Match

Essendon vs St Kilda

Commentary / 03 Apr 2021

Pre Game

00:00
St Kilda have won the tackle count by an average of 11.5 per game through the first two rounds, the highest-differential measure in this metric of any side in 2021.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:54
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
01:50
Jake Stringer makes an ideal start for the Bombers in his first game back from injury, starting at the centre bounce and converting a set shot from 50 metres out to record the first goal of the game.
02:27
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
03:26
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Max King)
03:44
Essendon have won the first three clearances of this match. They have averaged 36 points per game from this source, the sixth-highest scoring average of any side in 2021 from clearances.
05:10
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Nik Cox)
06:04
After six minutes of play, St Kilda are yet to attempt a tackle.
08:47
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Will Snelling)
10:48
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Tim Membrey)
11:19
The last three goals, two to the Bombers and that goal to Tim Membrey for the Saints, have been scored from clearances launched in their respective defensive halves. Both sides rank in the bottom eight teams in the AFL for average differential scores from clearances.
12:47
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
13:47
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Jake Carlisle)
15:06
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Jake Carlisle)
15:32
With Shaun McKernan taking the role as primary ruckman in today's game for St Kilda, Jake Carlisle has found himself swung forward and has two shots at goal early in this game.
16:06
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Billings)
17:37
Essendon have recorded 28 handball-receives to just seven for the Saints in the first half of this quarter to show that they are working hard to generate run off the ball.
19:52
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
21:37
Three goals from five set shot attempts for Essendon in the first term. Essendon have kicked 60 per cent of their goals from set shots, the highest proportion of points from this shot type of any side in the AFL in 2021.
21:56
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
24:52
The Saints have taken a mark and immediately played on 33 per cent of the time, the third-highest percentage of any side in the first two rounds this year. They have played on immediately from 64 per cent of their marks in the first quarter to continue this trend.
24:53
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Billings)
26:48
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Alec Waterman)
27:45
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Mason Redman)
30:41
Essendon's 40 first-term points is their highest score from an opening quarter since Round 3, 2019 against Melbourne where they also scored 40 points. It is their third 40-plus point opening term since the start of 2019.
31:46
Jack Billings was outstanding for St Kilda in the first term, recording a game-high 214 metres gained from a team-high eight disposals, three marks, two inside 50's and two goals.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:47
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
05:00
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
05:26
Jake Stringer gets back-to-back goals to start the second term, both of which have been launched from Intercept Possessions, where Essendon has kicked 6.0.36 compared to St Kilda's 3.0.18 to help build their lead in the early stages of this match.
07:23
Saints Interchange - Jade Gresham and is possibly out for the game.
08:15
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Archie Perkins)
09:18
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
10:33
Although Brad Hill has only recorded three disposals, and Dan Butler zero, they are equal-first in the game for pressure acts with eight apiece.
13:18
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Higgins)
14:41
St Kilda's key position players have shown their value with eight contested marks between them, five in attack, three in defence, compared to just two for Essendon.
17:11
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Josh Battle)
18:43
Essendon rank last in the AFL this year for winning the first possession and conceding the first possession at around the ground stoppages. However they have almost broken even in the first half today, recording five first possessions to St Kilda's six from all around-the-ground stoppages.
19:34
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Harrison Jones)
22:03
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Nik Cox)
23:22
St Kilda have recorded seven Intercept Marks to two for Essendon in the second term, however have only converted these opportunities into one goal on the scoreboard.
23:44
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
26:18
Essendon have kicked 6.1.37 from marks in the first half of today's match. In the first two rounds, they kicked a total of 11.6.72 from marks, featuring a season-high of 7.3.45 in Round 1.
27:21
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
27:52
Despite winning the hitouts 10-8, and hitouts-to-advantage 5-2, St Kilda are not translating this into stoppage success, as Essendon are winning the clearance count 17-12, including six alone through Darcy Parish.
30:25
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Jack Billings)
31:47
Nine individual Essendon players have launched a goal from an Intercept Possession in a disciplined first half display. By comparison, only four St Kilda players have launched a goal from an Intercept Possession in today's match so far.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
02:01
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Peter Wright)
03:04
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Alec Waterman)
03:30
Alec Waterman kicks his first career goal to keep the momentum rolling for the Bombers in the second half. The Bombers have opened the half kicking at 90 per cent efficiency to make St Kilda's job of trying to win the ball even more difficult.
06:47
Brad Crouch gets his first goal in Saints colours to even the tally for the quarter. Not the most auspicious of debuts for Crouch with eight disposals, four contested possessions, however he has recorded three tackles to lead all Saints player in this category.
11:17
Essendon haven't lost any of their six defensive one-on-one contests in today's match. They rank fifth in the AFL in 2021, losing only 21 per cent of their defensive one-on-one's through the first two rounds.
11:55
Bombers Interchange - Nick Hind off due to the blood rule.
13:17
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Brad Crouch)
14:56
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Andrew McGrath)
16:44
All three of Essendon's top three players in this quarter for metres gained have found a teammate with at least 50 per cent of their disposals in the third term. By comparison, two of St Kilda's top three players in this category have found a teammate with 33 per cent of their disposals, with the other not finding a teammate with any of their disposals this quarter.
18:02
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Brad Crouch)
20:14
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
21:29
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Devon Smith)
22:19
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
25:51
Essendon just took the best part of two minutes off the clock by recording 13 uncontested marks in a row in a great display of controlling the possession flow. They now lead the total mark count for the quarter 31-22.
25:57
Bombers Interchange - Cale Hooker off due to an injury.
26:07
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Tim Membrey)
26:37
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)
27:12
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Steele)
27:47
Jack Steele stems the tide for the Saints after the Bombers kicked 12 of the previous 15 goals. He has 21 disposals, seven more than any other Saint on the ground to be their clear best player in today's match.
28:35
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Devon Smith)
29:49
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Alec Waterman)
30:08
Saints Interchange - Nick Coffield off due to the blood rule.
31:48
Darcy Parish led the Bombers with 10 disposals and eight pressure acts in the third term, although Devon Smith, (nine disposals, seven pressure acts) was not far behind in this regard.
32:20
Five of the six goals scored in the third term were launched form forward half Intercept Possessions across both teams. However, St Kilda have not scored from their one forward 50 Intercept Possession chain, whereas Essendon have scored 3.0.18 from this source today.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:52
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Jack Steele)
03:08
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Will Snelling)
03:41
The Bombers are running out this game extremely well. They are already winning the uncontested possession count 23-6 in the final term, including recording 15 handball-receives to three for St Kilda, resulting in an easy goal from the goal line to Will Snelling.
04:50
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Alec Waterman)
06:04
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Harrison Jones)
07:56
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Max King)
09:21
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
10:45
That goal to Cale Hooker was the first to be scored from a kick-in by either side today. The Bombers have launched an inside 50 from 11 per cent of their kick-in chains in 2021, ranked last in the AFL and 18 per cent below the league average.
11:14
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Higgins)
12:27
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
14:27
Saints Interchange - Zak Jones and is possibly out for the game.
15:19
Tim Membrey misses from a tight angle, but he would be able to count himself among St Kilda's best in today's match. He has taken a mark from three of his six inside 50 targets to be St Kilda's most efficient in this regard, as well as leading all players with five contested marks for the match.
19:47
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Max King)
20:32
St Kilda have bene let down by their tackling efficiency in today's match, only completing 28 of 53 tackle attempts. They rank 15th in the AFL in tackling efficiency differential through two rounds, averaging a tackle from five per cent less attempts than their opponents, and are down by 10 per cent in today's match.
21:35
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Higgins)
22:56
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Jack Lonie)
23:53
Essendon's performance in their forward half, mirrored by their ability to stifle St Kilda's attack in their defensive half, has set up what will be a big win for Essendon. Up 10 in the forward half contested possession count, 13 per cent more efficient by foot, and winning 16 forward half free kicks to nine has sparked Essendon's victory today.
25:59
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Will Snelling)
27:45
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Sebastian Ross)
28:50
Essendon's ability to translate defensive half Intercept Possessions into points has been outstanding today. They have outscored St Kilda 9.2.56 to 1.6.12 from two less chains from this source exemplifying their efficiency.
29:34
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
31:33
Darcy Parish would be the short odds favourite for the Best on Ground votes in today's match. 34 disposals, 12 contested possessions and 10 clearances to record a rare triple-double to lead the Bombers to a 75 point victory.
32:09
This will be Essendon's third-largest winning margin over St Kilda since 1999, and the largest since a 99-point victory over the Saints in Round 8, 2002. This is their biggest win over any side in the AFL since Round 3, 2014 when they defeated Carlton by 81 points.