Match

Sydney Swans vs Essendon

Commentary / 08 Apr 2021

Pre Game

00:00
The Swans have generated a goal from 30 per cent of their inside 50s this season, ranked No.1. They ranked 16th in that measure in 2020. The Bombers are ranked fourth in this area, generating a goal from 28 per cent of their inside 50s.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
02:56
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Isaac Heeney)
04:45
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
04:58
Jake Stringer draws first blood for Essendon with a goal from a forward 50 stoppage. The Bombers rank sixth this season from scores from forward 50 stoppages, averaging seven points per game from this source.
06:20
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Rushed)
07:14
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Lance Franklin)
08:33
The Swans quickly answer back with a goal to Lance Franklin as a result of an intercept possession in their attacking midfield zone. Sydney averages 39 points per game from attacking midfield intercepts, ranked No.1 in the AFL, more than two goals per game more than the next most prolific side.
08:37
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
13:35
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Luke Parker)
15:42
Sydney is enjoying an early advantage, in large part to its dominance at the clearances. The Swans lead clearances by six, which is giving them a territorial advantage as they also lead inside 50s by six.
15:56
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Lance Franklin)
16:33
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Errol Gulden)
18:13
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Alec Waterman)
19:04
While contested possessions are even at 20 apiece, Essendon has a clear advantage in the all-important post-clearance contested possession, leading this area by six.
20:12
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Sam Reid)
24:34
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
25:48
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Nik Cox)
26:04
Despite trailing the inside 50 count by five, Essendon has been the far more efficient side going forward, kicking a goal from 40 per cent of its forward 50 entries compared to Sydney's 13 per cent.
30:49
Sydney took nine marks inside its forward 50 compared to Essendon's three, but kicked 2.4.16 from these marks. Essendon kicked 2.0.12 from its marks inside 50.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:34
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
04:33
Essendon have recorded the first five inside 50s of the second quarter, but are kicking at just 38 per cent by foot to start the term.
05:58
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Isaac Heeney)
07:06
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Devon Smith)
07:56
The Bombers kick their second goal of the term courtesy of a kick-in. The Bombers average four points per game from this score source, ranked 12th in the competition.
08:52
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Darcy Parish)
09:16
The Bombers continue to dominate post-clearance contested possession, leading by eight this quarter in this area after winning this measure by five in the opening term. They have now kicked the last six goals of the match.
10:35
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Oliver Florent)
11:01
The Swans peg a goal back courtesy of a centre bounce clearance. Sydney leads the clearances six to nil for the quarter.
13:30
Swans Interchange - Isaac Heeney and is possibly out for the game.
14:04
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Justin McInerney)
15:41
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Nick Blakey)
16:22
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
18:10
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Errol Gulden)
20:58
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Sam Reid)
21:21
Since falling behind by 25 points at the nine-minute-mark of the second term, Sydney have kicked the last three goals of the match. Over the time period they have increased their pressure, have won contested possession by six and inside 50s by five.
22:56
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
25:26
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Callum Mills)
25:41
The clearances are a real concern for the Bombers. Sydney leads clearances 12 to one this quarter and have outscored Essendon 2.0.12 to 0.1.1 from this source this term.
27:20
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Lance Franklin)
27:47
It is now five goals on the trot to the Swans who have regained the lead. While they were inefficient in the opening term, Sydney have kicked 5.2.32 from its last eight inside 50s.
30:10
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
33:14
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Nick Blakey)
33:17
The Bombers have scored 5.0.30 from forward half chains, with four of these goals coming via intercept possessions. Essendon has generated 13 forward half intercepts for 4.0.24, while Sydney has generated 12 forward half intercepts for a more inefficient 2.7.19.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
03:16
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Sam Reid)
05:53
Sydney has outscored Essendon 6.8.44 to 4.1.25 from intercept possessions. The Swans average 82 points per game from this score source this season, ranked No.1 in the AFL.
11:12
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
12:31
Essendon has a kicking efficiency of 77 per cent this quarter, compared to Sydney's 57 per cent. After having 20 fewer marks than the Swans in the opening half, Essendon has 10 more marks than Sydney this quarter.
13:50
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
15:35
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Chad Warner)
17:00
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Nik Cox)
18:58
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Tom Papley)
19:43
Chad Warner has backed up his Rising Star nomination with another fantastic game to date. The young Swan leads all comers with 20 disposals, along with nine contested possessions, five tackles, four clearances and four inside 50s.
20:59
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Callum Mills)
21:48
Sam Reid has three contested marks this quarter and five for the match. No other player has more than two.
25:33
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Harrison Jones)
26:18
After a quiet first half, Nick Hind has been influential this quarter with nine disposals, six uncontested possessions, two goal assists and 254 metres gained, almost 100 more metres than any other player on the ground this term.
26:43
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Devon Smith)
29:30
Sydney continue to dominate overall clearance numbers, leading 36 to 16, but in terms of overall scoreboard impact, both teams have scored 21 points from clearances. If anything, Essendon has been more efficient from clearances, particularly centre bounce clearances with all seven of Essendon's centre bounce clearances resulting in an inside 50. Only eight of Sydney's 14 centre bounce clearances have resulted in an inside 50.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:44
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Sam Wicks)
02:03
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Alec Waterman)
07:22
Essendon has dialed up the pressure in the opening minutes of the final quarter, leading the tackle count 10 to three for the term.
07:55
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Justin McInerney)
08:24
Sydney has been down in post-clearance contested possession all night, but lead in this area 10 to three to start the final quarter.
12:16
Essendon now leads the tackle count 18 to three for the quarter, while Sydney leads post-clearance contested possession 17 to seven.
14:06
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Luke Parker)
16:25
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Tom Hickey)
18:06
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Tom Papley)
19:10
Sydney lead contested possession by 19 and disposals by 31 for the quarter, but have been unable to turn this into scores, kicking 1.4.10 to 1.0.6 for the term. Essendon's tackle pressure has limited the Swans to a disposal efficiency of 53 per cent for the quarter.
19:48
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Tom Papley)
23:34
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Nik Cox)
24:50
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Lance Franklin)
25:04
Luke Parker has been enormous for the Swans. The midfielder has 30 disposals, 14 contested possessions six clearances, seven inside 50s and a goal. With the game on the line in the final quarter, Parker has amassed nine disposals, with six coming via a contested possession.
27:08
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
28:01
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
29:03
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Errol Gulden)
31:24
Both teams threw everything they had at each other in the final quarter. Sydney dominated contested possession, winning the post-clearance contested possession count by a whopping 24 in the term, but equally impressive was Essendon's tackle pressure, winning the tackle count by 20 for the quarter.