Match

Essendon vs GWS Giants

Commentary / 24 Jul 2021

Pre Game

00:00
Essendon has recorded a score from 11.3 percent of its rebound 50 chains this season (ranked second). GWS has recorded a score from only eight percent of its rebound 50 chains (ranked last).

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:26
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Tim Taranto)
01:35
The first score of the game to the Giants was sourced from the opening centre bounce clearance. GWS averages 13 points per game from this source (ranked fourth).
03:12
These two teams are ranked last (GWS) and second-last (Essendon) for playing on after a mark, with both teams doing so less than 24 percent of the time, preferring slower methodical ball movement.
04:48
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Darcy Parish)
04:58
The first goal of the game to the Bombers was launched by an intercept in the defensive 50. Essendon averages 16 points per game from chains started in the defensive 50 (ranked second).
07:16
A second goal to the Bombers to come from a defensive half chain, with Essendon able to counterattack effectively early in the game. The Bombers have an early 20-12 lead in handballs with this method of ball movement evident in the last scoring chain.
08:59
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Harry Himmelberg)
09:11
GWS has an early 3-0 lead in centre bounce clearances, with both of its behinds coming from this source. Essendon conceded 26 points to North Melbourne last week from centre bounce clearances.
10:21
SCORE GOAL - Giants (Jesse Hogan)
10:53
An opportunistic goal from Jesse Hogan gives the Giants their first goal of the game. GWS has an early 5-1 lead in forward half intercepts, with this being the source of the Hogan goal.
11:58
The Giants ranked second-last for time in forward half differential this season, but have had the better of this measure in the opening term with 60 percent of the game played in its forward half.
17:08
The Giants ranked third-last for intercept mark differential this season, and have conceded an early 1-4 advantage to the Bombers in this measure.
17:56
GWS is having the better of the contests early, with a 7-3 lead in clearances and a 24-17 edge in contested possessions. Essendon ranks in the bottom-6 in both of these measures.
20:08
Both of the goals to the Giants have come from forward half intercepts. GWS averages 23 points per game from this source, but scores from only 30 percent of these opportunities (ranked 16th).
21:55
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
23:00
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
23:13
Zach Merrett has been involved in all four scores for the Bombers launching three of these scores and providing one assist. Only Jack Macrae has recorded more score assists this season than Merrett.
24:19
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (David Zaharakis)
26:00
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Peter Wright)
26:26
The Bombers have recorded a set shot scoring accuracy of 65.5 percent which is the highest percentage of any team. Essendon has scored 1.2 from its set shots to start tonight.
27:36
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Harry Himmelberg)
28:34
Essendon has managed to even up clearances due to a 7-1 lead in hitouts to advantage. The Bombers are ranked second-last in this measure.
29:25
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Jesse Hogan)
30:55
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
31:58
Essendon shaded GWS in the opening quarter for ball movement. The Bombers recorded better kicking efficiency (76-70 percent) and led 42-22 in handball receives, with this being a feature of their ability to get the ball out of congestion.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:57
Dylan Shiel has returned tonight for the Bombers and has been used 100 percent in the midfield, but primarily on a wing. Shiel has attended only the two centre bounces, after averaging 21 centre bounce attendances in the opening two rounds.
04:28
Some fluent ball movement from the Giants following a defensive 50 intercept led to the goal to Daniel Lloyd. The Giants have scored from 7.2 percent of their defensive half clearances this season (ranked No.1), but have scored from only 10.1 percent of their defensive half intercepts (ranked last).
06:30
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
06:54
A good tackle and set shot at goal from Jake Stringer gives the Bombers an answering goal. Stringer is the only player in the competition who averages more than two goals and two centre bounce clearances this season.
09:21
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Tim Taranto)
12:44
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
12:58
The two teams have now scored a combined 0.6 from shots a goal in the 30-40 metre range. Both teams are ranked in the top-3 for accuracy this season.
14:49
Since Round 15, the Giants have averaged only eight forward 50 marks (ranked 17th). Essendon currently has a 9-6 lead in such marks despite GWS having a 19-18 edge in inside 50 entries.
17:42
GWS has a 25-9 lead in uncontested marks this quarter, with Essendon folding back in defence and conceding midfield marks.
18:11
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Daniel Lloyd)
19:36
Essendon has applied on four tackles this quarter (GWS has 11). The Bombers are the No.1 ranked team for tackle differential this season and average 15 tackles per quarter.
20:49
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Devon Smith)
21:44
Essendon has scored two goals from four forward half clearances. The Bombers have scored from 45 percent of such clearances this season which is ranked No.1 by a clear margin.
25:31
GWS has generated 43 percent of its score has come from clearances this season, which is the highest percentage of any team. Tonight the Giants have only scored two of their 24 points from this source.
27:03
Both of these teams have averaged ten backward kicks per game this season. In the first half, the Giants had 20 such kicks in an indication of their desire to keep the ball of the Bombers. This is the most such kicks in the first half of any game this season.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:57
Essendon has not been able to convert a 10-1 advantage in centre bounce hitouts into clearances, with GWS leading this count 6-5.
01:19
SCORE GOAL - Giants (Lachie Ash)
01:45
A forward 50 stoppage goal for the Giants to start the third quarter. This was the first goal of the season to Lachlan Ash (and second in his career) and the first goal of the night to GWS to come from a stoppage.
02:38
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Rushed)
04:05
The Giants have won the clearances 5-0 to start this quarter and also lead contested possessions 9-2 with its midfield enjoying a dominant period.
05:39
Phil Davis has lost just 6.3 percent of the one-on-one contests he has defended this season, which is the lowest percentage of his career. Tonight Davis has won three and lost two of six such contests.
06:09
SCORE GOAL - Giants (Harry Himmelberg)
07:01
GWS has had the ball in its forward half for 92 percent of this quarter, had the first four inside 50 entries and won all the clearances.
10:53
SCORE GOAL - Giants (Shane Mumford)
11:06
Three goals in a row to the Giants who are dominating this quarter. This was the first goal of the season for Shane Mumford, and the last two goals have come following intercepts in the midfield. GWS now leads 33-19 in points scored from turnovers.
12:06
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Dylan Shiel)
14:58
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Peter Wright)
15:54
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Tim Taranto)
16:05
The Giants are continuing to dominate both contested possession (22-15) and uncontested possession (43-20) this quarter, with Essendon struggling to keep up this quarter.
19:21
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Nik Cox)
19:30
A missed opportunity for the Bombers and Cox following a forward half intercept. The Giants lead 14-6 in forward half intercepts and 21-8 in points scored from this source.
22:37
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Cale Hooker)
22:48
The two teams have now scored a combined 5.9 from set shots at goal tonight, and a combined 0.8 from shots at goal 30-40 metres out.
23:00
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Daniel Lloyd)
24:42
The most backwards kicks by any team in a game this season is 32 by West Coast in Round 3 against Port Adelaide. GWS has already recorded 28 such kicks with this contributing to the Giants ability to deny the ball to the Bombers.
25:51
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Harry Himmelberg)
28:17
SCORE GOAL - Giants (Jesse Hogan)
28:20
A dominant third quarter from the Giants who won contested possessions (35-25) and uncontested possessions (73-41). GWS had 78 kicks in that term which is the most it has had in any quarter this season.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:17
In the third quarter, the prime movers for Essendon in Parish, Merrett, and Stringer had a combined five disposals. In the opening quarter, this trio had a combined 21 disposals.
01:56
Five goals in a row to the Giants with a great start to the final quarter for GWS with a trio of contested marks and a goal. The Giants now lead 28-8 in points scored from forward half intercepts and 17-7 in contested marks.
08:45
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Nik Cox)
08:58
The goal to Cox was sourced from a stoppage in the defensive half. Essendon averages seven points per game from this source (ranked third), and this was the first score of the game to either team from a defensive half stoppage.
12:15
Giants Interchange - Brent Daniels off due to the blood rule.
12:34
Essendon has lifted its work rate in the final quarter with a small edge in both contested possessions (14-12) and tackles (11-7), with five of these tackles in the forward 50.
13:38
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Devon Smith)
15:27
The Giants have recorded a score from only 16.5 percent of their intercept possessions this season, which is the lowest percentage of any team. GWS leads 41-22 in points scored from intercept possessions tonight.
16:10
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Tom Green)
17:14
SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Sam J. Reid)
17:38
Tom Green has again impressed for the Giants tonight with a game-high 11 contested possessions, 27 disposals and his six score involvements includes two score assists.
19:25
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Devon Smith)
20:19
GWS leads 18-8 in contested marks. The Giants have only won this count on five occasions this season.
23:34
Both teams continue to have problems with set shots at goal tonight. They have now scored a combined 8.13 from these shots at goal with a couple more shots that have failed to score.
24:59
The Giants have finished off their strong second half with another goal from a forward half stoppage. Since halftime GWS has won the clearances 18-11 and points scored from stoppages 19-8.
26:41
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Peter Wright)
26:51
In the second half the Giants lead 72-42 in marks with the Bombers unable to disrupt their ball movement and GWS able to pick holes in the defensive system of Essendon.
27:53
An important win for GWS Giants who were too good for Essendon in the second half. GWS edged Essendon for contested possession (123-113) and used the ball more effectively with 50 more marks and a season-high 34 backward kicks helping to deny the Bombers the ball.