Melbourne kick a goal from four per cent less of their forward 50 entries than their opponents in 2019, the third-lowest scoring efficiency of any side in the competition.

07:25

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Kayne Turner)

07:42

The Swans are their own worst enemy at the moment. Only two of their 11 kicks so far this match have been effective, and both of North Melbourne's goals have been scored from Possession Gains.

10:56

George Hewett has continued on his strong vein of form in recent times. He has four tackles already in the first quarter, twoce as much as any player on the ground, two of which have forced turnovers. He has forced 20 opposition giveaways this season, sixth in this category of all Swans players.

12:39

Kangaroos Interchange - Mason Wood off due to an injury.

14:29

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Jordan Dawson)

15:44

Jordan Dawson kicks truly to get one back for Sydney. North Melbourne have followed Sydney's lead from the first 10 minutes of the quarter. Since they kicked their last goal, only three of their 12 kicks have been effective.

17:40

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

20:38

Sydney might want to think about curtailing Jared Polec's influence on this match. He is the leading player on the ground with 10 disposals and seven uncontested possessions. in 2019, 10 of his kicks inside 50 have been marked by a teammate, the second-highest total in this category of any player in the AFL.

21:39

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Isaac Heeney)

25:49

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Oliver Florent)

27:12

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Tarryn Thomas)

28:29

Todd Goldstein dominated the ruck contests when he was on the ground in the first quarter, winning 64 per cent of hitouts from his 14 ruck contests. However when Goldstein contested a ruck contest, Sydney won five of the eight clearances recorded.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

01:09

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Tom Papley)

02:20

Tom Papley's goal was scored from the Swans first possession chain launched in defensive 50 to enter their forward 50. Sydney have launched 21 goals from defensive 50 in 2019, the equal-highest total of any side.

03:18

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (James Rowbottom)

04:18

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Isaac Heeney)

07:47

George Hewett is a large part of why the Swans have started the second term so strong. He leads all players with five disposals, 100 per cent kick efficiency, four contested possessions, two inside 50's and one goal assist.

09:50

North Melbourne have only won one of their five defensive one-on-one contests and lost two so far in the second quarter. The Kangaroos have lost 33 per cent of their defensive one-on-one contests this season, ranked 18th.

10:06

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Callum Sinclair)

11:43

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Oliver Florent)

13:15

North Melbourne have been uncharacteristically ill-disciplined in the second term, conceding seven free kicks and winning just two. They have won the free kick count in six of their eight matches so far in 2019 and have a plus 21 free kick differential record, the third-highest differential measure in this category of any side.

13:37

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Tom McCartin)

16:21

The teams are even on forward 50 entries with six apiece, however the Swans are streaking ahead with seven shots at goal to one, resulting in 4.2.26 to 0.0.0.

18:18

Swans Interchange - Zak Jones and is possibly out for the game.

18:23

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Tom Papley)

20:55

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Nick Blakey)

22:52

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Mason Wood)

23:48

Mason Wood stops a run of six straight goals to the Swans with the first for the Kangaroos this term. Since the Swans last goal the Kangaroos have doubled Sydney's kick meters gained and won five post-clearance contested possessions to two and six groundball-gets to four.

25:48

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jack Ziebell)

27:05

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Cunnington)

29:41

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Taylor Garner)

32:08

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Jake Lloyd)

33:46

Callum Sinclair had a terrific second quarter for Sydney. He won 11 hitouts to Todd Goldstein's 10, with six of Sinclair's hitouts going to-advantage, allowing the Swans to win 14 clearances to nine, including eight centre bounce clearances to two, and record 4.0.24 from clearances to 0.1.1 to North Melbourne.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

01:49

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Tom Papley)

03:12

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Tarryn Thomas)

06:01

Another strong start to the quarter from George Hewett. A game-high five disposals, three contested possessions, two clearances including the score launch for Tom Papley's goal.

07:02

Kangaroos Interchange - Todd Goldstein off due to an injury.

07:13

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

08:32

North Melbourne has won the momentum early in the third quarter, enjoying 70 per cent time in forward half as a result of 75 per cent kicking efficiency in their forward half compared to 38 per cent for Sydney. However their six inside 50's during this time have resulted in 0.2.2.

10:06

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Tom McCartin)

12:43

Shaun Higgins has finally broken the shackles that Ryan Clarke put on him in the first half. After recording just six disposals from five contested possessions in the first half, he has recorded six disposals so far this term.

13:21

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

16:59

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Oliver Florent)

18:49

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

19:20

Swans Interchange - Isaac Heeney off due to an injury.

22:00

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Luke Parker)

22:10

Since the start of the second quarter the Swans have recorded a pressure factor of 2.62 around the stoppages allowing them to outscore the Kangaroos from this source 30-3, including 24-0 from throw in's. The Suns and Bulldogs lead the AFL in Pressure Factor at stoppages with a factor of 2.65.

25:15

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Rushed)

26:12

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Nick Larkey)

27:12

North Melbourne have been accurate in front of goal when kicking from set shots, recording 4.1.25 to Sydney's 3.5.23. The Kangaroos have a goalkicking accuracy of 50 per cent from set shots in 2019, ranked equal 11th this season.

27:56

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Tom McCartin)

29:49

Ben Cunnington started to impose himself on the contest in the third term. He recorded a game-high five contested possessions, four groundball-gets and three clearances to go with an equal game-high 10 pressure acts.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

01:56

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Tom Papley)

03:42

Tom Papley has kicked his fourth goal to start the final term for the Swans, and in doing so has equalled his career-high for goals in a single match which he has recorded on two previous occasions.

04:16

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

05:25

Ollie Florent has really worked hard at the start of the fourth term to get the Swans going forward. He has three disposals from three contested possessions, including two clearances and two inside 50's for 137 metres gained. However none of his disposals have found a teammate.

07:07

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Cameron Zurhaar)

08:07

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jy Simpkin)

09:47

After being comprehensively beaten out of the centre for the first three quarters losing the clearance count in this zone 5-13, The Knagaroos have won three of the first four centre clearances and have launched one of their two final term goals from this source. North Melbourne have scored 13 goals from this source in 2019, ranked equal-fifth for goals from this source.

11:21

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Will Hayward)

13:14

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Robbie Tarrant)

14:47

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jy Simpkin)

15:18

North Melbourne have outhunted the Swans in the final term, recording 19 groundball-gets to Sydney's 10 so far this quarter, including 16 groundball-gets after a clearance to just six for Sydney.

17:45

Sydney has a disposal retention rate of 28 per cent in the final term, after retaining the ball from 43 per cent of disposals in the first three quarters, so it's clear the pressure is affecting their play in this final term.

19:34

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Shaun Atley)

22:23

Sydney have lost just one of their 11 defensive one-on-one contests in tonight's match. After the first eight rounds the Swans rank eighth in the AFL as they have lost just 27 per cent of their defensive contests in 2019.

28:49

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)

29:25

A crucial touch by George Hewett saves a goal that could have sparked a Kangaroos revival. Hewett has been massive for the Swans since quarter time, leading his team with 23 disposals and leading all players with 15 contested possessions, eight clearances and three score assists since the quarter time break.

30:19

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jared Polec)

33:18

Captain Jack Ziebell was close to best on ground in a losing effort. 35 disposals a game-high as was his 10 marks, nine tackles and seven inside 50's, plus a team-high 12 groundball-gets.