Match

Sydney Swans vs St Kilda

Commentary / 25 Aug 2019

Pre Game

00:00

The Swans have been one of the more aggressive movers of the ball by foot this season, kicking the ball forward from 88 per cent of their kicks and attacking the corridor out of defensive 50 from 20 per cent of their possession chains launched from this zone, with both of these measures ranking the Swans in third among all AFL teams in 2019 in each category.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

01:09

SCORE GOAL - Saints (Josh Bruce)

01:20

Josh Bruce opens the scoring with a strong contested mark and a good finish to kick the first goal. St Kilda have outscored their opponents by seven points per game from set shots since Round 18, the fifth-best record of any team in the AFL in this category during this time.

02:28

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)

04:25

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Tom Papley)

05:24

A quick response for the Swans through 2019 leading goalkicker Tom Papley. The Swans are slightly ahead in time in forward half percentage (55 per cent) early this quarter off the back of makeshift ruckman Aliir Aliir wining the last two centre clearances.

08:04

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Nick Blakey)

09:45

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Tom McCartin)

09:51

In 2019, Sydney average seven points per game scored in the first 10 minutes of their matches, the eighth-highest average of any side in this category. Today they've kicked 3.0.18 inside 10 minutes, all from set shots.

10:12

Swans Interchange - Tom McCartin off due to an injury.

11:09

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Luke Dunstan)

13:21

Since Round 18, Sydney have kicked a goal from four per cent more of their forward 50 entries than their opposition, the third-highest scoring efficiency rate of any side in the AFL in that time. Today they have scored four goals from six entries, compared to one goal from three entries for St Kilda.

14:43

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Jack Sinclair)

15:14

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Nick Hind)

15:32

St Kilda are getting to the ball first early in today's match, leading groundball-gets 10-8. Luke Dunstan leads all players on the ground with three groundball-gets, and has been the best of the Saints early with six disposals, five contested possessions and three clearances.

18:32

The Saints are beating themselves at the moment, going at just 31 per cent efficiency by foot in their forward half of the ground. Since Round 18 they have been kicking at 60 per cent efficiency in their attacking half, the second-highest efficiency rate of any side in the AFL during this period.

18:41

SCORE GOAL - Swans (James Rowbottom)

20:54

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Jack Lonie)

23:18

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Sam Reid)

24:49

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Lance Franklin)

25:12

Goal number 361 for Sydney in game 300 for Lance Franklin. He is the eighth-player to play his 300th match in Swans colours in VFL/AFL history. He has kicked over three times as many goals as the next best Swan (Tom Papley, 119 goals) since he debuted for Sydney in 2014.

27:31

SCORE GOAL - Saints (Tim Membrey)

30:04

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Lance Franklin)

30:55

Both teams have been very patient in their ball movement in the first quarter, with both sides playing on from marks below the league average of 25 per cent (Sydney 21 per cent, St Kilda 14 per cent mark-play on rates).

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

01:24

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Jack Steele)

02:50

SCORE GOAL - Saints (Josh Bruce)

03:01

Josh Bruce gets the first goal of the term again for the Saints, their first goal they have scored from a forward half possession chain in today's match. The Saints average 37 points per game from forward half possession chains in 2019, the sixth-lowest average of any side in the AFL in this category.

08:56

After losing the clearance count by two in the first quarter, St Kilda have won six of the first seven clearances recorded this term, however have only been able to launch one score from this source.

11:16

St Kilda's pressure factor around the stoppages has been extraordinary in the second term, notching a reading of 3.38 pressure factor. By comparison, Sydney have averaged a pressure factor around the stoppage of 2.32 in the first half.

14:36

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Nick Hind)

19:36

SCORE GOAL - Saints (Ben Long)

20:01

St Kilda get their second goal of the quarter to bring the margin back under 10 points. St Kilda have dominated the time in forward half differential this term (58 per cent time in forward half) as a result of winning five forward half Intercept Possessions to zero for Sydney in this term.

22:14

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Luke Dunstan)

22:49

SCORE GOAL - Saints (Sebastian Ross)

24:14

Sydney have won the last four clearances of the match, including the last two centre clearances, however they have generated just two inside 50 entries and zero shots at goal from these clearances, while their 44 per cent kicking efficiency since the 17 minute mark of this term has allowed the Saints to score 2.1.13 from five Intercept Possessions.

25:06

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Rushed)

28:03

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Jack Steele)

28:06

Callum Mills 312 metres gained to half time is the fourth-time in his career he has recorded at least 300 metres gained in a first half, and is the most metres gained he's recorded in a first half since he gained 330 metres against Adelaide in Round 5, 2018.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

05:43

Both teams have failed to register a score from each teams first mark inside 50 of the third term. Sydney have recorded a score from 61 per cent of shots at goal from marks inside 50, the third-highest accuracy rate of any side in the AFL in 2019, St Kilda are at 54 per cent accuracy (ranked 10th).

08:45

SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Steven)

09:05

St Kilda has recorded five of the first six pre-clearance contested possessions in the third term, allowing them to lead clearances 4-0 this quarter, however they are yet to launch a score from this source in this quarter.

09:55

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Josh P. Kennedy)

11:35

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Josh Bruce)

12:40

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)

14:44

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Dan Hannebery)

15:45

St Kilda have kicked 2.6.18 in today's match from general play, as well as an additional two shots not registering a score at all from this shot source. The Saints have a scoring accuracy of 33 per cent from general play in 2019, the lowest accuracy of any side in the AFL this season.

15:54

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Lance Franklin)

17:50

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Tom McCartin)

18:52

Sydney have scored 4.3.27 from 17 forward half possession chains in a very efficient performance in this category. By comparison, St Kilda have scored 4.7.31 from 26 forward half possession chains, including just 0.4.4 from possession chains that have originated inside 50.

19:40

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Luke Parker)

21:49

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Tom McCartin)

22:00

Swans Interchange - Daniel Menzel off due to an injury.

22:06

Since St Kilda's last score, Sydney have recorded 12 effective kicks to the Saints zero, and have launched two goals from three clearances and one goal from two intercept possessions, compared to St Kilda's zero goals from two clearances and two intercept possessions in this period.

24:15

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Tom McCartin)

27:21

SCORE GOAL - Saints (Sebastian Ross)

28:01

St Kilda get their first goal of the match from a possession chain launched inside their forward 50. St Kilda average 19 points per game since Round 18 from score launches in this zone, the fifth-highest average of any side in the AFL during this period.

29:19

Jack Steele stood up for the Saints in the third term, recording 11 pressure acts, four more than any other player on the ground, including four tackles, twice as many as the next best Saint in this category.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

02:35

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Tom Papley)

03:22

Tom Papley gets the first goal of the last term, and the Swans tenth goal of the match to be launched from a clearance, compared to just three for St Kilda. Since Round 18 Sydney have been outscored by four points per game from this source, the second-lowest differential measure of any side in the AFL from this source in this time.

04:32

SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Steele)

06:58

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Tim Membrey)

08:32

Sydney have recorded a tackling efficiency of 67 per cent in today's game, matching their season average in this category, which ranks them third in the AFL for tackling efficiency.

09:07

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Lance Franklin)

10:02

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Jarrad McVeigh)

10:27

Jarryd McVeigh gets a goal in his final game and it would appear likely he goes out singing the Swans victory song. That is his first goal of the 2019 season, which now means he has kicked at least one goal in every season he has played AFL football.

12:06

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Luke Parker)

13:50

Sydney have been able to generate four of their seven inside 50's this term from clearances, allowing them to score two goals from this source, including their last goal through Luke Parker. St Kilda have not generated a forward 50 entry from any of their four final-quarter clearances so far.

14:49

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Lance Franklin)

16:00

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Josh Battle)

16:52

Luke Parker has conceded seven free kicks against in today's match, four more than any other player on the ground and five more than any other Swan. This is a new career record for Parker, eclipsing his previous record of five free kicks against which he has recorded on five previous occasions, most recently against Port Adelaide in Round 21 this season.

17:16

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Daniel Menzel)

18:36

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)

21:13

SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Sam Rowe)

22:53

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Kieren Jack)

24:18

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Tom Papley)

24:27

Kieren Jack joins teammate Jarryd McVeigh in kicking a goal in his final match for the Swans in what appears a fairytale ending for the Swans retiring stars. Jack and McVeigh have recorded one score assist each in today's match to finish second and third respectively for score assists behind Adam Goodes among Sydney players since 1999.

26:33

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Lance Franklin)

29:58

Dan Hannebery has been the standout for the Saints in his return to his former home, recording team-high numbers with 28 disposals, 10 groundball-gets, seven clearances and seven inside 50's.

30:50

Jordan Dawson has finished with a career-high 10 Intercept Possessions, including five Intercept Marks, to have a strong finish to his breakout season. He also recorded 25 disposals and a team-high nine post-clearance contested possessions.