Match

Essendon vs Western Bulldogs

Commentary / 25 Jul 2025

Pre Game

00:00
The Bulldogs have defeated bottom-10 teams by 53 points per game – ranked No.1.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:45
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
01:00
Aaron Naughton kicks off the match with a goal launched from centre clearance. The Bulldogs average 17.6 points launched from this source - the highest average this season.
03:07
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
03:50
Two goals in quick succession for Aaron Naughton. In the last six weeks, he has kicked 18 goals (inclusive of tonight's match) - the most in this time period of any player.
05:11
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
08:41
Both teams have been using their hands to move the ball, having kick-to-handball ratios that are 0.8 and below, as well as both having over 200 metres gained from handball receives.
09:14
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)
09:49
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Angus Clarke)
10:45
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Sam Darcy)
11:15
Three in a row for the Western Bulldogs, with the latest sourcing from a kick-in. They have scored from 11.5% of their kick-ins this season - ranked sixth.
13:14
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
14:00
Marcus Bontempelli has already amassed a game-high six disposals and 175 metres gained, as well as converting in front of the big sticks.
14:29
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Ed Richards)
16:25
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)
17:28
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
18:00
The Bombers have been unable to get control in the match so far, taking just six uncontested marks. They normally take 7.2 in the opening 10 minutes of the match - ranked equal-third.
20:40
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Liam McMahon)
21:06
Liam McMahon slots through Essendon's first goal of the match. He booted two goals on his AFL debut last round and was involved in an equal game-high four offensive one-on-one contests.
23:08
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Sam Darcy)
23:21
The Bulldogs have directly taken a mark from 18% of their entries, with the latest leading to a Sam Darcy goal. On the flipside, the Bombers are yet to take a mark from a direct entry.
25:32
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Peter Wright)
26:12
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rhylee West)
30:02
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Liam McMahon)
30:06
Despite having seven fewer entries, Essendon was able to score from 50% of their inside 50s - an improvement on their average of 41.1% where they rank third-last for the season.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:28
The Western Bulldogs currently lead the centre clearance ledger 5-4. They have the best centre clearance differential this season, averaging 3.4 more than their opponents.
01:53
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Sam Darcy)
02:05
Sam Darcy strikes his third goal of the match. He has kicked multiple goals in nine matches, with seven of those games being three or more goals.
04:14
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
07:09
The pressure from the Bulldogs has been noticeable, applying a pressure factor of 194 in comparison to 176 from the Bombers. Both sides rank inside the bottom five for pressure applied this season.
08:51
Bombers Interchange - Jordan Ridley off due to an injury.
11:45
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Ryley Sanders)
12:10
Ryley Sanders' skills have been on display, taking two contested marks thus far, as well as being involved in four of his team's scores tonight.
15:42
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Nate Caddy)
15:51
The Bombers have had 65 disposals for every goal scored tonight. They are averaging 42.9 disposals per goal – the third-worst rate of any team outside Richmond and West Coast.
18:57
Jordan Ridley has been subbed out of the match. He is averaging 17.9 disposals and 317 metres gained – his fewest in each stat since 2019 (excluding 2020).
22:12
Mason Redman has been strong in defence, taking a game-high four intercept marks. He took six intercept marks for the fourth time in his career last round – finishing with 22 disposals and 625 metres gained.
22:51
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
24:29
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Sam Darcy)
25:51
Coming into this match, Lachlan Blakiston has been in good form, having conceded multiple goals to his direct opponent just once in five games this season, which was three goals to Shannon Neale in Round 14. He has conceded five goals to his direct opponents tonight.
26:16
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Oskar Smartt)
28:44
The Bulldogs topped the clearance ledger 12-6 and were able to score two goals from this source for the term. They have scored from 30.5% of their clearances this season – ranked No.1 in the AFL.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:47
Bailey Dale had a career-high 49 disposals, 1,017 metres gained, and 37 uncontested possessions against the Bombers in Round 10. He has collected 13 disposals (85% efficiency) as well as 311 metres gained tonight.
02:36
Bulldogs Interchange - Tom Liberatore off due to an injury.
02:40
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
05:22
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Rhylee West)
05:29
Rhylee West converts his first of the night, bringing the margin up to 60 points. He is averaging a career-high 13.4 disposals, 3.1 groundball-gets inside 50, and 1.6 goals this season. He has been goalless just twice in 18 games this year.
06:35
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Isaac Kako)
07:09
Isaac Kako snaps through Essendon's first goal from open play tonight. Since Round 13, the Bombers have scored 15 goals from open play - the second-fewest in this time period.
10:04
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Sam Darcy)
11:44
Todd Goldstein has been on top in the ruck contest against Tim English, leading the hitouts 17-9, although the Bulldogs are leading the clearances by five and goals from clearances by three while these two have been ruck opponents.
14:19
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Rhylee West)
14:34
The pressure from the Bulldogs has been consistent across the game, as they are recording a pressure factor of 222 for the quarter in comparison to 138 from the Bombers. They had a pressure factor of 203 last round – their highest since 2019.
16:16
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
18:02
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Sam Darcy)
19:39
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
20:20
Aaron Naughton's slots through his third five-goal haul of the season. His scoreboard impact of 7.2 (44) is currently the equal fifth-highest scoreboard impact of any player this season.
22:22
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Nate Caddy)
26:33
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Sam Darcy)
27:00
Sam Darcy scores his fifth goal of the match. He has had game-highs with 11 score involvements, nine inside 50 targets and five forward 50 marks.
28:55
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Caleb Poulter)
31:06
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
33:38
a 44-point quarter for the Bulldogs sets them with a 79-point lead at the final change. All 44 points for the term were scored from set shots - they have scored the fourth most goals from set shots this season.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:48
Tom Liberatore is subbed out of this match after collecting the second-most disposals for the Bulldogs, as well as amassing an equal game-high 18 uncontested possessions.
02:56
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
04:42
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Peter Wright)
07:04
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Oskar Smartt)
08:28
Bombers Interchange - Oskar Smartt off due to an injury.
08:31
Peter Wright converts to make it the first time of the night that Essendon has scored consecutive goals. On the flipside, the Bulldogs were able to streak six goals in a row.
10:14
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rhylee West)
11:05
The Bulldogs have been super efficient with the ball, scoring from 28% of their chains. In contrast, the Bombers have scored from 15% of their chains.
12:35
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
15:08
The Bombers lost the groundballs by 20 and inside 50s by 24 against the Bulldogs in Round 10 – their second-worst differential in each stat this year. They trail the groundball-gets by one and inside 50s by nine tonight.
16:13
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Sam Durham)
19:02
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rhylee West)
19:17
Sam Durham has been a shining light for Essendon, amassing 27 disposals, as well as game-highs with 15 contested possessions and nine clearances.
19:48
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Bailey Dale)
22:02
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Sam Darcy)
24:17
The Bulldogs are the highest-scoring team on average this season, averaging 105 points per game. This match becomes the seventh time they have scored more than 125 points in a match.
26:36
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Archie Perkins)
27:45
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Ed Richards)
29:39
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Rhylee West)
32:16
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
32:19
This defeat becomes Essendon's third 90-plus point loss for the season - their first time this has happened in their history. They had 10 fewer entries and were far less efficient with their entries, scoring from 33% compared to 59% from the Bulldogs.