Western Bulldogs vs Brisbane Lions — Rd 5 2025 Commentary@endsection
Match

Western Bulldogs vs Brisbane Lions

Commentary / 12 Apr 2025

Pre Game

00:00
49% of the Bulldogs' score this season have come from clearance chains - the highest rate in the AFL.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:01
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rhylee West)
02:26
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
02:31
Bulldogs Interchange - James Harmes off due to an injury.
02:45
The Bulldogs get on the board first through Aaron Naughton, from a defensive 50 intercept chain. They average just 5.5 points per game from this source this season, ranked 17th overall.
06:15
The Bulldogs have registered the first three clearances of the match. However, they have yet to turn any of these clearances into a scoring chain.
06:41
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Zac Bailey)
07:47
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Logan Morris)
08:25
The Lions complete a defense-to-attack transition, capped off with a goal from Logan Morris. The Lions have launched a score from 15.1% of the defensive half chains this season - ranked second in the competition.
09:07
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Ryley Sanders)
12:55
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Logan Morris)
13:10
Logan Morris slots his second goal of the match, to bring the scores level. It's the Lions second goal from a defensive half ball movement chain.
14:05
After 14 minutes, the Bulldogs are yet to register a tackle. Conversely, the Lions have only registered four.
16:55
Harris Andrews leads all players on the ground for contested marks, registering three already - one more than the entire Bulldogs team. Andrews averages one contested mark per game so far this season, ranked first for the Lions.
17:40
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
19:51
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Rushed)
21:24
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Bailey Williams)
22:00
Both teams have been wasteful in their forward halves, with the Bulldogs and Lions going at just 37% and 50% kicking efficiency respectively forward-of-centre.
23:05
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Charlie Cameron)
24:12
Josh Dunkley is continuing his fine 2025 form so far, registering four tackles - two more than any other player on the ground. Dunkley averages eight tackles per game this season, ranked third in the competition.
24:51
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Darcy Wilmot)
28:56
The Lions have a slight advantage at quarter time thanks to their slick ball movement from defense. Two of their three goals have come from defensive 50 intercept chains, with 31% of their defensive 50 chains turning into inside 50 entries so far.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:32
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Josh Dolan)
01:02
The Bulldogs kickstart the second term with a quick centre bounce stoppage goal, capped off through Josh Dolan for his first AFL goal. They average 42.5 points per game from stoppage clearances, ranked third overall.
01:54
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Rhylee West)
03:49
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Lachlan Bramble)
04:07
A four-minute onslaught from the Bulldogs has seen them kick three goals in quick succession. In this time, the Lions have registered just three disposals - 19 fewer than the Bulldogs.
06:02
Tom Liberatore has burst out of the gates this term, amassing five disposals, four contested possessions, three clearances and a goal assist in just six minutes.
06:45
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Charlie Cameron)
08:17
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Levi Ashcroft)
10:30
The Lions are now -13 in contested possessions this match, registering eight fewer than the Bulldogs in this quarter alone. The Lions average nine more contested possessions than their opposition so far this season.
11:23
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Sam Darcy)
14:06
Ryley Sanders leads all players on the ground for disposals, with 14 so far. Sanders' previous half-time best for disposals was 12, achieved last round against Fremantle.
14:23
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Joel Freijah)
15:51
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Sam Davidson)
18:53
The Bulldogs continue to look sharp at stoppages, turning 72.2% of their clearances so far into forward 50 entries. 33.3% of their clearances have led to a score, compared to the Lions' paltry 14.3%.
20:34
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
21:50
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rhylee West)
23:23
Sam Darcy gets on the board with his first goal of the match to extend the Bulldogs' lead even further. Darcy is coming off a five-goal, nine score involvement match last week against the Dockers.
24:29
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Josh Dolan)
27:20
Harris Andrews continues to be a defensive force for the Lions, amassing five contested marks - four more than any other player on the ground, and just one short of his career-high.
28:33
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Sam Day)
30:59
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Sam Darcy)
33:54
An extraordinary quarter from the Bulldogs sees them take a 33-point lead into half time. The Bulldogs were unimpeachable from stoppage, amassing five more clearances than the Lions and converting these into 3.3 (21) for the term; conversely, the Lions did not register a single point from stoppage that quarter.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:23
The Bulldogs have won nine of their last 10 matches when leading at half time; conversely, the Lions have won their last seven games when trailing at half time.
01:31
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Zac Bailey)
03:27
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
03:38
Aaron Naughton kicks his third goal of the match, and the Bulldog's fourth from a defensive-half intercept possession chain. The Dogs have now kicked 7.3 (45) from intercept possession chains for the match.
05:16
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Sam Darcy)
06:08
Sam Darcy's immense start to the 2025 season continues as he kicks his second goal of the match, from his third contested mark. Darcy leads the competition for contested marks, averaging four per match this season.
08:18
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Charlie Cameron)
08:42
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Eric Hipwood)
10:34
Both ruckman have been closely matched in ruck contests, with Oscar McInerney leading hitouts over Tim English 22-20. However, English has managed more hitouts to advantage, leading this statistic seven to four.
10:39
Lions Interchange - Lachie Neale off due to an injury.
11:58
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Logan Morris)
12:49
The Lions have made a determined start to the second half thanks to a clear increase in stoppage productivity. They have managed six stoppage first possessions to the Bulldogs' one this term; however, they trail clearances for the term five to four.
13:11
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Joel Freijah)
16:14
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Zac Bailey)
16:49
Zac Bailey kicks his second goal of the term to keep the Lions within striking distance. Both of Bailey's goals this term have come from forward-half intercept possessions, a measure the Lions had not scored a goal from in the first half.
19:43
Bulldogs Interchange - Sam Darcy off due to an injury.
20:04
The Lions have ramped up their pressure application in the third term, going at a pressure rating of 201 - 34 more than the Bulldogs' 167. They also lead the tackle count for the term 12 to four.
22:02
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Eric Hipwood)
24:03
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Cam Rayner)
24:19
The Lions kick their fifth goal in a row, this time through a strong contested mark from Cam Rayner in the forward 50. The Lions have amassed 23 more disposals and seven more tackles than the Bulldogs in the last ten minutes.
27:44
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Sam Darcy)
29:20
Lions Interchange - Sam Day off due to the blood rule.
30:28
The Lions' midfield group has played a significant factor in this third term, with the trio of Lachie Nealue, Josh Dunkley and prized draft pick Levi Ashcroft each amassing nice touches this term.
30:50
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Joel Freijah)
31:25
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Eric Hipwood)
32:50
The Bulldogs wilted in the third term as the Lions began their comeback. After amassing 19 more contested possessions in the first half than the Lions, the Dogs managed 10 fewer in the third term, and coupled that with just five tackles for the quarter - 12 fewer that the Lions.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:03
Since the start of 2024, the Bulldogs have led at three quarter time 14 times - and won each of these games. They are they only team yet to lose from this position in this time period.
01:40
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Levi Ashcroft)
03:18
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Logan Morris)
03:45
A career-high four goals for Logan Morris puts the Lions in front for the first time since the beginning of the second term. The Lions continue to look strong in their forward half, registering the first three inside 50s of the fourth quarter.
06:32
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Callum Ah Chee)
09:11
The Lions are now moving the ball from their defensive 50 with ease, converting 11 defensive 50 chains into four inside 50s and 3.0 (18) since half time. Conversely, the Bulldogs haven't converted a single defensive 50 chain into an inside 50 during the same period.
12:04
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Zac Bailey)
12:31
Zac Bailey converts his third goal of the match to extend the Lions' consecutive goal streak to nine-in-a-row. The Bulldogs are yet to register a single score for the term.
13:43
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Matthew Kennedy)
15:03
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Bailey Williams)
15:26
Two quick goals from the Bulldogs have arrested the momentum from the Lions - one from a defensive half chain, and one from a centre bounce clearance. It's the Bulldogs' fourth goal this match from a centre bounce clearance chain.
16:18
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Joel Freijah)
18:56
The Bulldogs have amassed five of the last six inside 50s, after looking listless for the better part of a quarter. They have also managed to register eight more contested possessions than the Lions in the last 10 minutes.
22:57
Despite kicking an important final-term goal, Bulldog Matt Kennedy has amassed eight clanger kicks for the match - the second-highest total in a match since 2021.
23:18
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Hugh McCluggage)
23:47
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Cam Rayner)
25:26
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Callum Ah Chee)
25:42
The Lions take advantage of yet another momentum shift, kicking the last two goals of the match. In the last five minutes, they've amassed eight contested possessions to the Bulldogs' one, and registered four of the last five clearances.
28:57
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Cam Rayner)
30:29
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Eric Hipwood)
31:52
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Eric Hipwood)
32:29
Eric Hipwood puts the result beyond doubt with his fourth (and now fifth) goal of the half. Hipwood's second half has included five inside 50s, three contested marks, nine score involvements and five goals - all game-highs for the second half.
33:28
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Lachlan McNeil)
35:46
After a brilliant second term, the Bulldogs wilted against the premiers in the second half as their strengths deserted them. They amassed 16 fewer contested possessions and 10 fewer clearances than the Lions in the second half - statistics they led by 19 and six in the first half respectively.