Match

Western Bulldogs vs Gold Coast Suns

Commentary / 17 Apr 2021

Pre Game

00:00

The Suns have generated 3.2 points per game from centre clearances this season - ranked last in the AFL. The competition average is 11.6 points per game.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

05:14

The Bulldogs have started strongly and have had all four inside 50s for the match. They have recorded a kicking efficiency of 71% to the Suns' 50% early in the opening term.

06:41

Suns Interchange - Izak Rankine off due to an injury.

07:20

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Easton Wood)

08:01

Easton Wood kicks the opening goal of the match for the Bulldogs. It was his first goal since Round 14, 2017 against the Kangaroos.

08:43

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Josh Dunkley)

10:54

All three of the Bulldogs' goals have come from intercept possessions. They have outscored their opponents by 26 points per game from intercepts - ranked second in the AFL.

12:54

Gold Coast is yet to record a disposal inside its attacking 50, while the Bulldogs have had 14 themselves. The Bulldogs also lead the time in forward half 74% to 26%.

15:38

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)

16:01

Marcus Bontempelli has been outstanding in his 150th AFL match, having an equal game-high 10 disposals to go with three inside 50s and two goals.

21:52

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Josh Corbett)

22:50

Sam Collins has been busy in the opening term in defence, recording two intercept marks and an equal team-high seven disposals. He has recorded a disposal efficiency of 100%.

23:09

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Alex Sexton)

25:15

The Suns were the No.1 clearance side heading into Round 5, winning the clearance count by 5.5 per game. They have been overwhelmed in that area today - losing the clearance count 12-5.

26:36

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Tim English)

28:22

100% of the Bulldogs' score came from intercept possessions in the opening term. They are well ahead in most of the key measures, leading the disposal count by 18, inside 50 count by 10, and tackle count by 11.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

02:06

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)

02:38

Aaron Naughton kicks his 10th goal of the season courtesy of a strong contested mark. He has taken 10 contested marks in his five games - ranked second at the club.

04:32

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Josh Corbett)

05:33

Josh Corbett has recorded two of the Suns' three behinds for the match. His goal conversion has eluded him so far in his AFL career, recording 6.16 from 17 AFL games.

07:32

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)

10:43

The Bulldogs have finally capitalised on their dominance around the stoppages by generating their first goal of the match from a clearance chain. They lead the clearance count 20-8 for the match.

13:38

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Lachie Hunter)

14:38

The Bulldogs have stifled the Suns' ball movement coming out of the defensive half of the ground. From the 30 chains the Suns have launched in that zone, just five have led to an inside 50.

16:30

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Lachlan McNeil)

18:48

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Adam Treloar)

21:19

On the back of kicking three goals straight in Round 4, Adam Treloar becomes the Bulldogs' seventh individual goalkicker for the match with his first of the afternoon.

25:52

The inside battle at stoppage has been an even one, with the Bulldogs leading the pre-clearance disposal count 27-21. In general play, it's a different story as the Bulldogs have had 50 more disposals.

26:56

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Josh Dunkley)

29:11

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Adam Treloar)

30:27

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)

31:48

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Jack Lukosius)

31:55

With 25 seconds to go in the first half, Jack Lukosius saves the Suns from their first goalless first half on record. They have kicked just one goal in the first half just three other times in their history.

33:08

Only 16% of Gold Coast's defensive midfield chains have led to an inside 50 in the first half. In contrast, the Western Bulldogs have launched an inside 50 from 43% of their defensive midfield chains.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

01:23

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Josh Dunkley)

03:29

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Izak Rankine)

04:18

Jack Lukosius has been involved in four of the Suns' five scores for the match as Izak Rankine gets the Suns' second goal of the afternoon. They have now kicked the last two goals of the game.

05:57

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Tim English)

07:00

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)

09:20

Josh Dunkley and Jack Macrae have won an equal game-high 11 contested possessions apiece. Touk Miller also has 11 for the Suns - four more than any teammate.

09:43

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Josh Corbett)

12:13

The Suns have made it more of a contest in the third quarter, having six of the last seven inside 50s of the match. They have recorded three of the last five scores of the game.

12:33

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Darcy MacPherson)

13:50

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Josh Bruce)

14:33

The Bulldogs haven't been one-dimensional with their kicking to the forwards. Josh Bruce is one of three players to be targeted six times inside 50 as he now becomes the Bulldogs' ninth individual goalkicker.

16:03

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Ben King)

17:19

Since Gold Coast kicked its first goal of the game at the 31-minute mark of the second term, it has recorded 4.1 (25) to the Bulldogs' 1.3 (9) on the scoreboard.

19:16

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)

21:15

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Josh Corbett)

22:03

The Suns have now kicked four goals to just one in the third term. The Suns are now on top of several key areas in the third term, narrowly leading the contested possession counts and inside 50s counts by three and two in that order.

23:55

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Ben King)

24:48

After recording a kicking efficiency of 73% in the first half, the Bulldogs' kicking has completely dropped off in the third term - hitting the target just 44% of the time.

27:34

The Suns now have all the momentum in the third term, leading time in possession 54% to 46%. Their ball movement has been a lot more controlled - leading the marks tally 35-10 and uncontested possessions 56-45.

27:40

Bulldogs Interchange - Bailey Williams and is possibly out for the game.

27:44

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Josh Corbett)

31:10

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)

32:58

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)

34:05

The Bulldogs' turnovers were punished in the third term, as the Suns recorded 6.1 (37) via that source to 1.3 (9). The Bulldogs have outscored the Suns by just 19 points from turnovers for the match.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

00:42

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)

01:31

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Anthony Scott)

02:24

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Ben King)

02:59

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Adam Treloar)

05:02

SCORE GOAL - Suns (Alex Sexton)

05:31

The Bulldogs have enjoyed complete dominance at the centre bounces, winning the clearance count 13-5. They have generated only two points from centre clearances, while the Suns haven't generated any score from their five centre clearances.

07:41

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)

08:08

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Tom Liberatore)

08:36

Marcus Bontempelli has been dangerous in the forward 50, having an equal game-high seven disposals inside 50. He has kicked three goals while recording one score assist.

10:53

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Bailey Smith)

11:09

Both sides have transitioned the ball well from the defensive 50, with the Bulldogs recording 4.0 (24) from that zone compared to the Suns' 4.2 (26). The Bulldogs ranked last in the AFL for generating scores from defensive 50 chains prior to Round 5.

12:01

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Bailey Smith)

14:30

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)

15:50

The Bulldogs have recorded 100 points for the third time in 2021 as they kick their 15th goal of the match. They haven't made the most of their opportunities in the final term though, recording 2.6.

16:58

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Anthony Scott)

19:55

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Josh Bruce)

21:23

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Ben Ainsworth)

22:33

Bailey Dale has been a revelation for the Bulldogs after his move to defence. He has hit the target with 92% of his 25 disposals, also recording 15 uncontested possessions and 589 metres gained.

23:23

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (David Swallow)

25:07

SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Ben King)

27:17

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Josh Bruce)

27:20

The stoppages were an area the Suns were well beaten in. They lost the clearance count 41-23. They also conceded 23 points from clearance chains, while failing to generate any scores from clearances themselves.