Pre Game
00:00
Essendon has recorded a pre-clearance tackle efficiency of just 55% – ranked last.
Quarter 1
00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:52
Jake Bowey takes the first intercept mark of the match. He had 16 intercept possessions last round against Gold Coast – the equal fourth-most of any player in the AFL since the start of last season.
02:25
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Jye Caldwell)
02:42
Jye Caldwell kicks the first score of the match with a behind from a set shot. The Bombers were inaccurate from set shots last week, booting 5.9.
04:22
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Clayton Oliver)
05:27
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Sam Weideman)
06:35
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Sam Weideman)
08:35
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Jayden Laverde)
12:06
The Demons are dominating play early, leading inside 50s 10-3 and disposals 34-23. Clayton Oliver has four disposals and two inside 50s.
12:28
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)
14:10
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
16:48
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Sam Weideman)
17:06
Sam Weideman has been prominent for the Demons early, taking three marks inside 50 and booting 1.2. He was a late replacement in the side for Ben Brown.
19:28
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (James Harmes)
20:02
In windy conditions, Melbourne has wasted early opportunities, booting 1.4 from set shots.
22:35
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Tom McDonald)
23:21
Tom McDonald wins a free and kicks Melbourne's second goal. In the last two H
24:04
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
25:58
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Jack Viney)
27:43
Steven May had the ball on a string that quarter, recording 10 disposals at 90 per cent efficiency, as well as one contested mark.
Quarter 2
00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:05
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Tex Wanganeen)
03:12
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Luke Jackson)
07:24
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Tom McDonald)
09:28
Essendon has started this quarter more competitively, leading contested possessions 20-18 and clearances 2-0. Darcy Parish has four contested possessions this quarter.
09:56
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Tom Cutler)
11:31
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Peter Wright)
12:13
Peter Wright kicks truly from a set shot and makes it consecutive goals for the Bombers. He has kicked at least two goals in five of his last six games at the MCG – finishing goalless just once.
12:48
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Sam Weideman)
16:57
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Tom Sparrow)
19:39
Melbourne continues to control the territory game, leading inside 50s 10-5 this quarter. But they have kicked just 1.3 from those entries.
24:26
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Andrew McGrath)
24:44
Essendon has been super efficient going forward this quarter, booting 3.1 from just six entries.
26:18
Jake Stringer has been reasonably quiet, recording just the six disposals. He finished with 24 disposals and five clearances against the Demons in Round 15 last season.
27:15
The Demons should be leading by more given how they have controlled the play, recording 35 more disposals and almost twice as many inside 50s (34-18). Clayton Oliver has four more inside 50s than any other player.
Quarter 3
00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:59
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Tex Wanganeen)
02:53
Tex Wanganeen kicks his first AFL goal with a classy snap on his non-preferred foot.
03:41
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Peter Wright)
04:13
The Bombers have come to life this quarter, leading contested possessions 8-2, winning the first three clearances and booting two goals straight.
04:49
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
05:58
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Peter Wright)
06:43
Back-to-back goals from Peter Wright makes it six of the last seven goals from the Bombers. They have also won nine of the last 10 clearances.
08:42
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Tom McDonald)
09:42
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (James Harmes)
10:03
James Harmes kicks a goal from a bad turnover in Essendon's back half. The Demons have outscored the Bombers 31-15 from turnovers tonight.
14:23
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (James Harmes)
16:32
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Sam Weideman)
17:49
Melbourne has flipped the ascendancy at stoppages, recording the last five clearances. They have also booted the last two goals inside two minutes.
21:01
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
24:03
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
25:34
Jake Stringer kicks consecutive goals to give Essendon the lead back. This quarter has been an arm wrestle, with contested possessions split at 21-21, and Melbourne just leading clearances 9-8 and inside 50s 11-9.
25:51
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Sam Weideman)
27:19
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Christian Petracca)
28:29
Goals from Sam Weideman and Christian Petracca within 90 seconds of each other produces the fourth lead change this quarter.
28:37
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Max Gawn)
29:53
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
33:18
After just seven goals from the first two quarters, that one produced 10, and had four multiple goalkickers - Sam Weideman, James Harmes, Peter Wright and Jake Stringer all kicked two goals straight.
Quarter 4
00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:36
Max Gawn has had better nights in front of goal, scoring 0.1 from three shots at goal.
03:26
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
05:17
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
07:11
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Ed Langdon)
08:43
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Brayden Ham)
09:14
Melbourne lead marks inside 50 14-10. Before tonight, Essendon was averaging 15 marks inside 50 this season – ranked No.1 in the competition.
11:09
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Charlie Spargo)
13:15
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)
16:38
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
17:38
Fritsch finishes a Melbourne chain of play that started in its defensive 50 with a snap goal. The Demons have kicked both goals this quarter from turnovers starting in their back half.
17:54
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Archie Perkins)
20:15
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Peter Wright)
21:59
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Peter Wright)
23:46
The Bombers have kicked the last two goals from clearances, and have outscored Melbourne from this source 34-22 tonight. Before tonight the Bombers had been outscored by 27 points per game from clearances this season – ranked last.
23:52
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Ed Langdon)
26:04
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
27:44
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
29:34
The Bombers have matched Melbourne for inside 50s this quarter, but have been wasteful, booting 2.5 to the Demons' 4.2. Bailey Fritsch has kicked two goals straight.
29:59
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Sam Weideman)
31:44
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
32:30
Clayton Oliver was a standout for the match, recording game-highs for disposals (38), contested possessions (18) and score involvements (9).