Match

Essendon vs North Melbourne

Commentary / 01 May 2025

Pre Game

00:00
Harry Sheezel played 100% game time in defence last round – finishing with 30 disposals and a season-high 604 metres gained.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:51
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Archie Perkins)
04:07
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Kyle Langford)
06:24
Essendon has won the uncontested possessions by one in the first quarter of each match this season. But they are leading the Kangaroos early in this measure, leading the count 12-4.
07:03
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Archie Perkins)
08:02
Essendon has had an even spread for their first three goals - scoring from every zone apart from defensive midfield and forward 50. They have a 100% record of going inside 50 from centre bounces so far in the match as well
10:49
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Cameron Zurhaar)
13:23
Essendon is applying more forward-half pressure than North Melbourne and has a pressure rating of 249 to 161 in that zone.
15:00
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Nate Caddy)
17:08
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Finnbar Maley)
17:40
Essendon's kicking efficiency is at 76 per cent in the match so far compared to North Melbourne's 57. They are also more effective inside the forward half, with their efficiency 69 compared to 63 in this measure.
19:50
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Nic Martin)
20:56
Essendon's defensive midfield ball movement has been strong this evening, with 75% of its chains resulting in an inside 50 compared to North Melbourne's 25%.
21:26
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jacob Konstanty)
25:19
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Ben Hobbs)
27:50
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Nate Caddy)
29:36
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Finnbar Maley)
32:28
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Zane Duursma)
32:35
Luke Davies-Uniacke is having a strong game for North Melbourne to start the match. He had nine disposals, four contested possessions, four handball receives, five pressure acts and 99 metres gained.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
04:14
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Ben Hobbs)
04:45
North Melbourne are on top in the clearances 14-10 - scoring 2.2 (14) from that source; however, the Bombers have scored 4.1 (25). Tristan Xerri has been dominant with seven, whilst Will Phillips has four.
06:07
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Peter Wright)
06:28
Essendon has had far quicker ball movement than North Melbourne through the corridor. They are playing on 55% of the time from 11 marks, while North Melbourne have not played on once from four marks.
06:50
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jy Simpkin)
09:36
Both teams are applying strong pressure so far in the match, with Essendon leading 202 to North Melbourne's 169. This is above the season average of 179.
11:25
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Zane Duursma)
11:46
The Bombers have been deadly from marks, scoring 5.0 (30) from that source and already have five individual goalkickers for the match.
13:30
The Bombers' attacking midfield game has been on full display this evening, winning six attacking midfield intercepts to North Melbourne's two. They have scored 2.0 (12) from that source to 1.0 (6).
15:29
Kangaroos Interchange - Jackson Archer off due to an injury.
21:53
Bombers Interchange - Jordan Ridley off due to an injury.
22:53
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Ben Hobbs)
25:37
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Archie Perkins)
28:16
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Jade Gresham)
29:03
The form of Zach Merrett has been a real positive to start the season for Essendon. He helped himself to a game-high 17 disposals at 71% efficiency, seven handball receives, 10 uncontested possessions and 162 metres gained.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:25
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)
01:55
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Zach Merrett)
06:09
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Nate Caddy)
07:44
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Colby McKercher)
09:10
Nick Larkey has been the forward 50 target on four occasions in the match so far, taking a mark inside 50 on one occasion he has been kicked to. He has failed to impact the scoreboard.
11:00
It has been an intriguing contest in the ruck this evening between Tristan Xerri and Todd Goldstein with clearance count slightly in North's favour 15-13, when they have been rucking opponents. Xerri has had one more hitout-to-advantage from their 39 ruck contests.
15:12
Essendon have outscored North Melbourne on turnovers 3.3 (21) to 1.2 (8). North Melbourne ranks sixteenth in the competition for defending scores from turnovers, conceding 59.4 points per game, the league average is 48.
15:38
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Nick Larkey)
17:26
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)
18:02
North Melbourne have been damaging on the outside of the contest since half time, leading the following statistics in this area uncontested possessions (34-28) and handball receives (22-14).
20:30
In the last 15 minutes, North Melbourne has scored 4.2 (26) to Essendon's 0.2 (2), including the last four goals.
20:43
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jy Simpkin)
23:37
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Nate Caddy)
26:26
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Cameron Zurhaar)
31:47
Tom Powell had a strong quarter for North Melbourne with nine disposals at 67% efficiency, four contested possessions, four handball receives, four inside 50's and 174 metres gained.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
02:26
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Cameron Zurhaar)
02:54
The North Melbourne's attack from the defensive half has been on full display tonight - having scored 5.0 (30) from that source compared to 2.5 (17).
03:54
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Nate Caddy)
04:16
Nate Caddy has been the forward 50 target on four occasions in the match so far, taking a mark inside 50 on two occasions he has been kicked to. He has impacted the scoreboard with kicking 2.3 (15).
04:43
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Isaac Kako)
05:26
Essendon have had a good spread of scores from all zones this evening - booting at least one goal from every zone. They have booted four goals from attacking midfield - their most productive zone.
07:57
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Peter Wright)
10:21
Bombers Interchange - Jade Gresham off due to an injury.
10:26
North Melbourne's forward 50 tackle intensity and pressure have been strong across the match. They lead tackles in this area (8-4) and have a pressure rating of 171 to Essendon's 155 halfway through the fourth term.
17:19
Bombers Interchange - Ben Hobbs off due to an injury.
18:17
Harry Sheezel is at his running and rebounding best so far tonight. Sheezel has 543 metres gained from his 29 disposals, kicking at 68% efficiency.
19:59
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
20:29
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Zane Duursma)
23:07
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Archie Perkins)
25:54
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)
27:30
Zach Merrett had a colossal effort in the fourth quarter with 11 disposals at 100% efficiency, eight uncontested possessions, three handball receives, three score involvements and 170 metres gained.