Match

Essendon vs Fremantle

Commentary / 17 Apr 2022

Pre Game

00:00
The Bombers have been prone to leaking consecutive goals this season, conceding three or more goals on 12 separate occasions, which is clearly the most of any team across the first four games.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:34
The opening centre bounce clearance was won by the Bombers but they were unable to score from this chain, Fremantle has scored only three points per game from centre bounce clearances and conceded 15 points per game from this source.
01:24
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
01:46
The first score of the game to Essendon was sourced from a forward half intercept. The Bombers are ranked in the bottom-3 at generating such intercepts but ranked in the top-3 for converting these intercepts into scores.
02:56
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Caleb Serong)
04:35
Bombers Interchange - Andrew Phillips off due to an injury.
04:54
The last three games between these teams at this venue have resulted in narrow wins to Essendon with scores of 68-61, 63-57 and 60-53. The opening exchanges today have been conservative hinting at possibly another low-scoring encounter.
07:51
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jye Caldwell)
08:00
The second score for the Bombers came from a forward half clearance. Essendon has averaged only 10.5 points from this source, which is ranked 16th.
09:38
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Michael Frederick)
09:45
The excellent long goal from Michael Frederick was sourced from a defensive half intercept. Essendon has conceded 42 points per game from such intercepts (ranked 16th), while Fremantle has conceded only 12 points from this source (ranked No.1).
12:53
A second goal to the Dockers from a defensive half intercept, with David Mundy providing the assist. Mundy averages only 19 disposals against Essendon (his lowest return against any team). However, in his last three games against the Bombers, he is averaging 29 disposals, 14 contested possessions, and seven clearances.
14:15
Fremantle has started its games well this season, winning all of its opening quarters by an average of 12 points, and not conceding more than 13 points to its opposition in the first quarter.
15:48
Bombers Interchange - Andrew Phillips and is possibly out for the game.
15:54
Fremantle has an early 20-11 lead in contested possessions. The Bombers have lost the contested possession count by 18 per game this season, which is the worst differential of any team.
16:07
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Nic Martin)
19:56
Essendon has recorded kicking efficiency of 90 percent in the defensive half, but forward half kicking efficiency of only 33 percent to start the game.
20:13
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Nic Martin)
20:45
The impressive Nic Martin has kicked the first goal for the Bombers, and it came from a forward half clearance. Essendon has scored from all three of its forward half clearances, while Fremantle is yet to score from its three forward half clearances.
23:08
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Tom Cutler)
23:18
All five scores for Essendon have come from forward half chains, while the three scores for Fremantle have all come from defensive half chains.
26:28
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Bailey Banfield)
27:45
Fremantle has an early 7-2 lead in hitouts to advantage. The Bombers are ranked second in this measure this season.
28:44
Another low-scoring arm wrestle between these teams in the opening quarter. Fremantle had the edge in contested possessions (36-28) and display better ball movement leading 13-0 in points scored from the back half.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:16
Will Brodie won a game-high four clearances for the Dockers in the opening quarter. Brodie recorded 43 pre-clearance contested possessions in the first four rounds, which is ranked equal-first in the competition.
00:43
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Devon Smith)
01:53
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Nic Martin)
02:05
Essendon has an early 9-3 lead in intercept marks (including 4-0 in the forward half) and also leads 9-5 in forward half intercepts. It was an intercept mark in the forward half which launched the last goal to Nic Martin.
04:48
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (David Mundy)
04:55
Fremantle leads 21-11 in tackles which is primarily due to recording tackle efficiency of 91 percent compared to Essendon with a tackle efficiency of only 50 percent.
06:06
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Nik Cox)
06:20
The goal to Nik Cox was the first score to the Bombers to come from a defensive half chain, and it was from a kick-in. Essendon generated only three scores from this source across the first four games.
08:06
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Matt Taberner)
08:25
Some good forward half pressure from the Dockers provided the last scoring opportunity. Fremantle now leads 12-7 in forward half tackles.
10:01
The mark and goal to Alec Waterman was the first score of the game to come from a centre bounce. Essendon leads 5-2 in centre bounce clearances and 5-1 in forward 50 marks.
11:51
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Sam Switkowski)
12:20
Both of the goals to the Dockers this quarter have come from forward half intercepts. Essendon leads 40-31 in corridor disposals, but both of these goals to Fremantle have come from corridor turnovers.
15:53
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Andrew Brayshaw)
18:26
While Fremantle leads 19-18 for inside 50 entries, Essendon leads 26-13 in forward 50 disposals. Devon Smith has had seven of these disposals including four shots at goal for a return of 0.2.
19:35
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Bailey Banfield)
20:00
Another turnover in the corridor, this time from a Rory Lobbb tackle led to the goal to Bailey Banfield. The Dockers have scored three goals from five forward half intercepts this quarter.
21:20
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Michael Walters)
21:28
Michael Walters has recorded a shot at goal accuracy of just 20 percent this season, which is ranked 49th of the top 50 players for total shots at goal. Unfortunately for the Dockers, his two attempts so far today have also been errant.
22:24
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Nik Cox)
24:44
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
24:56
An excellent smother and loose ball win by Ben Hobbs launched the last goal to the Bombers. Hobbs is currently the No.1 ranked pressure player for the Bombers.
25:09
Bombers Interchange - Devon Smith off due to an injury.
26:08
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Bailey Banfield)
26:51
The goal to Bailey Banfield came from a centre bounce clearance and was only the second goal this season to the Dockers from this source.
32:23
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Nik Cox)
32:26
In the second quarter, Essendon edged Fremantle for contested possessions (37-31) and inside 50 entries (13-10). Both teams improved their forward half kicking efficiency from below 35 percent in the first quarter to above 50 percent in the second quarter resulting in more scoring opportunities.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:49
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Rory Lobb)
00:58
A terrific contested mark to start the third quarter by Rory Lobb has been followed by a missed set shot at goal. Fremantle now leads 7-3 in contested marks but has a return of only 2.5 from its set shots at goal.
03:19
Fremantle has dominated the opening minutes of the third quarter with Matt Taberner continuing to cause Essendon problems. Taberner has now kicked 21 goals against the Bombers in his career which is his best return against any team.
07:17
Fremantle has outscored its opponents by 37.3 points per game from intercept possessions this season (ranked No.1) and was ranked last in that measure last season. The Dockers currently lead 38-17 in points scored from this source.
10:11
Fremantle leads 10-3 in the tackle count this quarter and 37-22 overall. Both teams are ranked mid-table for tackle differential this season, but the Bombers were ranked No.1 in this measure last season.
13:53
The Dockers have taken a mark from only 16 percent of its kicks into the forward 50 this season (ranked 16th). Today, Fremantle has taken just six such marks from 32 inside 50 entries.
15:37
Fremantle continues to display the better ball movement and now leads 20-7 in points scored from the back half and 44-17 in points scored from intercepts.
16:53
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Sean Darcy)
17:29
The Dockers also now lead 14-6 in points scored from centre bounce clearances, and this is the first time in 2022 they have kicked multiple goals from this source.
18:34
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Matt Taberner)
18:49
An equal career-high five goals now to Matt Taberner. The key forward has kicked four or more goals on eight occasions in his career, with Essendon the opposition four times.
21:36
The Dockers lead 22-11 in ground ball gets this quarter with their midfield able to outnumber the Bombers and win loose balls 16-3.
22:19
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Andrew Brayshaw)
22:49
Six goals in a row to the Dockers who are dismantling the Bombers this quarter. Essendon has now conceded three or more goals on 13 separate occasions this season.
24:30
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Matt Taberner)
24:54
Fremantle leads 27-0 in points scored from free-kicks, with the Essendon defence at times scrambling unsuccessfully against the Docker forward entries.
26:26
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Bailey Banfield)
27:25
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Devon Smith)
29:45
Fremantle continues to move the ball with ease and now leads 27-8 in points scored from the back half, while Michael Walters and Devon Smith continue their struggles in front of goal. The two veteran forwards have combined for nine shots at goal that have returned just 0.4.
30:40
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Peter Wright)
31:48
A powerful third quarter from the Dockers who have only once scored more than 39 points in a quarter against the Bombers in Victoria.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:13
Essendon has won 13 of the 14 games between these teams at this venue. The last time that Fremantle defeated Essendon at this venue was in Round 2, 2010 (three weeks before Nat Fyfe made his debut).
00:48
Alex Pearce has again been an important defender for the Dockers today opposed to Peter Wright. The Bomber key forward is yet to have an effective kick, while Pearce has won four intercepts and recorded eight effective disposals.
02:55
Andrew Brayshaw currently has game-highs for both contested possessions (12) and uncontested possessions (17), again showing his ability to win the ball both at stoppages and in general play.
04:43
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Travis Colyer)
06:00
While Essendon leads 28-24 in hardball gets, Fremantle leads 51-34 in loose ball gets, indicating the superior ability of the Dockers to outnumber at contests.
06:54
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Matt Taberner)
07:41
The Dockers have been outscored by 17 points per game from clearances this season (ranked last). Today Fremantle leads 35-15 in scores from this source.
08:40
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Michael Frederick)
09:08
Nine goals in a row now to the Dockers. Fremantle has scored 8.2 with shots at goal from within 40 metres, while Essendon has scored only 3.8 from attempts from a similar range.
10:16
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Archie Perkins)
12:24
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Sean Darcy)
12:26
Dockers Interchange - Nathan O'Driscoll off due to an injury.
12:48
Fremantle has a small 21-19 edge in forward half intercepts, but a major 38-17 lead in points scored from this source following the last goal to Sean Darcy.
17:08
While Fremantle leads 49-38 in inside 50 entries, Essendon leads 48-39 in forward 50 disposals but many of these disposals have been pressured handballs.
17:23
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Alec Waterman)
18:37
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Sam Draper)
18:48
A pair of late goals to the Bombers ends the run of ten goals to the Dockers. The biggest ever win by the Dockers in Victoria against the Bombers is 44 points, which was in their last such win in 2010.
20:27
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jye Caldwell)
23:20
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Sean Darcy)
23:50
Essendon has conceded 108 points per game this season, which is ranked last, and the most it has conceded in the first month of a season since 2008. The lowest score against Essendon this season is 97 points.
25:09
Young Docker Nathan O'Driscoll has been prolific today with a team-high 464 metres gained from his 21 disposals which also includes three score assists.
26:16
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Sam Switkowski)
28:25
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Sean Darcy)
28:49
A comprehensive win for the Dockers who were too good in most areas including clearances (43-29), loose ball gets ( 64-45) and scores from turnovers (70-30) in recording their biggest ever win against Essendon in Melbourne.