Match

Essendon vs Gold Coast Suns

Commentary / 05 Jul 2025

Pre Game

00:00
The Bombers have won six of their last seven matches against Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium by an average winning margin of 47 points.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
03:08
Essendon have dominated early having four of the first five inside 50s, but they have struggled to find targets, retaining the ball from just 25% of their entries.
04:04
The Gold Coast are struggling to find the ball, and are also using it poorly when they do get it, having a kicking efficiency of 20% and a disposal efficiency of 33%.
05:57
Essendon have had a strong start in the contest, winning four of the first five clearances, even though Gold Coast have an average turnover differential of 4.1 this season, ranked third.
09:22
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Ben Hobbs)
10:31
Ben Hobbs kicks the first for the game for the Bombers from a stoppage chain. Essendon have struggled scoring from clearance this season, averaging just 29.8 points per game, ranked 3rd worst.
10:51
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Bailey Humphrey)
12:51
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ethan Read)
13:14
The SUNS respond with two quick goals. They have been efficient inside 50, scoring a goal from 40% of their entries compared to just 11.1% for the Bombers.
14:57
Since conceding the first goal, the SUNS have been incredible having 82% time in forward half and restricting the Bombers to zero effective disposals.
18:18
Both sides have applied the pressure early with Essendon having a pressure rating of 221, and the Gold Coast having a pressure rating of 213, both a season high in a first quarter.
19:48
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Rushed)
25:10
Neither side has managed to control the ball in the first quarter, having a combined 23 uncontested marks, a far cry from their combined average of 39.5.
27:47
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Nate Caddy)
28:19
Nate Caddy converts for the Bombers from a defensive midfield intercept chain. Defensive midfield chains have accounted for 24% of the Bombers scores this season, the second highest percentage in the league.
30:58
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Angus Clarke)
32:39
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ethan Read)
32:42
The Bombers have done an incredible job restricting Matt Rowell's influence in the stoppage, keeping him to just four disposals and just one effective disposal, his fewest in a quarter this season.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:40
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Joel Jeffrey)
02:57
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
04:02
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Angus Clarke)
04:25
The SUNS have begun to assert their control, in the outside game, being plus nine in uncontested possessions and plus six in handball receives this quarter.
05:43
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
06:17
In contrast to the first quarter, the Bombers are finding targets inside 50, retaining the ball from 60% of their entries, although they have been ineffective in front of goal, kicking 0.3 (3).
07:39
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Peter Wright)
08:33
The Bombers are forcing mistakes from the SUNS in their defensive half, already having three forward half intercepts this quarter, compared to a total of four in the first quarter.
09:39
The SUNS have had just two inside 50s and 32% time in the forward half this quarter, and yet they have outscored the Bombers 2.0 (12) - 0.4 (4).
11:59
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Nate Caddy)
12:31
Nate Caddy finally scores the Bombers' first this quarter from their fifth attempt. They have been incredible coming out of their defensive half this quarter, achieving an inside 50 from 60% of their chains and scoring from 40%.
14:04
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ethan Read)
14:51
The SUNS once again respond quickly, this time through Ethan Read, kicking his third goal of the game, a career-high.
17:58
SUNS Interchange - Lachie Weller off due to an injury.
18:07
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Xavier Duursma)
19:32
Although he has struggled to get his hands on the ball, Matt Rowell has applied the pressure this half already having 11 tackles for the game, his most ever in a first half.
22:34
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Ben Ainsworth)
22:59
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Sam Clohesy)
23:56
The Bombers are looking to play incredibly quickly this quarter, playing on from 47% of their marks compared to just 18% in the first quarter.
24:03
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Peter Wright)
28:14
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Nate Caddy)
28:26
Nate Caddy kicks his third of the game and the Bombers' third from intercept this quarter, taking their total from the source to 34 points, their most in a first half this season.
30:05
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben King)
31:25
Zach Merret has led the way for the Bombers in the first half, having five clearances, 13 uncontested possessions, six score involvements and 22 disposals, his most in a first half since Round 10, 2023.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:38
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Connor Budarick)
03:09
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Nate Caddy)
03:40
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Isaac Kako)
03:52
Isaac Kako scores the Bombers' first of the half on turnover from a Gold Coast kick-in. The Bombers have struggled defending kick-ins this season, conceding an inside 50 from 30.7% of opposition kick-ins, ranked last.
07:29
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ned Moyle)
08:00
The SUNS have locked the Bombers into their defensive 50, having three forward half turnovers already and scoring 1.0 (6) from them.
09:04
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Noah Anderson)
09:42
After being held to just 10 disposals in the first half, Noah Anderson has already amassed six disposals this quarter, along with two score involvements and a goal.
11:18
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Archer May)
11:27
Both sides have been damaging going inside 50 this term with the Bombers kicking a goal from 67% of their entries (2 from 3) and the Suns kicking a goal from 60% (3 from 5).
13:24
The Bombers have been on top of the SUNS from centre Bounce today, winning eight of the 14 centre clearances, despite the fact that in the past four rounds, the SUNS have ranked first in centre bounce clearance differential and the Bombers have ranked last.
15:09
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Jed Walter)
16:09
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Archer May)
16:17
Archer May has kicked three straight goals in the past five minutes, exceeding the total of two goals he had scored prior to this game.
22:38
Isaac Kako has been important for the Bombers today, equalling his career high with 15 disposals as well as having seven score involvements, second-most today behind only Zach Merrett.
25:09
Gold Coast's pressure has dropped slightly in the third quarter. After having a rating of 211 and 200 in the first and second quarters, they have had a rating of 183 in the third quarter, incredibly still above league average.
26:42
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Jed Walter)
29:49
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Jye Caldwell)
30:38
The Bombers have been able to convert their forward half chains this quarter, kicking 4.0 (24) from attacking midfield and forward 50 chains this quarter.
31:09
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
32:12
Although he has been held to just four disposals for the game, Ben King has been effective with the ball in hand kicking three goals and having four score involvements.
35:03
The Bombers would have to overcome recent history to win today's game, with the SUNS winning 89% of matches they have led at three-quarter time this season, as well as the Bombers themselves losing 89% of games they have been behind at three-quarter time.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:23
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Touk Miller)
02:58
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben Ainsworth)
03:28
The SUNS have had a hot start to the final quarter, kicking two goals from attacking midfield chains. They have excelled from attacking midfield chains this season, averaging 32.4 points a game, ranked second.
06:14
Gold Coast are dominating around the contest this quarter, winning the first four clearances for the term and scoring 1.0 (6) from stoppage chains.
08:48
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Bailey Humphrey)
10:28
Both sides have refused to slow down in the final quarter, with Essendon playing on from 33% of their marks and the SUNS playing on from 50% of their marks, compared to 14% through the first three quarters.
11:26
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben King)
14:19
Zach Merrett has been incredible for the Bombers today, having 35 disposals, 20 uncontested possessions, seven inside 50s and eight score involvements, all game-highs.
15:24
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Rushed)
16:30
Bombers Interchange - Jye Caldwell and is possibly out for the game.
16:44
The Bombers haven't struggled to get the ball inside 50 this quarter, having just one less entry than the SUNS, however they have been completely unable to find a target retaining the ball from just 25% of their entries compared to 89% for the SUNS.
17:27
SUNS Interchange - Sam Clohesy off due to an injury.
19:26
Gold Coast have been incredibly clean with the ball in hand this quarter, having 86% kicking efficiency, their best in a quarter all season.
20:34
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Bailey Humphrey)
22:59
The SUNS have capitalised on the Bombers' mistakes in their defensive half this quarter, having six forward half intercepts result in 3.1 (19).
24:05
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Zach Merrett)
24:33
Although he has been held to just 13 disposals (a season low) today, Matt Rowell has managed to keep himself involved today having an equal-career high 17 tackles, the most ever by a Gold Coast Suns player.
27:04
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Brayden Fiorini)
28:17
Bailey Humphrey has been excellent in the final quarter, having five score involvements from just six disposals, after having just two score involvements in the first three quarters.
30:55
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Ned Moyle)
30:59
The largest lead at a major break today was just four points, but the SUNS blitzed the Bombers in the final quarter, outscoring them 6.3 (39) - 0.1 (1) in the fourth.