Match

Essendon vs Hawthorn

Commentary / 20 Mar 2021

Pre Game

00:00

Hawthorn recorded a tackle efficiency of 60 per cent last season, the lowest percentage of any side.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

00:51

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Jonathon Ceglar)

01:22

Perfect start for the Hawks, kicking the opening goal of the match from the first centre bounce of the game. The Hawks averaged seven points per game from this score source last season, ranked ninth.

06:19

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Sam Draper)

08:11

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Cale Hooker)

09:19

Hawthorn are using the ball well so far, recording a disposal efficiency of 90 per cent to start the match. They have yet to record a tackle however.

09:45

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Harry Morrison)

12:42

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)

13:32

The Bombers open their goal account for season 2021 through Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti. The livewire small forward led the Bombers for goals last season with 19 from 17 matches.

14:26

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jye Caldwell)

15:14

Hawthorn lead intercept marks six to one. Blake Hardwick has three marks from opposition kicks already.

18:07

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Dylan Shiel)

19:45

Essendon's tackle pressure has been noticeable, the Bombers leading the tackle count by 11. Jye Caldwell in his first game for the Bombers has led the way with three tackles.

21:37

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Tyler Brockman)

26:02

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Oliver Hanrahan)

27:28

After an injury interrupted last 18 months at Hawthorn, Jarman Impey looks to be a welcome return to the Hawthorn side. Playing in defence, Impey leads all comers with 305 metres gained in the first quarter, with all seven of his disposals coming via foot.

28:02

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Harrison Jones)

29:22

Hawthorn was able to repel a lot of the Bombers attacks in the air, recording 11 intercept marks to Essendon's one for the term. Nine of the 11 marks came in the defensive half of the ground.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

03:05

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Andrew McGrath)

03:11

Andrew McGrath kicks the opening goal of the second term for Essendon. The young Bomber has enjoyed a prolific start to the match with 13 disposals, three inside 50s and three tackles already.

05:51

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Darcy Parish)

06:31

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Changkuoth Jiath)

09:09

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Will Snelling)

09:36

Three of Essendon's four goals have been launched from the forward half of the ground. Last season the Bombers averaged 26 points per game from forward half chains, ranked 17th.

13:15

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)

15:07

The Bombers have recorded the last eight inside 50s of the match.

18:11

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Zach Merrett)

18:22

The Bombers have recorded the last 10 inside 50s of the match and have kicked 4.1.25 to 0.1.1 for the quarter. Zach Merrett is the latest Bomber to get on the scoreboard. The Bomber leads all comers with 16 disposals at 75 per cent efficiency.

21:31

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Dylan Shiel)

22:02

The Bombers have dominated the contested possession differential by 18 to this point of the game.

23:53

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Peter Wright)

24:12

It is now six goals to nil to Essendon in the second quarter. Three goals have come via stoppage chains, with the other three coming via intercepts.

25:04

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Devon Smith)

25:27

The Bombers continue to roll on, with seven goals on the trot. The Bombers have nine goals for the match with nine individual goal scorers.

26:54

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Andrew McGrath)

28:14

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Oliver Hanrahan)

30:51

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Jaeger O'Meara)

34:12

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)

34:14

Essendon narrowly leads clearances by two, but has outscored Hawthorn 5.2.32 to 1.1.7 from this score source. In 2020, Essendon was outscored by two points per game from clearances, ranked 13th.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

02:24

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Tim O'Brien)

04:47

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Dylan Moore)

05:12

After just one disposal in the first half, Dylan Moore has started the third term well with four early disposals, two via a contested possession and a goal, Hawthorn's second of the term.

07:39

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Tyler Brockman)

07:57

Hawthorn have been clean to start the third quarter, going at a kicking efficiency of 81 per cent to Essendon's 56 per cent, kicking three goals from five forward 50 entries.

09:17

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)

09:56

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Dylan Moore)

10:22

Dylan Moore bobs up for his second goal of the quarter from six disposals. Hawthorn have owned the football, doubling Essendon's disposal tally 51 to 25.

13:12

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Harrison Jones)

14:09

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Harry Morrison)

14:17

Hawthorn continues to be clean and efficient with the ball. The Hawks have five goals from seven inside 50s and have a disposal efficiency of 90 per cent from 69 disposals.

17:52

Tom Mitchell has 12 disposals for the quarter at 75 per cent efficiency, with 11 coming via an uncontested possession. Ten of the 12 disposals have been handballs.

18:57

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)

22:04

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Tom Phillips)

22:18

Essendon lead the inside 50s 14 to nine this quarter, yet have been outscored 0.3.3 to 6.0.36.

23:30

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)

24:45

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Dylan Moore)

24:53

After registering just one handball to half time, Dylan Moore has turned this game on its head. The small forward has 11 disposals at 82 per cent efficiency, five contested possessions and three goals.

26:53

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Darcy Parish)

28:49

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Luke Breust)

31:02

Dylan Moore was phenomenal in the third quarter with 14 disposals at 83 per cent efficiency, seven score involvements (from just eight scores), seven contested possessions and three goals. Tom Mitchell was also prolific with 17 disposals for the term, 15 coming via an uncontested possession.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

00:27

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Devon Smith)

02:52

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Harrison Jones)

04:20

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Mason Redman)

06:09

Essendon have registered the first six inside 50s of the final quarter but have just 0.3.3 to show for this territorial dominance.

07:45

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Luke Breust)

09:13

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Luke Breust)

11:29

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Rushed)

13:25

Both teams have scored 46 points from intercepts tonight. Essendon have outscored Hawthorn by 20 points from stoppages, while the Hawks have kicked 3.1.19 to nil from kick-ins.

14:19

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Ben McEvoy)

14:45

Ben McEvoy breaks the drought with the first goal of the final term. Hawthorn have generated most of its scores tonight from the defensive half of the ground, kicking 9.4.58 from defensive half chains.

15:45

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Jacob Koschitzke)

18:03

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Sam Draper)

21:47

SCORE BEHIND - Hawks (Rushed)

23:03

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Devon Smith)

24:02

Devon Smith puts the Bombers in front with two minutes to go. Both Essendon's final quarter goals have been launched from defensive 50.

24:42

SCORE GOAL - Hawks (Tim O'Brien)

25:40

Hawthorn answers from the next centre bounce to regain the lead. The Hawks lead clearances six to three in the final term.

27:23

Hawthorn gets over the line by the narrowest of margins, fighting back from 40 points down. Will Day was enormous in the final quarter with 11 disposals at 82 per cent efficiency and three intercepts. Tom Mitchell had a huge second half with 26 of his 39 disposals coming in the final two quarters.