Match

Essendon vs Sydney Swans

Commentary / 10 May 2025

Pre Game

00:00

The Swans have won four of their last five matches against Essendon at Marvel Stadium by an average winning margin of 24 points.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

01:58

The Bombers' first two marks for the match have come from opposition kicks. Essendon has grabbed 12.4 intercept marks per game this season - the fewest of any side.

03:28

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Matt Roberts)

04:38

Sydney has grabbed eight marks, including four intercept marks. The Swans average 12.8 intercept marks per game - ranked 17th.

07:23

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Nate Caddy)

07:33

Essendon boots the first goal for the match, sourced from an intercept won in defensive 50. The Bombers have launched 12.3% of their score from defensive 50 this season - the second lowest percentage in the competition.

11:26

Bombers Interchange - Todd Goldstein off due to an injury.

13:20

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Nate Caddy)

13:30

The Swans have recorded five clanger kicks with two of these being punished by a goal. Sydney average 23.5 clanger kicks per game.

16:36

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Saad El-Hawli)

16:46

The Bombers have booted the first three goals for the match, all from 50-metre penalties. They scored 1.1 (7) from this source across the first eight rounds.

18:32

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Hayden McLean)

18:42

Hayden McLean breaks the goal drought for his team. Tom McCartin has won a team-high three intercepts with his third launching the McLean goal.

25:04

Ben McKay just grabbed his team's 10th intercept mark for the quarter - the most by any team in a quarter this season.

25:56

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Kyle Langford)

26:42

Nick Blakey just grabbed his fifth intercept mark - the most by any player in any quarter this season.

29:04

Sydney applied a pressure factor of just 150 in the first quarter - its lowest in any quarter this season.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

04:31

Essendon has already grabbed 48 uncontested marks (36 in the first quarter and 12 in the second). The Bombers average 80 uncontested marks per game.

05:51

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Zach Merrett)

07:07

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Archer Day-Wicks)

07:17

The Bombers have booted the first two goals of the second term, both sourced from forward half intercepts. Their total score (5.1) has come from Sydney turnovers.

09:38

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Isaac Heeney)

10:33

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Archie Perkins)

10:43

Archie Perkins boots his team's second goal from a kick-in this season. Essendon has now scored 3.1 (19) from chains originating in defensive 50 - a season-high for the club.

13:48

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Zach Merrett)

13:58

Zach Merrett has been well held, recording just six disposals, but they have had maximum impact with four involved in scoring chains. He has now kicked multiple goals in three games this season - the first time since his debut season (2014).

16:33

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Brodie Grundy)

16:43

Brodie Grundy boots a much-needed goal for his team - his first for the season.

19:32

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Aaron Francis)

20:47

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Will Hayward)

25:34

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Isaac Kako)

25:44

Isaac Kako dispossesses Caiden Cleary in the Bombers' forward 50 and boots a goal from the resultant free kick. Essendon leads the inside 50 count by two this quarter (12-10), applying four tackles to none and a pressure factor of 264-130 in this zone.

30:08

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Sam Durham)

30:18

The Bombers have booted six goals in a quarter for the third time this season.

32:03

After applying a pressure factor of just 150 in the first term, the Swans applied a pressure factor of 160 in the second quarter. Their pressure to half-time (155) is the third lowest by any team this season.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

03:58

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Will Hayward)

04:08

Will Hayward was one of 10 Swans to not apply a tackle in the first half. He has laid two early in the third term.

05:43

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Mason Redman)

05:53

Essendon has booted five goals from forward half intercepts for the second time this season. It averages 23.9 points per game from this source.

07:26

Zach Reid just grabbed his fourth intercept mark and recorded his 21st disposal for the match - both equal career-highs.

07:59

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Braeden Campbell)

10:50

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Rushed)

12:08

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Nate Caddy)

14:17

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Aaron Francis)

14:27

Kicking efficiency is relatively even across the whole ground, with Essendon going at 70% and the Swans 67%. However, inside 50 the Bombers are going at 82% while the Swans are only at 36%.

15:11

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Chad Warner)

16:12

SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Nate Caddy)

16:22

Nate Caddy just grabbed his third mark inside 50 and booted his third goal for the match - both equal career-highs.

20:41

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Sam Durham)

21:33

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Corey Warner)

21:43

After booting his first goal for the season earlier in the match, Brodie Grundy has now recorded his first goal assist for the season. The Swans have won 10 intercepts this quarter, scoring 3.2 (20) from these.

25:27

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Isaac Heeney)

27:30

Bombers Interchange - Lewis Hayes and is possibly out for the game.

28:21

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Brodie Grundy)

29:13

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Chad Warner)

29:23

After scoring just 2.4 (16) from 26 inside 50s in the first half, Sydney has scored 3.6 (24) from 15 forward 50 entries this quarter.

31:55

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Will Setterfield)

32:00

Sydney upped its pressure to 190 in the third quarter, disrupting the Bombers' ball movement. Essendon generated an inside 50 from just 14% of defensive 50 chains in the third term, down from 29% in the first half.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

04:54

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Joel Hamling)

07:07

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Braeden Campbell)

07:54

Tom McCartin just grabbed the Swans' 20th intercept mark for the match - a season-high for the club.

09:14

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Angus Sheldrick)

09:24

Sydney leads the clearance count 6-3 this quarter, launching three scores to none from this source.

10:46

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Justin McInerney)

10:56

Another score from a clearance for the Swans. They have scored 2.2 (14) from seven stoppage wins this quarter.

13:28

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Jake Lloyd)

16:30

Sydney has scored seven goals from 21 shots at goal for a scoring accuracy of 33%, which is 40% lower than the Bombers.

17:40

Andrew McGrath just recorded his 35th disposal for the match - a career-high.

18:13

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Justin McInerney)

18:23

Sydney now leads the inside 50 count by 14 in the second half (30-16), scoring 5.10 (40) to 2.3 (15).

18:47

Bombers Interchange - Sam Durham off due to an injury.

19:26

SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)

19:53

SCORE GOAL - Swans (Will Hayward)

20:29

Swans Interchange - Nick Blakey off due to an injury.

21:35

SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Hayden McLean)

25:05

Zach Merrett has recorded just 19 disposals - a season-low for him. He averages 24.71 disposals per game against Sydney across his career - his second-lowest against any team.

27:55

Essendon hold off a fast finishing Sydney to win by eight points to record its fifth win for the season. The win was set up in the first half when the Bombers scored 9.1 (55) to 2.4 (16).