Match

Essendon vs Carlton

Commentary / 21 Aug 2025

Pre Game

00:00
Carlton had 92 disposals in their forward 50 in their convincing 54-point victory over Port Adelaide last week. This is their highest number since recording of this statistic began - 1999 onwards.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
04:09
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (George Hewett)
04:21
Zach Merrett recorded a season-low fourteen disposals when these teams met in round 13 this season. Merrett, celebrating game 250 tonight, is averaging 28 disposals per game — his lowest output since the shortened quarters of 2020.
08:59
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Isaac Kako)
09:38
George Hewett has amassed seven disposals early in this game. He has three contested possessions and two clearances.
10:37
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Archie Perkins)
12:05
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Peter Wright)
13:08
The Bombers have recorded the last three inside 50s and generated good looks at goal. Peter Wright scores the first goal of the game — his 27th of the season.
13:13
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Jesse Motlop)
14:39
In his first centre bounce attendance of the night, Jesse Motlop escapes out the front of the contest and kicks the Blues’ first goal. Since round 20, Carlton have won centre bounce clearances by 7.5 per game, ranked first in the league.
14:45
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Blake Acres)
16:14
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Will White)
21:07
SCORE GOAL - Blues (George Hewett)
23:57
Flynn Young produces one of the best kicks of the game to find Harry McKay on the lead inside the Blues’ forward 50. McKay can't capitalise via his set shot, though. He kicked an equal career-high seven goals last week and had a career-high 15 score involvements.
25:07
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rushed)
26:09
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Harry McKay)
27:41
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Rhys Unwin)
28:50
The Bombers have won only five first quarters in 2025, ranked equal-last. They led at quarter time last week — their first lead at the break since round 11. Whilst being evenly matched in most statistical categories tonight, they again trail at the first break.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:00
The Blues led clearances 10–4 in the first term, including a 4–1 lead from centre bounces. George Hewett amassed four clearances. Sam Walsh opens the second quarter by adding another clearance and a centre bounce clearance for the Blues.
01:21
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Harry McKay)
01:55
Since round 20, Essendon have conceded 18 marks per game in their defensive 50 — ranked 17th. The Blues took only two inside 50 marks in the first quarter, but get one early in the second term from Harry McKay, who converts for his first goal of the night.
03:17
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Hudson O'Keeffe)
05:16
Jye Menzie’s sprayed set shot was not fitting of the inside 50 entry from Zach Merrett. Merrett has seven disposals, aided by a team-high seven uncontested possessions and six handball receives.
07:44
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
12:32
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Flynn Young)
12:46
The Blues have now kicked 4.3 (27) from turnovers, while the Bombers have just 1.1 (7). The Bombers have conceded 57.2 points per game from intercept possessions this season — ranked 17th.
15:58
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (George Hewett)
16:20
George Hewett has a game-high 19 disposals and has kicked one goal and two behinds. Hewett has been inches away from a three-goal performance — both of his behinds have hit the post.
19:56
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Harry McKay)
23:02
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Dylan Shiel)
23:12
Dylan Shiel has amassed a team-high 20 disposals, with four rebound 50s, three score involvements and two inside 50s. In his last game as a Bomber, Shiel misses an opportunity for a running goal.
24:47
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Ashton Moir)
28:06
The Blues are plus 24 disposals for the quarter and lead inside 50s 15–9. These categories were evenly matched in the first term, but Carlton have had the advantage this quarter.
29:25
The Bombers’ experienced core has been busy for them. Dylan Shiel has a team-high 20 disposals, while Andrew McGrath and Mason Redman have 17 each. The Bombers have been dominated in the contests, though, with the Blues leading clearances 22–12. Carlton have had first possession in all 11 centre bounces so far.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:34
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
01:05
Essendon get first possession from a centre clearance for the first time tonight and stream forward to kick the opening goal of the second half.
04:34
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Kyle Langford)
09:41
When these teams last met, the Blues led by 28 at half-time, only for the Bombers to kick four goals to one in the third quarter and make for a tense finish. The Blues led by 30 at the major break tonight, but the Bombers have kicked two goals to nil and are trimming the margin.
11:59
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Rushed)
15:18
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Ashton Moir)
16:29
After being dominated in clearances in the first half, the Bombers lead clearances 6–3 so far this quarter. Todd Goldstein and Archie Perkins have two each this term.
17:17
Blues Interchange - Blake Acres off due to an injury.
19:50
Carlton lead inside 50s 12–6 this quarter, but the Bombers have converted their limited opportunities into two goals, while the Blues have missed some of their chances and only bagged one goal.
23:07
Francis Evans finds space inside 50 to take a mark and convert his set shot goal. The Blues have taken eight marks inside 50, with Harry McKay taking five.
24:47
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
25:57
Essendon go end-to-end to score their fifth goal of the game, launching from their own defensive 50. The Bombers have scored three goals from their defensive half.
26:00
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Francis Evans)
27:12
Francis Evans has two goals and has kicked multiple goals in four consecutive games. Evans had never previously recorded consecutive games with multiple goals before this current streak.
28:40
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Zac Williams)
30:19
The Blues have kicked 6.6 (42) from turnovers, while restricting Essendon to 3.2 (20) from this source. The Blues have also scored 5.4 (34) from their front half, while the Bombers have only 1.2 (8) from chains starting in their forward half. This has been aided by an inside 50 tackle count of 13–9 in favour of the Blues, with Patrick Cripps laying three tackles inside 50 for Carlton.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:53
Sam Walsh makes an early start to his off-season — subbed out of this game for the Blues. Walsh had 28 disposals, with a game-high 23 uncontested possessions through the first three quarters. He also had five inside 50s and three clearances. Lucas Camporeale enters the game for Walsh.
01:33
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Isaac Kako)
02:48
In a season in which the Bombers have used 43 players, rookie Isaac Kako is one of just four Bombers to play every game. Kako has played significant midfield time tonight, attending 17 centre bounces. Only Andrew McGrath has attended more (18) as a midfielder for the Bombers tonight.
06:42
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Isaac Kako)
06:53
Essendon lead disposals 27-8 this quarter and have kicked a goal from both of their inside 50s.
11:19
SCORE GOAL - Bombers (Peter Wright)
12:37
The Bombers have kicked three consecutive goals while holding the Blues scoreless this quarter. They continue to score from their defensive half, outscoring the Blues 6.3 (39) to 4.3 (27) from this zone.
16:17
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Francis Evans)
16:44
Jacob Weitering has stood tall when the Blues have most needed him. He has six intercept marks and five spoils, with two intercept marks and two spoils in this term alone.
18:06
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Rushed)
18:48
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Mason Redman)
20:04
SCORE GOAL - Blues (Flynn Young)
20:54
Flynn Young had a career-high 15 disposals and two goals in his seventh AFL game last week, but has quickly surpassed this mark tonight, equalling his two-goal performance, while reaching 18 disposals so far.
22:50
SCORE BEHIND - Bombers (Matt Guelfi)
24:41
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Matthew Carroll)
25:49
The Blues will win the final game of their home-and-away season for the first time since 2013, and only the second time since 2004.
26:49
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Rushed)
28:03
SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Tom De Koning)
28:38
The Blues take a comfortable victory, led by George Hewett racking up 36 disposals, with 14 contested possessions and seven clearances — all game-highs. The Blues led inside 50s 57-39, winning the territory battle after dominating clearances 38-27.