Pre Game
00:00
Essendon has lost three of its last four matches against Carlton by an average margin of just 10 points.
Quarter 1
00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:13
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Jack Martin)
02:13
Carlton's opening goal comes from their defensive 50 zone. Essendon has averaged 19.2 points against for points conceded from their forward 50, ranked last this season.
04:02
The Bombers have won 11 quarters this season, ranked equal 16th in the AFL – with only the Eagles winning fewer.
06:43
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
08:59
SCORE
BEHIND - Blues (Zac Fisher)
09:32
Blues Interchange - Adam Cerra and is possibly out for the game.
10:28
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Mason Redman)
10:41
Zach Merrett has reached 30 disposals in only one of his 10 career games against the Blues, averaging 22.7 disposals – his fewest against any opponent.
11:50
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Harry McKay)
12:15
All scores for Carlton so far has come from their defensive half zones. Carlton are also moving the ball through the corridor leading kicks 9-5. Nic Newman has a game-high four disposals in the corridor zone, two of them resulting in scores.
14:58
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Matthew Owies)
15:55
Inside 50's are level with four apiece. Carlton has scored each time going inside 50, compared to Essendon going at 50% for scores from inside 50's.
16:51
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Harrison Jones)
19:05
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Sam Draper)
19:59
Essendon currently leading contested marks 5-1, marks inside 50, 4-2 and loose ball gets 4-0 in forward half zones.
21:35
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Dylan Shiel)
25:21
Essendon are going at a tackle efficiency rate of 100% with 14 tackles, compared to Carlton with 18 tackles but only at 56% tackle efficiency.
27:56
Essendon's defence in the past 10 minutes has held up. The Blues have the past seven inside 50's but have been unable to score in this period.
29:32
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Charlie Curnow)
29:36
Carlton with the slight lead at quarter time. The Blues scored 18 points from turnovers to Essendon's eight points. All 18 points coming from their defensive half.
Quarter 2
00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:14
SCORE
BEHIND - Blues (Charlie Curnow)
02:29
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Harry McKay)
05:23
Essendon lead centre clearances 7-1. The Bombers have scored one goal to Carlton's zero goals from this source and have converted all seven centre clearances into inside 50's.
06:57
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Harrison Jones)
10:49
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Jack Silvagni)
13:03
Carlton winning the battle in the air in this second term. Carlton lead contested marks 3-0, intercept marks 2-0 and marks inside 50 5-0.
14:42
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Patrick Cripps)
15:41
Essendon winning clearances 7-2 for the term but The Blues have scored two goals from their two clearances compared to Essendon's one goal.
18:51
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Sam Draper)
20:36
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Peter Wright)
22:42
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Matthew Cottrell)
23:24
Essendon has conceded 30 points from their defensive half this match.
24:58
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
27:19
Dylan Shiel has been Essendon's best so far. Shiel has a game-high 15 disposals, nine contested possessions, six clearances, two score launches and one goal from a stoppage.
27:43
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Harry McKay)
30:07
SCORE
BEHIND - Blues (Rushed)
32:25
Carlton scored 18 points from their forward 50 zone in the second term. Carlton averages 14.5 points per game this season, ranked 14th.
Quarter 3
00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:41
The Bombers have conceded 27.5 points per game in the third quarter – ranked last.
03:22
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Charlie Curnow)
03:48
Carlton's early dominance in the half leads to the first goal. Carlton are plus five in contested possessions, plus four in ground ball gets and plus 10 in post-clearance disposals.
05:40
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Zac Fisher)
06:18
Similar to the first half, Carlton's opening two goals of the half both come from forward half chains. From 17 attacking midfield chains, Carlton have gone inside 50 81% of the time for 19 points.
08:18
In the last four rounds, the Blues have been outscored by 10.7 points per game in the third term – ranked 16th.
08:33
SCORE
BEHIND - Blues (Corey Durdin)
09:46
SCORE
BEHIND - Blues (Corey Durdin)
10:41
Jake Kelly has taken 19 intercept marks this season – ranked equal-first at the club with Jordan Ridley. Kelly (two) and Ridley (two) have four combined tonight.
13:34
SCORE
GOAL - Blues (Matthew Owies)
15:45
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Harrison Jones)
16:25
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Archie Perkins)
16:58
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
18:38
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Zach Merrett)
19:43
From 10 defensive 50 chains, this quarter, The Blues have a inside 50 conversion rate of just 20% and are have scored from 10% of chains. In the first half, Carlton went inside 50 from 53% of defensive 50 chains and scored 27% of the time.
23:50
Bombers Interchange - Darcy Parish and is possibly out for the game.
24:36
SCORE
GOAL - Bombers (Dyson Heppell)
26:56
Blues Interchange - Jack Silvagni off due to an injury.
28:17
Essendon up to 56 tackles for the match. The Bombers average 46 tackles a game this season - ranked 18th. The AFL average is 56.2.
29:23
Essendon won the territory battle in the 3rd term winning inside 50s 16-12 and time in forward half 59% - 41% but their dominance failed to show on the scoreboard. Carlton were 40 in disposals, 35 in uncontested possessions and 24 in marks.
Quarter 4
00:00
Q4 is now underway.
02:02
Carlton has outscored its opponents by 10.4 points per game from centre bounce clearances – ranked No.1. The next-best side in this measure is GWS Giants with a differential of plus 5.3 points per game. This match, Carlton are yet to score from a centre bounce clearance, Essendon has scored seven points.
02:26
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
05:03
Matthew Owies has recorded 27.4 forward half pressure points per game – ranked No.1 at the club. Owies leads the game tonight with 27 forward half pressure points.
05:35
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Peter Wright)
11:09
Carlton are yet to record a disposal in their forward 50 this term.
12:30
SCORE
BEHIND - Blues (Jack Silvagni)
13:53
SCORE
BEHIND - Blues (Rushed)
15:11
The Blues have been able to prevent Essendon's run from defence this match. Essendon has only gone inside 50 on seven occasions from 33 defensive 50 chains.
18:59
Carlton with the last nine of 10 inside 50's for the match. In this time, Carlton has just scored the two points.
20:52
The Bombers have recorded a pressure factor of 174 – ranked last in the competition. This match, Essendon are going at a pressure factor of 183. Carlton are going at 189.
22:14
Sam Docherty with a game-high 32 disposals (28 recorded in the defensive half), 701 metres gained, 13 handball receives and a disposal efficiency rate of 88%.
23:13
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
23:41
SCORE
BEHIND - Bombers (Dyson Heppell)
24:46
The sides were even at the contest, Carlton winning clearances 35-32 and Essendon winning hard ball gets 24-16. However, Carlton were more dominant on the turnover, scoring 53 points from intercept chains (34 points from defensive half) to Essendon's 32 points.