Match

Essendon vs GWS Giants

Commentary / 11 May 2024

Pre Game

00:00
In Round 8, Jack Buckley became the third player since 2014 to have 17-plus spoils, 10-plus intercepts, 4-plus defensive one-on-one contest wins, and 0 contest losses.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
02:18
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Todd Goldstein)
03:57
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Stephen Coniglio)
06:10
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Jake Riccardi)
06:40
The Giants kicking efficiency is at 82% in the match so far compared to Essendon's 67. GWS is more effective inside the forward half with an efficiency of 82% compared to 22% in this measure.
07:49
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Jesse Hogan)
11:13
Essendon are ranked second in the league for uncontested differential this season in first quarters. They are in front 25 - 20 in this statistic with Nic Martin leading the way with five.
11:47
Bombers Interchange - Jake Stringer off due to the blood rule.
12:47
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
14:36
Essendon is applying more forward-half pressure than GWS and has a pressure rating of 187 to 136 in that zone.
15:01
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Alwyn Davey Jnr)
18:02
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Jesse Hogan)
19:53
Essendon has won the tackle count by 5.1 in the first quarters this season - ranked 1st. However, the Giants have started strong in this area - leading the count 14-11.
20:57
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Nick Haynes)
22:55
The Bombers have started strongly in the ruck contests this afternoon and are leading hitouts to advantage 8-2 but clearances are even at 8-8 apiece. Essendon are ranked third in clearance differential in first quarters this season.
23:19
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Darcy Jones)
25:03
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Conor Stone)
29:10
Nic Martin has had a strong start to the first quarter, with 11 disposals at 73% efficiency, nine uncontested possessions and three score involvements.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:21
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jade Gresham)
04:43
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Kyle Langford)
05:27
The Giants have been damaging on the outside of the contest to start the second quarter leading uncontested possessions (20-14) and handball receives (10-6).
06:20
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
07:47
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Toby Greene)
09:43
Bombers Interchange - Jye Caldwell off due to the blood rule.
11:53
The Giants have been a great stoppage team this season, scoring 36 points per game, and ranked 5th. Today they've scored 3.2 (20) from this source whilst only conceding 0.3 (3).
12:38
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Archie Perkins)
15:08
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Kyle Langford)
16:57
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Rushed)
17:05
Nic Martin is at his running and rebounding best so far this evening. Martin has 334 metres gained from his 16 disposals, kicking at 69% efficiency.
18:45
Jesse Hogan has been the forward 50 target on three occasions this match and he has five scoring involvements. He has kicked 1.1 (7) with one miss from three set shots which have all been from beyond 40 metres out.
21:19
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Stephen Coniglio)
23:03
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Jake Riccardi)
23:29
GIANTS Interchange - Jake Riccardi off due to an injury.
24:36
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Jesse Hogan)
25:10
Both teams are applying strong pressure so far in the match with Essendon leading 192 to GWS 186. This is above the season average of 182.
26:59
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Sam Durham)
28:43
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Kyle Langford)
31:22
Kyle Langford has been the forward 50 target on four occasions this match and he has four scoring involvements. He has kicked 2.1 (13) from three set shots with the goals coming from boundary snaps.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:10
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Toby Greene)
03:00
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
05:30
GIANTS Interchange - Jake Riccardi off due to an injury.
07:35
In the last 20 minutes, Essendon has scored 6.2 (38) to the Giants 4.5 (29) including five out of the last seven goals.
07:50
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Kyle Langford)
09:37
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Kyle Langford)
10:26
Kyle Langford kicks his fourth goal for the match. This is already an equal career-high in the first half. The only previous time he has achieved this was against West Coast in Round 21, 2023.
10:59
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Josh Kelly)
14:09
The Bombers have been strong in the territory battle - winning the inside 50 count 35-25. They have had 100 disposals inside the forward half compared to the Giants 79.
17:05
Bombers Interchange - Jayden Laverde off due to an injury.
17:21
It has been an intriguing contest in the ruck this evening between Kieran Briggs and Todd Goldstein with the Giants winning the clearance count 21 - 19, when they have been rucking opponents from 45 contests. Goldstein has had nine more hitouts-to-advantage.
17:43
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
22:50
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Rushed)
24:40
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Harrison Jones)
25:04
Ben McKay has a season-high five intercept marks to three-quarter time so far this season. His career-high in a match is nine which he achieved in Round 6 in 2022 against the Gold Coast Suns.
26:23
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Mason Redman)
28:11
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Harrison Jones)
29:47
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Nic Martin)
30:12
Tom Green had a strong third quarter, with 11 disposals at 64% efficiency, seven contested possessions, three clearances and six ground ball gets.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:43
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
02:49
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Toby Bedford)
06:11
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
08:54
Nic Cox has applied a game-high 23 pressure acts so far in this match, with 15 of these coming in the attacking half of the ground. He also has a tackle efficiency of 80% (4 tackles from 5 attempts).
10:36
Essendon's forward half pressure has been immense tonight - leading the tackle count 34-20. Kyle Langford is leading the way with four.
11:12
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Kieren Briggs)
11:56
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Nick Hind)
13:57
The Bombers have been deadly from general play - scoring 6.1 from that source - but they have been off target with 6.7 from set shots. Essendon already has seven individual goalkickers for the match.
17:35
Sam Durham has been a potent attacking weapon this evening with a game-high eight-score involvements. He has had four intercept possessions and helped launch four scores 2.1 13.
18:15
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
18:50
Essendon's defensive midfield ball movement has been strong this evening - with 24% (4.2 26) of its chains resulting in a score compared to the Giants' 10% (1.1 7) from this source.
21:31
Bombers Interchange - Matt Guelfi off due to an injury.
30:35
Tom Green tried his heart out for the Giants this evening with his equal sixth-highest amount of contested possessions with 18 in a match in his career. His career-high is 21 which he has achieved twice once against Melbourne in Round 17 in 2020 and then earlier this year in Round 2 against West Coast.