Match

West Coast Eagles vs Carlton

Commentary / 09 Aug 2020

Pre Game

00:00

Over their previous four matches, West Coast's average of 53 Intercept Possessions per game is the lowest average of any side in the AFL in this period. However, in the same period they have scored 48 points per game from this source, ranked second in the league.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

01:06

Nic Naitanui has already established his dominance at the stoppage, recording the first two clearances of the match. He is one of only two ruckmen in the top 20 players in the competition for total clearances in 2020.

04:27

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Andrew Gaff)

05:33

West Coast's first goal of the game comes from a forward half stoppage. In 2020, the Eagles average 7.6 points per game from this source, the second-lowest average of any side. However in the last four rounds they have moved up to ninth in this category with 11.7 points per game coming from this source.

07:51

SCORE GOAL - Blues (Zac Fisher)

08:16

Zac Fisher's goal also comes from a forward half stoppage, an area where the Blues have outperformed the Eagles in 2020, as they average 14 points per game from this source, the fourth-highest average of any side in the AFL this year.

10:16

West Coast have controlled the ball well through the midfield in the early part of this match, recording 18 uncontested possessions to just six for Carlton, largely off the back of a 12-4 count for marks in the Eagles favour in this zone.

14:41

Levi Casboult gets a good look at goal but fails to register a score and put the Blues in front. In the last four rounds, Carlton have used the 10-20 minute mark of the first quarter to score 38 more points than their opposition in this period, the greatest scoring differential of any side during this period of the match.

16:05

SCORE GOAL - Blues (Sam Walsh)

20:42

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Darling)

21:22

Both of the Eagles first quarter goals have come from set shots at goal. West Coast are the standout team in this regard, averaging 54 points per game from this shot type in the last four rounds. No other side in the same period averages over 40 points per game in this category.

23:30

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Oscar Allen)

26:23

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jake Waterman)

26:26

Sam Petrevski-Seton has started well for the Blues, recording six disposals at 100 per cent efficiency and three intercept possessions, both team-highs for the first quarter.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

01:36

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Brad Sheppard)

01:46

Blues Interchange - Marc Pittonet off due to an injury.

02:03

The Eagles get the first goal of the quarter through Brad Sheppard, his first goal in 74 games since 2017. The last two goals for the Eagles have been launched from forward 50 intercept possessions by Jack Darling, a zone where they average less than a goal per game in 2020.

04:56

SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Tom Williamson)

07:26

Carlton have recorded an intense pressure factor of 2.52 in the second term, including an outstanding rating of 2.45 in post-clearance play, where the league average is 1.70.

10:31

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jack Darling)

11:18

After both teams recorded a combined 36 marks in the first term, this term the tally is yet to break double figures (nine).

11:38

SCORE GOAL - Blues (Zac Fisher)

12:19

Blues Interchange - Jack Martin and is possibly out for the game.

13:00

A goal to Zac Fisher for the Blues, who have scored all of their three goals from shots at goal in general play. In the last four rounds, the Blues average less than four goals per game from this shot source, the sixth-lowest average of any side in the AFL.

14:09

SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Patrick Cripps)

16:54

It appears that Marc Pittonet is dealing with an injury, as he has been on the bench continuously for over 15 minutes, which makes the Blues job of minimising Nic Naitanui's influence this afternoon much tougher.

17:07

SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Rushed)

17:57

SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Tom De Koning)

19:21

SCORE GOAL - Blues (Michael Gibbons)

20:14

Carlton have won three of their five defensive one-on-one contests in the first half, and have not allowed the Eagles to win one of the other two contests in this phase.

20:59

SCORE GOAL - Blues (Zac Fisher)

21:29

Zac Fisher makes it three goals in a row for the Blues, and two of three goals from clearances where they're not playing with an established ruckman. Since the last Eagles score, the Blues have not conceded a disposal or possession in their defensive 50, and have won nine of the last 10 inside 50's.

25:39

Nic Naitanui has recorded more hitouts-to-advantage (nine) than all three of the Blues players to contest a ruck contest in today's match have hitouts (De Koning eight, Pittonet seven, Casboult five).

27:19

Carlton converted 56 per cent of their attacking midfield chains in the second quarter into scores, generating 2.3.15. To the end of Round 10, the Blues have scored from 27.3 per cent of chains generated in this zone, the second-highest conversion rate of any side in the AFL in 2020.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

00:20

SCORE GOAL - Blues (Zac Fisher)

00:50

Four goals now to Zac Fisher in his first game back since Round 1. Prior to today's match, he had never kicked multiple goals in a game in his career.

05:54

After a very quiet first half being well held by Jacob Weitering and recording just two disposals, Josh Kennedy gets his first goal of the game and his league-leading 23rd goal of the season.

09:46

SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Eddie Betts)

10:20

Carlton have been able to enjoy 61 per cent time in forward half in the third term off the back of six forward half intercepts to zero this quarter. However the behind to Eddie Betts is the only score they have registered from these possessions this term.

12:50

Carlton's forward half pressure factor of 2.18 is vastly outperforming their counterparts who are only managing a below average 1.64 forward half pressure factor in today's match. This term alone they have recorded 29 forward half to three for the Eagles.

13:48

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Josh J. Kennedy)

17:06

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Josh J. Kennedy)

19:14

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jamie Cripps)

19:26

Three goals in a row for the Eagles, all from intercept possessions, including the last two launched inside 50, has reduced the margin to just one point. The Eagles have scored from 74 per cent of their forward 50 intercept possession chains in the first 10 rounds in 2020, the highest conversion rate of any side in the AFL.

21:08

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Darling)

23:36

The Eagles have fought their way back in front by winning the post-clearance contested possession count 25-15 in the third term, after losing this count 34-26 in the first half. They lose this count by an average of seven post-clearance contested possessions per game in 2020, the second-lowest differential measure in this metric.

25:51

Five of Carlton's six goals to three quarter time have been scored within 30 metres of goal. They have scored 41 goals from this distance in 2020, the equal-sixth most of any side in 2020.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

01:09

SCORE GOAL - Blues (Will Setterfield)

01:40

The first goal to the Blues for the final term, and their first goal from a forward 50 possession chain in this match. By comparison, the Eagles have scored 4.1.25 from the same amount of forward 50 possession chains as the Blues (six).

05:11

Nic Naitanui has won the hitout from all eight of the ruck contests in the final term, however the Blues have won five of the six clearances this quarter off the back of three first possessions to Patrick Cripps.

07:11

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Dom Sheed)

08:59

SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Jack Newnes)

10:11

10 minutes into the final quarter and Carlton have only just recorded their first mark of the quarter. West Coast had already recorded 10 to this point, largely by chipping it around the backline to kill the clock.

13:30

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Dom Sheed)

13:42

Through laying 18 tackles to seven in the final term, and keeping the Blues kicking efficiency to just 35 per cent in the final term, the Eagles have been able to improve their pressure factor significantly this term to 2.41.

14:54

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Elliot Yeo)

16:04

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jake Waterman)

18:38

SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Rushed)

20:38

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jake Waterman)

23:22

West Coast have taken nine marks from 30 inside 50 targets in today's match allowing them to score 6.3.39. By comparison, Carlton have taken just three marks from 42 inside 50 targets.

23:45

SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Rushed)

25:30

An incredibly efficient scoring performance by the Eagles, as they have scored 5.1.31 from just 12 forward half intercept possessions in today's match, compared to just 1.4.10 for the Blues from their 22 forward half intercept possessions.

25:57

The Eagles midfield trio of Dom Sheed, Tim Kelly and Elliot Yeo blew the Blues away in a commanding performance. Combining for 21 clearances, 39 contested possessions, 14 inside 50's, 13 tackles and 12 unique score involvements was too much for Carlton to manage.