Match

Essendon vs Brisbane Lions

Commentary / 26 Mar 2022

Pre Game

00:00
The Lions launched an inside 50 from 28% of its defensive 50 chains in Round 1 - the second-highest percentage in the competition. The AFL average is 20%.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:30
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Peter Wright)
01:40
The Dons have won two forward half intercepts, with that goal to Peter Wright coming from this source. Essendon won just 15 forward half intercepts in Round 1 - ranked last.
02:58
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Andrew McGrath)
03:08
Jake Stringer is having an immediate impact. He has won three disposals, with two of these being involved in a score for his team.
07:24
Marcus Adams has grabbed two intercept marks early in this game. He took six intercept marks in Round 1 - the equal-second most of any player in the league.
10:14
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Hugh McCluggage)
10:24
Essendon leads the inside 50 count by six (9-3). However, both teams have scored one goal each.
12:39
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Sam Durham)
12:49
The Bombers have won the only three centre clearances for the game, with two of these launching scores, including that behind to Sam Durham.
13:51
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Rushed)
18:44
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Devon Smith)
20:00
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Aaron Francis)
20:49
The Dons have already grabbed four marks inside 50. Since 2018, they have taken just 7.5 marks per game in this zone against the Lions - their worst result against any team.
21:08
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Peter Wright)
22:24
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Tom Cutler)
22:34
Essendon continues to win the ball out of the middle, winning all five centre clearances and scoring from four of these.
25:01
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jye Caldwell)
26:49
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Archie Perkins)
26:59
The Bombers have recorded nine scores from 19 inside 50s (47.4%). They scored from just 35.4% of their entries in Round 1 - ranked 16th.
28:45
Peter Wright was dominant in the opening term, recording quarter-highs for disposals (12), marks (eight), and goals (two).

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:06
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
02:33
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Nik Cox)
03:33
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Charlie Cameron)
05:37
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Zac Bailey)
05:47
The Lions have generated the last three inside 50s after winning just six in the first term.
07:35
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Lincoln McCarthy)
07:45
Make that four inside 50s in a row to the Lions. Both of their second-quarter goals have been sourced from intercepts.
12:23
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Tom Cutler)
13:31
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Charlie Cameron)
13:41
The Lions have scored from three of their eight kick-ins (37.5%), including that goal to Charlie Cameron. The AFL average is 9.4%.
14:55
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Joe Daniher)
16:58
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Nakia Cockatoo)
17:08
Joe Daniher is up to six disposals this quarter, with four of these being involved in a score for his team, including one goal and two goal assists.
17:59
The Lions are now on top in the middle, winning the last four centre clearances of the game and launching one goal from these.
21:03
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Cam Rayner)
21:13
The Lions have recorded seven scores from 12 inside 50s this quarter (58.3%). Essendon conceded a score from 60% of the Cats' inside 50s in Round 1 - ranked last defensively.
23:56
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Peter Wright)
24:06
Peter Wright has grabbed four marks inside 50 - three more than any other player, as well as a game-high three contested marks. His third goal ended a run of six consecutive goals to the Lions.
26:34
Sam Draper has won a game-high seven hitouts-to-advantage - six more than any other player, as well as two clearances.
27:06
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Archie Perkins)
28:23
Dayne Zorko is up to 10 disposals this quarter, all kicks, gaining 298 metres for his team - more than double any other player.
30:36
The Lions' style of play changed in the second term. After recording a kick-to-handball ratio of 1.30 in the first quarter they kicked it more in the second quarter, recording a ratio of 3.06.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:16
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
02:15
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Archie Perkins)
02:25
Archie Perkins has recorded just the five disposals, but they have had a maximum impact, with three resulting in scores for his team.
06:14
The Lions have failed to score from their last nine inside 50s.
08:36
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Hugh McCluggage)
08:46
Lincoln McCarthy has assisted two goals as well as kicking one for a scoreboard impact of 18 points. He recorded a scoreboard impact of 15.5 points per game last season - ranked third at the club.
09:46
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Zach Merrett)
09:56
Essendon has now launched six scores from 10 centre clearances.
12:28
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Charlie Cameron)
12:38
Lachie Neale has won an equal game-high five clearances, with his last launching that goal to Charlie Cameron.
13:49
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Zac Bailey)
14:41
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Lincoln McCarthy)
17:17
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Lachie Neale)
19:06
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Lachie Neale)
19:16
Lachie Neale has recorded quarter-highs for disposals (eight), contested possessions (four), and clearances (three), as well as kicking that goal. He averages 31 disposals against the Bombers across his career - his most against any opponent.
20:46
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Aaron Francis)
23:12
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Oscar McInerney)
23:22
The Lions are well on top at stoppages this quarter, leading the clearance count by seven (11-4), kicking two goals to one from this source.
24:39
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
24:49
Another score from a centre clearance to the Dons. Eight of their 19 scores are from this source, including four this quarter.
27:20
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Zac Bailey)
29:15
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Joe Daniher)
29:25
Lachie Neale is up to 12 disposals this quarter, gaining 407 metres for his team, with none of these resulting in a turnover. No other player has gained more than 182 metres for his team in this period.
32:18
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Darcy Parish)
33:00
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Brayden Ham)
34:21
The Lions were well on top at stoppages in the third quarter, winning seven more than Essendon (14-7). The Lions won three clearances in forward 50 in this period, scoring 2.1 (13) from these.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
04:09
Dyson Heppell could only manage 15 disposals against the Cats in Round 1 - his fewest in any normal length game since Round 12, 2018. He has recorded just 12 disposals in this game.
05:20
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Peter Wright)
05:30
Essendon has grabbed 13 marks inside 50, kicking 5.8 (38) from set shots.
10:41
The Bombers have gone goalless from their last 11 inside 50s, including seven this quarter.
13:20
Bombers Interchange - Aaron Francis off due to the blood rule.
14:51
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Charlie Cameron)
18:54
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Tom Cutler)
19:04
Tom Cutler breaks the goal drought. Darcy Parish has been involved in a game-high 12 scores, including launching that goal to Cutler.
21:02
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Darcy Parish)
21:12
The Dons have kicked nine goals from 24 scoring shots (37.5%). They recorded a scoring accuracy of 73.3% in Round 1 - ranked second.
24:00
Lions Interchange - Oscar McInerney off due to the blood rule.
25:55
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Lachie Neale)
26:05
Lachie Neale caps a dominant display with his second goal. He has recorded game-highs for disposals (38), contested possessions (21), and clearances (10).
26:19
Bombers Interchange - Nik Cox and is possibly out for the game.
27:49
Bombers Interchange - Zach Merrett and is possibly out for the game.
28:45
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Lachie Neale)
31:05
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Hugh McCluggage)
32:12
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Archie Perkins)
32:22
Archie Perkins has booted three goals in a game for the second time in his career.
33:38
After a slow start, the Lions dominated after quarter-time, kicking 14 goals to six from 10 more inside 50s (46-36). Lachie Neale was a clear standout during this period, winning 20 contested possessions - eight more than any other player, and 12 clearances - double the next best.