Match

Western Bulldogs vs West Coast Eagles

Commentary / 31 Mar 2024

Pre Game

00:00

The Eagles have won just one of their last 20 trips interstate, that being a seven-point victory over the Bulldogs in Round 23 last year.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

01:30

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jamie Cripps)

02:51

The Bulldogs have started with physicality, laying the first eight tackles of the match.

05:56

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)

06:23

The Bulldogs posted a tackle efficiency of 71.4% last round, the best percentage of any side. They've had 100% tackle efficiency early in this game.

07:07

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Williams)

07:49

Jack Williams was brought into the side for Harry Barnett and kicks his first goal of the season with his first kick of the season.

08:37

West Coast's has transitioned the ball well early in this match. Of the five chains starting in their defensive half, they've scored twice.

09:26

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Cody Weightman)

10:14

Cody Weightman kicked a career high six goals last week against Gold Coast, including four in the opening quarter.

11:34

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)

11:56

The Bulldogs are owning the ball, leading uncontested possessions (36-13). They've had 54% time in possession to West Coast's 31%.

13:40

Buku Khamis has averaged nine disposals in the opening two games. He's already had seven opening quarter disposals, including three rebound 50's.

14:46

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Bailey Dale)

16:43

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jake Waterman)

17:04

All three of West Coast's scores have been generated from chains starting in their defensive half.

20:50

The Bulldogs have spent 67% of the quarter in their forward half and lead inside 50's (11-7). The Eagles defence is holding up well, rebounding on 10 occasions.

22:28

Of Tom Liberatore's seven disposals, six have been contested possessions. He's also had two tackles, two clearances and four score involvements.

24:39

The Dogs are winning the aerial battle so far. They lead contested marks (8-3). The average contested marks per game is nine across the competition.

25:09

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)

25:39

Marcus Bontempelli had 32 disposals, 21 contested possessions and 12 clearances when these sides last met in 2023. Three of his four disposals in this game have been score involvements.

26:28

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jake Waterman)

28:21

Jake Waterman has been the focal point for the Eagles up forward. Waterman has been involved in all four of his teams scores, including a goal and a goal assist.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

02:00

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)

04:40

Tim English finished with 51 hitouts and 11 hitouts-to-advantage when he last faced Bailey Williams. However Williams leads hitouts-to-advantage (5-2) in this game.

05:56

The Bulldogs average 12.5 contested marks per game in the opening two rounds. They've already taken 10 contested marks early in the second quarter.

07:02

The Bulldogs have kicked all three of their goals from turnovers, while the Eagles are yet to register a score from a turnover.

07:45

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Harvey Gallagher)

08:36

The Bulldogs get their first goal from a stoppage situation. Tom Liberatore generated the goal. He's had four of his team's seven clearances, as well as a game-high eight contested possessions.

09:51

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Harvey Gallagher)

10:46

The Bulldogs lead inside 50's (6-5) in this quarter but lead goals (3-0) for the quarter.

13:02

West Coast only took nine contested marks across the opening two rounds. They've already taken eight in this game, including a hanger from Tyler Brockman.

13:26

Bulldogs Interchange - Cody Weightman off due to an injury.

14:12

This quarter, the Bulldogs are playing on 47% of the time after a mark, while the Eagles are only playing on 9% of the time.

16:21

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Laitham Vandermeer)

16:46

The Bulldogs have kicked five goals in a row. Their last goal came from end-to-end ball movement. They lead uncontested possessions (48-31) this term.

18:56

The Dogs are applying far more pressure than the Eagles. They have a pressure rating of 1.91 to West Coast's 1.56 and lead tackles (26-12).

20:56

Elliot Yeo had eight clearances against the Giants last week. He's had a game-high six clearances today.

21:27

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Tim English)

21:41

The Bulldogs have kicked a goal from 50% of their forward 50 entries this term. The competition average for goals per inside 50 is 18.9%.

23:23

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)

24:21

Adam Treloar had four disposals in the opening term but has had a quarter-high 12 disposals in the second.

24:49

Eagles Interchange - Reuben Ginbey off due to an injury.

25:28

Despite the inside 50 count being evenly balanced at (11-10) in the Bulldogs favour this quarter, the Dogs have scored 32 points to West Coast's one point.

27:22

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Tim English)

27:47

Tim English has kicked two goals from contested marks this quarter. The Bulldogs have taken 14 contested marks in the opening half.

28:45

The Bulldogs kicked six goals to zero in the second quarter, despite only winning the inside 50 count (12-11). The Dogs moved the ball with ease and had measured inside 50 entries, while the Eagles had rushed entries.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

01:18

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jamie Cripps)

01:56

While getting heavily beaten in the game, the Eagles are leading clearances (21-12). Despite their clearance dominance, they've only kicked a single goal from their 21 clearances.

02:34

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jamarra Ugle-Hagan)

03:09

The Bulldogs continue to transition the ball from end-to-end with ease, now scoring five goals from chains starting in their defensive half.

04:06

The Bulldogs have kicked (8.1) from set shots.

04:54

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Rushed)

05:57

Marcus Bontempelli has taken a game-high three contested marks, however has been unusually quiet, with just six disposals so far in this game.

07:16

West Coast leads inside 50's (6-1) this quarter but are yet to register a goal, while the Dogs converted from their only entry.

09:41

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Rhylee West)

10:20

The Bulldogs kick an unbelievable team goal, led by ruckman Tim English, who was running like a midfielder with handball receives. The Dogs continue to dominate uncontested possessions, leading (33-13) this term.

13:09

The game is continuing a similar trend, with the Eagles winning clearances (5-1 this term and 25-13 for the match) but the Dogs winning the ball back and transitioning with uncontested chains. They lead uncontested possessions (190-96).

14:37

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jamie Cripps)

14:57

Jamie Cripps kicked five goals when these teams met last season. Today he's only managed three behinds.

15:33

The Eagles lead inside 50's (11-4) this term but are losing the quarter by nine points.

18:01

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Caleb Daniel)

18:25

The Bulldogs have now kicked 10 consecutive goals.

19:08

The Dogs are kicking a goal from 41% of their inside 50 entries in this game. The competition average is 18.9%.

20:25

Adam Treloar had 35 and 32 disposals in his last two encounters with the Eagles. He's had a game-high 25 disposals so far today.

21:14

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)

21:58

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Laitham Vandermeer)

23:13

The Bulldogs have taken 19 contested marks in this game. Only the Giants have taken more in a game this season, with 22 in Round 1.

25:05

The ball has spent 56% of the quarter in West Coast's forward half but they trail goals this quarter (0-3).

26:09

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jamie Cripps)

26:28

Jamie Cripps has now kicked (0.4). The Eagles have kicked (17.25) for the season.

28:03

The Dogs have had huge uncontested possession numbers in this game, leading (221-124). The most uncontested possessions in a game this season is 277 by Fremantle, which they are well on track to beat.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

01:03

Elliot Yeo continues to battle manfully for the Eagles. Like last week, he's had another eight clearances, as well as a game-high 13 contested possessions.

03:04

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Bailey J. Williams)

03:13

The Bulldogs have kicked (8.1) from set shots, while the Eagles have kicked (2.4) from set shots.

04:00

Lachlan Bramble has been a great acquisition for the Dogs this season. Bramble has averaged 21 disposals across the opening two rounds and has achieved the same number with a quarter remaining.

04:22

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Reuben Ginbey)

06:18

Aaron Naughton has been heavily involved in Bulldogs chains today. Naughton has a game-high 10 score involvements from his 18 disposals, including three goal assists.

07:21

The Dogs have a disposal efficiency of 80% in this game, comfortably above the competition average of 73%. This has been made easy by a lack of Eagles pressure. The Eagles have a pressure rating of 1.60, below the league average of 1.82.

08:07

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Cody Weightman)

08:59

It is 11 unanswered goals for the Bulldogs. Weightman kicks goal number nine for the season, leading the goalkicking for the Dogs so far this year.

10:25

Marcus Bontempelli has had limited impact with ball in hand but has a game-high nine tackles.

13:11

Laitham Vandermeer averaged 11 disposals across the opening two rounds. He's had 20 disposals today, including 10 marks and six score involvements.

15:14

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)

16:26

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jamie Cripps)

16:34

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has been the most commonly used target inside forward 50 today. He has been kicked to nine times but has only managed a single goal.

17:09

Jamie Cripps finally breaks the streak of 11 consecutive goals for the Bulldogs. It was their first goal since the 16 minute mark of the opening term.

17:54

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jack Petruccelle)

18:38

Since half-time, the Eagles lead inside 50's (25-20) but trail second half goals (1-5).

19:30

SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Sam Darcy)

20:34

Remarkably, the Eagles lead inside 50's (49-46) for the match. They have scored from just 6% of their inside 50's compared to the Bulldogs' 28%.

20:59

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Elliot Yeo)

21:49

The Eagles have kicked (2.6) from set shots. The Bulldogs have kicked (9.2) from the same source.

22:51

The Bulldogs have maintained a pressure rating of 1.88 across the entire game, despite owning the ball for large parts of the game. They lead tackles (56-48).

23:54

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)

24:29

The Bulldogs have dominated goals from turnovers in this game (9-0). Eight of their 14 goals have come from chains starting in their defensive half.

26:01

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jamie Cripps)

26:54

The Bulldogs have now had 278 uncontested possessions, which is the most registered in a game this season.

27:05

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Adam Treloar)

27:24

Adam Treloar puts the cherry on top of a great game with a goal. Treloar has had 32 disposals, nine score involvements, six clearances and a goal.

28:34

SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Sam Darcy)

28:44

The Bulldogs have also registered the most disposals in a game this season (418), surpassing 417 from Essendon against St Kilda this round.

31:23

The Bulldogs owned the ball throughout the game, registering the most disposals (421) and uncontested possessions (283) for a game this season.