Match

Essendon vs North Melbourne

Commentary / 19 May 2024

Pre Game

00:00
2023 Draftee (pick No.22) Wil Dawson makes his debut for North Melbourne today. Dawson is the sixth debutant for the Kangaroos this year, the most of any club.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
03:59
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Luke Davies-Uniacke)
04:58
In the first five minutes of the game, the ball spent 76% of its time in the Kangaroo's forward half, leading to the first goal of the game.
07:04
Harry Sheezel just conceded the Kangaroos 15th 50-metre penalty of the year, the most of any team in the competition.
09:38
Essendon leads the uncontested possession count 22-12. On average this year they win 18 more uncontested possessions than their opponents
10:19
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
12:06
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Nick Larkey)
12:42
Tristan Xerri is on top of ex-teammate Todd Goldstein in the ruck battle early, leading hitouts (6-4), and hitouts to advantage (3-0). In this time North Melbourne has also won the clearance count (8-3).
17:40
North Melbourne currently has a kick-to-handball ratio of 2.06. This is in stark contrast to their yearly average of 1.39 - ranked 15th in the league.
20:52
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Toby Pink)
23:10
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Toby Pink)
24:09
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
25:38
With eight disposals, Nic Martin has the most disposals on the ground, three more than any other player. He also has the most uncontested possessions (five). He leads the competition in this category, averaging 22 a game.
26:49
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Zach Merrett)
30:03
The Kangaroos lead the clearance count (13-7). Tom Powell and Davies-Uniacke both have three clearances. Davies-Uniacke averages six clearances a game, the second most for the Kangaroos.
31:40
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Peter Wright)
32:35
Peter Wright gives Essendon their first lead of the game. Wright has been the equal most targeted player along with Harry Jones when the Bombers go inside 50.
33:52
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Elijah Tsatas)
33:57
Essendon finished the quarter strong kicking the last three goals to take a 12-point lead into quarter time. The Bombers have not lost this year when in front at quarter time.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:05
Jye Caldwell wins the centre bounce clearance for the Bombers to start the second quarter. This was their first centre bounce clearance, losing all five in the first quarter.
02:29
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Cameron Zurhaar)
03:27
Cam Zurhaar has kicked his first for the day, coming from a contested mark. It was the Kangaroos first contested mark of the game, while the Bombers have had four. The Kangaroos average six contested marks a game this year, ranked 18th.
04:06
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Peter Wright)
05:24
After being tagged in the first quarter and obtaining only three disposals, Zach Merrett has started the quarter strongly with his two disposals leading to shots on goal, including Peter Wrights's last goal.
09:27
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Harrison Jones)
11:40
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)
12:01
A marked difference in pressure for the Bombers in the second quarter going at a pressure rating of 208 compared to 182 in the first quarter. The league average is 182.
13:13
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
15:38
One area of the game the Kangaroos continue to dominate is the clearances (20-12) and centre bounce clearances (7-3). However, Essendon has outscored the Kangaroos from stoppages by 11 points.
15:49
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Paul Curtis)
17:15
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jaidyn Stephenson)
19:20
Jye Caldwell has a team-high and equal game-high 12 disposals, six contested possessions, and a game-high six score involvements. He also has 233 metres gained, leading all players.
22:22
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Curtis Taylor)
25:00
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
26:45
Tom Powell has a game-high six clearances, including two centre clearances. It is the most he has had in a half in his career. The most clearances he has had in a game is eight, coming in round two this year.
28:30
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
28:52
The Bombers have out-tackled North Melbourne (35-18). The Bombers average five more tackles than their opposition in 2024. Only four Kangaroo players have more than one tackle.
30:44
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Zane Duursma)
30:48
North Melbourne goes into halftime leading the contested possession count (57-52). They are the only side in the AFL not to win the contested possession count in a game this year.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
02:37
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
04:48
Ben Mckay sets up Stringer for the Bomber's second of the quarter after hitting him on a lead inside 50. The Bombers have had eight marks on a lead in this game and average 10 marks on a lead per game in 2024 ranked first.
04:55
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
08:48
Since coming into the team in Round 4, Charlie Comben has taken 23 intercept marks – ranked second in the AFL. He has taken four of the Kangaroos five intercept marks today.
09:43
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
11:32
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Nick Larkey)
11:58
Nick Larkey booted five goals from six kicks against the Bombers in Round 22 last season. He has been the most targeted forward for the Kangaroos today for a return of 1.1 (7).
14:00
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Peter Wright)
14:59
Peter Wright's third goal of the game was also the Bomber's third goal sourced from a forward half throw-in.
15:45
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Luke Davies-Uniacke)
16:34
Davies-Uniacke has been influential for North Melbourne kicking his second goal to go with 19 disposals, six clearances and six score involvements.
19:12
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Alwyn Davey Jnr)
19:16
Kangaroos Interchange - Miller Bergman and is possibly out for the game.
19:49
Peter Wright has taken two contested marks in the third quarter, the same number North Melbourne have taken for the game. He also has four hitouts and three score involvements.
22:25
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jade Gresham)
22:39
Jade Gresham's first goal of the day was also the first goal sourced from a free kick from either team today and gives Essendon the biggest lead of the game.
24:14
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Peter Wright)
25:07
Four goals is the most goals Peter Wright has kicked against North Melbourne having kicked three goals against them twice previously. The most goals he has kicked in a game is seven in round 21, 2021.
27:37
The Bombers have taken control of the third term leading the disposal count (90-52), marks (24-8), inside 50s (16-9) and have kicked an accurate 6.1 (37) to 2.0 (12).
28:29
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jake Stringer)
30:12
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
31:37
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Archie Perkins)
32:52
The end to a dominant third term for the Bombers scoring a season-high 8.2 (50) eclipsing the 37 points they scored in a quarter against Collingwood in round 7.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
02:31
Tristan Xerri gives the Kangaroos the start they needed to the fourth. He has had 32 hitouts for the game, nine to advantage, as well as six clearances. He averages 6.6 clearances a game, second among ruckman.
04:51
Bombers Interchange - Sam Durham and is possibly out for the game.
06:09
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Peter Wright)
06:58
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Paul Curtis)
07:20
After leading the contested possession count in the first half, North Melbourne has had 28 fewer in the second half.
11:12
Harry Sheezel has had game highs in disposals (27) and handball receives (13), as well as seven marks. He is ranked fifth in the league for marks, averaging 7.9.
11:53
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Eddie Ford)
15:38
Kyle Langford has been unable to add to his 24 goals for the year with Aidan Corr locking down on him. Langford has only been goalless once this year, in round 4 against Port Adelaide.
19:31
Since Round 5, the Bombers have won the inside 50 count by 10.2 per game – ranked second. They lead the inside 50s (61-37).
19:35
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
21:04
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Darcy Tucker)
23:05
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Peter Wright)
23:25
Essendon has played on from marks 26% of the time today. This is up from their season average of 21% which ranks them 10th.
24:07
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Kyle Langford)
27:08
Zac Fisher has had 13 disposals for the Kangaroos in the last quarter, as well as 2 intercept possessions. He has totaled 31 for the match, a week after tallying a career-high 34 disposals.
27:42
A big third term gets the Bombers home and places them second on the ladder. Jye Caldwell finished with nine clearances, six more than any other teammate. He also finished with nine score involvements, an equal game-high.