Pre Game
00:00
The last four games between these sides have been decided by 10 or fewer points – with both sides winning two games apiece.
Quarter 1
00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:08
With Cale Hooker being omitted from the side, Aaron Francis has started forward in his return for the Bombers.
03:37
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
03:56
Jake Stringer kicks the first goal of the game and his 31st goal of the season with a set shot from 40 metres out on the boundary.
06:34
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Kyle Langford)
06:41
The bombers have had the first four inside 50's of the game.
08:12
Tom Papley kicked five straight behinds last week against the Dockers but converts his first set shot of the game. Papley has kicked a goal in all but two matches this season.
10:06
Darcy Parish had a season-low four contested possessions against GWS last week. He has already had five contested possessions and three clearances early in the first quarter today.
12:00
Callum Mills has already had nine disposals, going at 100% disposal efficiency. He has been involved in both of Sydney's scores.
12:37
SCORE
BEHIND - Swans (Lance Franklin)
15:02
Sydney average 80 uncontested marks per game this season. They have already taken 25 uncontested marks just over halfway through the opening term.
17:42
The Bombers have only scored three times from nine inside 50 entries. The Swans have scored twice from three entries into their forward arc.
19:02
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Lance Franklin)
21:37
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Devon Smith)
22:12
Devon Smith kicks his 10th goal of the season. Two of Essendon's three goals have come from turnovers.
23:27
The Bombers lead clearances (8-3). Darcy Parish has had half of his side's clearances, as well as eight contested possessions and three inside 50's.
24:33
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Devon Smith)
27:57
Due to Sydney possessing the ball by foot, the Bombers have only laid 10 tackles and have a pressure rating of 1.52, which is well below the competition average of 1.80.
Quarter 2
00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:35
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Sam Reid)
00:54
Two of Sydney's three goals have come from centre bounce stoppages.
04:07
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Aaron Francis)
04:19
Sam Draper and Peter Wright have combined for five hit-outs to advantage. They have contributed to Essendon's clearance dominance.
05:12
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Tom Hickey)
05:59
The Swans kick their fourth goal of the game, which was generated from a kick-in. The Swans average more points than any other side from kick-ins, showing their ability to transition the ball quickly from end to end.
07:13
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
08:24
SCORE
BEHIND - Swans (Tom Papley)
09:11
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Kyle Langford)
09:45
The Bombers have scored 21 of their 29 points from turnover in this game. They are plus 14 points from this source.
11:25
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti)
11:55
Darcy Parish continues to dominate in the middle of the ground for the Bombers. Parish only had 15 disposals against the Giants last week but has already had 15 disposals today, including nine contested possessions and seven score involvements.
13:21
SCORE
BEHIND - Swans (Jordan Dawson)
13:33
There has only been one tackle laid inside forward 50 for the match, which was by Sam Wicks in the opening term.
16:11
Aaron Francis has been the forward 50 target five times in this match, the most for the Bombers. The Swans have kicked to Lance Franklin twice inside 50, the most for the Swans.
17:50
In the second quarter, the Swans have played on 40% of the time following a mark, the Bombers haven't played on after a mark from nine marks.
18:30
SCORE
BEHIND - Swans (Sam Reid)
20:21
Callum Mills had 11 disposals in the opening term, but has only registered three disposals this quarter.
21:19
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Dylan Clarke)
21:40
Sydney averages 58 points per game from intercept possessions this season, ranked number one in the competition. The Bombers are kicking at 72% by foot today and have only conceded one goal from turnover.
25:05
Josh Kennedy has only had seven disposals so far in this game and has spent more time on the bench than any of his Sydney teammates.
27:59
SCORE
BEHIND - Swans (Lance Franklin)
28:02
Zach Merrett has a game-high 432 metres gained and 14 uncontested possessions. Merrett is going at 92% kicking efficiency from his 12 kicks.
Quarter 3
00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:35
SCORE
BEHIND - Swans (Rushed)
01:12
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Will Hayward)
02:02
Since Round 16, Sydney has recorded a score from 49% of inside 50s, ranked number one in the competition. They are continuing that trend, scoring 11 times from 21 inside forward 50's in this game.
05:08
Justin McInerney averages 17 disposals per game this season but has already accumulated 15 disposals early in the third quarter.
06:43
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Zach Merrett)
07:07
Zach Merrett kicks his third goal of the season, to go with a team-high 19 disposals, seven score involvements, and five inside 50's.
08:51
The Bombers have given away three 50 metre penalties in this game. Sydney hasn't conceded any.
11:26
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Luke Parker)
11:32
Repeat defensive efforts from Isaac Heeney has resulted in a Luke Parker goal. Both of Sydney's third-quarter goals have come from turnovers.
13:11
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Sam Wicks)
14:28
The key statistics have swung towards Sydney this term. The Swans lead inside 50's (10-3) and clearances (5-2) this quarter.
15:41
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Luke Parker)
15:48
The Swans have kicked the last three goals of this game and are dominating this quarter. Luke Parker and Josh Kennedy only had 17 disposals between them in the first half, but have combined for 11 disposals and two goals this quarter.
18:23
The Bombers didn't register a tackle inside 50 in the first half, but three tackles inside 50's in the last passage of play led to Kyle Langford's third goal of the game.
19:50
Jake Lloyd has a team-high six rebound 50's and 345 metres gained for the Swans.
20:48
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Tom Papley)
20:58
The Swans only generated one goal from intercept possessions in the opening half but have kicked five goals straight from turnovers in the third quarter.
22:05
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
22:48
The Bombers get their first goal of the game from a centre bounce stoppage. Stringer's goal came from outside 50. The Bombers have kicked more goals from outside 50 than any team in the competition this season (25).
24:55
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Tom Papley)
25:13
Tom Papley kicks his third goal of the game and Sydney's third goal of the game from a snap. Papley was too nimble for Jordan Ridley at ground level.
27:02
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Tom Papley)
27:18
Sydney continues to capitalise on Essendon errors. Papley's third goal of the term was the Swans' sixth goal straight from turnovers in this quarter.
27:22
Bombers Interchange - Jayden Laverde off due to an injury.
28:36
The Bombers kick their second goal of the quarter from a centre bounce stoppage. Sam Draper has jumped over the top of Tom Hickey throughout this match. Draper has eight hit-outs to advantage from 16 hit-outs.
30:29
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Zach Merrett)
30:38
While the Swans have kicked six goals from turnovers this term, the Bombers have kicked four goals from stoppages. Zach Merrett had only kicked two goals for the season before today but kicks his second goal of the match.
32:04
Jake Stringer has had five clearances in the third quarter.
33:24
SCORE
BEHIND - Swans (Rushed)
34:48
The Swans dominated the territory battle in the third quarter, winning inside 50's (19-10). They also had 33 more uncontested possessions than the Bombers. George Hewett and Josh Kennedy combined for 16 uncontested possessions in the third term.
Quarter 4
00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:47
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Will Hayward)
02:23
Jayden Laverde has held Lance Franklin well throughout the game but has a final quarter challenge on his hands after injuring his shoulder late in the third quarter. Laverde has had five spoils and kept Franklin to one goal.
03:14
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Tom Cutler)
03:28
Tom Cutler kicks Essendon's second goal of the match from outside 50. The Bombers have kicked 26 goals from outside 50 this season, more than any side.
05:26
Zach Merrett has had seven of Essendon's 17 disposals early in the final term.
05:52
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Lance Franklin)
06:13
Tom Papley has been instrumental for the Swans in the second half. Papley has a team-high nine score involvements.
07:39
Essendon only registered a pressure rating of 1.65 for the opening three quarters. Their pressure has been high early in the last term, laying eight tackles and a pressure factor of 2.15.
09:33
Tom McCartin has a game-high six intercept disposals and six spoils for the Swans.
10:06
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Dylan Shiel)
11:19
Goals continue to come thick and fast. A total of seven goals (four from Essendon and three from Sydney) have come directly from centre bounce stoppages.
12:55
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Peter Wright)
14:24
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Nick Blakey)
14:53
The Swans have kicked four straight goals from five forward 50 entries in the final quarter.
15:46
Jordan Dawson has taken five of Sydney's 10 contested marks in this match.
16:53
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Nick Hind)
17:23
Nick Hind has shifted forward for the Bombers and kicks his third goal of the season.
19:33
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Errol Gulden)
19:54
Sydney extends their lead to a game-high 13 points following a brilliant snap from Errol Gulden. They have now kicked three goals from throw-in situations in this game.
21:14
Jake Stringer has had nine of Essendon's 18 clearances after half-time.
23:45
Zach Merrett has been immense for the Bombers today. Merrett has had 10 disposals in the final quarter, as well as eight clearances and nine score involvements for the match.
25:15
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Callum Mills)
25:39
Sydney extends their lead to a game-high 19 points with just under five minutes remaining. The Swans have kicked four goals from stoppage situations in the final term.
26:49
Callum Mills has returned seamlessly after his 14 days of isolation. Mills has a team-high 28 disposals, 23 uncontested possessions, and five score involvements.
27:46
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Peter Wright)
28:04
Peter Wright keeps the Bombers' slim chances alive with his second goal of the game. Essendon is plus 13 points from stoppages in this game.
29:54
Sydney has won 10 free kicks to Essendon's four in the final term.
30:59
Tom McCartin has taken three marks from opposition kicks in the final quarter.
31:38
Devon Smith cuts the margin to seven points with just under two minutes remaining. Smith has had a game-high 31 pressure acts for the Bombers.
34:06
Sydney took 108 uncontested marks for the match, well above their season average of 80. Callum Mills had 26 uncontested possessions and Tom Papley had a team-high nine score involvements and four goals for the Swans.