Pre Game
00:00
Marcus Bontempelli has polled Brownlow medal votes against all teams except Essendon. However, he has polled AFLCA votes in each of his last four games against the Bombers.
Quarter 1
00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:08
Essendon is ranked second-last in contested possession differential this season but has won five of the first six contested possessions to start this game.
01:33
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
02:13
The first goal of the game to the Bombers came from a centre bounce clearance. The Bulldogs are ranked second for centre bounce clearance differential this season.
03:46
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Mitch Wallis)
04:13
The first goal for the Bulldogs came from a chain started in the defensive 50. Essendon has struggled to defend such chains this season and conceded 17 points per game from these chains.
08:08
The Bulldogs have also struggled this season to defend opposition ball movement from the defensive 50, conceding 20 points per game from these chains (the second-most). The last goal to Peter Wright and Essendon came from such a chain.
13:40
Essendon has started the game with a kicking efficiency of 86 percent. The Bombers have kicked long from a set position with 51 percent of their kicks this season (more than any other team), but have kicked long in general play with only 37 percent of kicks (ranked 17th).
16:02
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Mitch Wallis)
16:09
A great start to the game for the popular Mitch Wallis with a pair of early goals and three disposals in the forward 50. Western Bulldogs lead 10-4 in forward 50 disposals.
18:33
After Essendon had an early 5-1 lead in contested possessions, Western Bulldogs lead 23-12 in this count since.
20:32
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Sam Draper)
22:06
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
24:51
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Jye Caldwell)
25:17
Only two of the first eight scores in this game have come from forward half chains, with both teams able to move the ball from the back half quite well. Just over 50 percent of scores this season have come from forward half chains.
26:40
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Laitham Vandermeer)
28:04
Bailey Dale is ranked second in the AFL for metres gained this season and has already recorded 319 metres gained today. No other player on the ground has more than 150 metres gained.
30:32
The Bulldogs had 10 of the last 14 inside 50 entries to end the opening quarter and finished the term with an 8-3 lead in forward half intercepts as they started to have the better of time in forward half.
Quarter 2
00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:03
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Laitham Vandermeer)
01:22
The Bulldogs have now had the last seven inside 50 entries and kicked the last three goals in this game, with their midfield starting to gain ascendancy.
03:12
The Bulldogs have used Caleb Daniel up the ground at times this season, but so far today, Daniel has played exclusively in defence with his nine disposals and creative ball use including two score involvements.
04:47
Bombers Interchange - Mason Redman off due to an injury.
04:49
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Nic Martin)
05:47
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Cody Weightman)
06:16
Jack Macrae and Marcus Bontempelli both rank in the top-5 for score assists this season, and have already recorded an assist each today, with Macrae providing the assist on the last score to Cody Weightman.
08:53
While Essendon has recorded a kicking efficiency of 91 percent in the defensive half, a kicking efficiency of only 48 percent in the forward half has seen a number of chains break down for the Bombers.
11:34
The Bulldogs have played on following a mark 39.6 percent of the time this season (ranked No.1). Both teams have played on more than 45 percent of the time today, with the ball movement at times frantic.
12:33
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Mitch Wallis)
13:01
Bombers Interchange - Nik Cox and is possibly out for the game.
13:36
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Mason Redman)
14:25
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Robbie McComb)
14:43
Western Bulldogs lead 11-4 in forward half intercepts and 13-1 in points scored from this source. The last goal to Robbie McComb (his first in the AFL) came from a forward half intercept.
19:35
The Bulldogs lead the inside 50 count 17-7 this quarter and 32-16 overall with the Bomber defence under siege. Essendon has conceded a goal from 28.4 percent of its opponents inside 50 entries this season (ranked last).
21:02
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Zaine Cordy)
21:08
The territorial dominance is now being converted onto the scoreboard for the Bulldogs who have had the ball in their forward for 64 percent of this quarter and scored two goals from forward half intercepts.
22:36
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
24:01
The goal to Peter Wright ends a run of five goals to the Bulldogs. Essendon has conceded more runs of three or more goals to its opposition this season than any other team.
26:18
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
27:18
Mason Redman has provided valuable rebound and offence today for the Bombers. Redman averages three score involvements per game this season but has already had an equal game-high six score involvements today.
28:31
Another strong quarter for the Bulldogs who again generated more inside 50 entries (17-11), and also recorded more ground balls (25-19) and tackles (14-10) with their deep midfield on top.
Quarter 3
00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:16
In addition to winning the inside 50 count, Western Bulldogs lead 36-18 in forward 50 disposals and 5-1 in uncontested marks in the forward 50.
02:11
Western Bulldogs lead 19-11 in forward half tackles including 8-2 in forward 50 tackles. This pressure has contributed to the Bulldogs leading 14-5 in forward half intercepts.
03:44
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Lachlan McNeil)
04:16
The Bulldogs average 16 points per game from forward 50 chains this season. Today they lead 24-1 in points scored from such chains.
04:59
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Josh Dunkley)
05:21
A great start to the third quarter for the Bulldogs who now have a game-high 25-point lead. The Bulldogs have had five of the first six inside 50 entries and restricted Essendon to a kicking efficiency of only 33 percent this term.
07:06
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Sam Draper)
08:35
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Kaine Baldwin)
08:51
A strong forward 50 tackle and accurate snap from Kaine Baldwin for his first AFL goal. The Bombers recorded just three tackles in the forward 50 last round against the Magpies, their equal fourth-fewest in any match since 2018.
11:48
In the last four rounds, the Bulldogs have lost 42 percent of their defensive one-on-one contests, which is the worst percentage in the league. Today the Bulldogs have lost two of four such contests, but the Bombers have not been able to exploit this more often.
13:55
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Roarke Smith)
14:06
The Bulldogs now lead 7-1 in uncontested marks in the forward 50 and have kicked an accurate 6.1.37 from set shots at goal.
15:15
Essendon continues to have trouble kicking the ball effectively in its forward half. The Bombers have recorded a forward half kicking efficiency of only 49 percent compared to the Western Bulldogs 62 percent. The AFL average is 58 percent.
16:29
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
16:46
Western Bulldogs now lead 20-5 in forward half intercepts and 37-1 in points scored from this source. The Bulldogs average 24 points per game from this source.
17:54
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Andrew McGrath)
20:19
Western Bulldogs lead 20-7 in forward 50 ground balls, with the Bombers again struggling to win the ball in their forward 50. Essendon ranks 17th for winning forward 50 ground balls this season.
20:59
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Tom Cutler)
23:01
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Robbie McComb)
24:43
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
25:27
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
26:14
Jack Macrae has won 47 clearances this season, which is ranked equal-third in the competition. Macrae is one of five Bulldogs to have won an equal game-high four clearances today, indicating the depth of the Bulldog midfield.
26:54
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Josh Dunkley)
27:37
Another turnover in the back half for the Bombers has been punished by the Bulldogs. Western Bulldogs now lead 22-7 in forward half intercepts and 43-3 in points scored from this source.
29:55
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Cody Weightman)
30:17
Much like the last encounter between these teams, the Bulldogs are again dismantling the Bombers in the second half. All seven goals to the Bulldogs this quarter have come from forward half chains with the Bombers getting stuck in their defensive half.
32:15
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Sam Draper)
33:15
The Bulldogs were terrific at punishing Bomber turnovers in the third quarter, recording forward half kicking efficiency of 71 percent (Essendon 44 percent). The inside 50 differential (21-10), was driven by forward half intercepts (11-2) with clearances even.
Quarter 4
00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:26
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Josh Dunkley)
01:34
Josh Dunkley has been a dangerous forward for the Bulldogs since halftime. All of his five score involvements have come since the main break, and he has also won a game-high 15 contested possessions.
02:29
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)
05:04
Western Bulldogs lead 82-64 in ground balls (including 26-17 in hard ball gets). The four players to have recorded the most ground balls today are all Bulldogs.
06:07
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Cody Weightman)
06:40
Essendon has conceded an average of 106 points per game this season, which is its most in the first six rounds since 2008. The defensive deficiencies of the Bombers have again been exposed today by the Bulldogs.
08:43
Bulldogs Interchange - Mitch Wallis and is possibly out for the game.
09:06
Western Bulldogs now lead 31-16 in forward half tackles, which includes 10-4 in forward 50 tackles. This pressure continues to see Essendon turn the ball over in its defence, with the forward half intercepts (27-7) heavily in favour of the Bulldogs.
11:11
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Tom Cutler)
11:50
Both teams have been accurate today with set shots at goal. The Bombers have returned 7.2 (including the last goal to Tom Cutler) and Western Bulldogs 8.2 from these shots at goal.
12:48
SCORE
GOAL - Bulldogs (Bailey Smith)
14:38
With the last goal to McNeil, another team goes past the 100-point total against the Bombers this season. The Bulldogs are now also starting to take control at stoppages, leading clearances (35-30) and scores from stoppages (34-20).
16:29
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Peter Wright)
17:05
Aaron Naughton and Jordan Ridley have again had a terrific match-up. Ridley has team-highs for spoils (8) and intercepts marks (3), while Naughton may not have kicked a goal, he has contributed a career-high five score assists.
18:13
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Peter Wright)
21:33
SCORE
BEHIND - Bulldogs (Josh Schache)
21:45
There continues to be a yawning gap in the different forward half numbers between these teams. Western Bulldogs lead 29-9 in forward half intercepts and 50-3 in points scored from this source. This is a season-high for the Bulldogs.
24:45
Peter Wright has again been productive for the Bombers. He has contributed a team-high eight score involvements (including four goals and one assist) and his eight disposals in the forward 50 are also a team-high.
27:05
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
29:24
Another comfortable win for the Bulldogs against the Bombers. While Essendon was able to match Western Bulldogs at stoppages (scores from this source 34-33), it was regularly stuck in its back half. The Bulldogs ultimately won forward half intercepts (29-10) and points scored from this source (50-3).