AFL 2021 LIVE updates Essendon Bombers v GWS Giants Geelong Cats v Richmond Tigers
1 of 7
If revenge is a dish best served cold, on Sunday at the MCG it arrived cryogenically.
Geelong were cold in the sense of clinical as they dished out their second thrashing this season of Richmond, their conqueror in last year’s grand final. The Tigers were just cold.
The day was biting Melbourne winter cold, far removed from the tropical air of last year’s Gabba finale. And the absence of a crowd made for a cold atmosphere, though by now we ought to be getting used to it. Sometimes it looked, and felt, like match simulation, though doubtlessly not those on the end of the many tackles.
Read the full story here
Tom Hawkins was brilliant, kicking four goals in his side’s win over Richmond.Credit:Getty Images
There’s not much between these two sides; we probably knew this from when they met in round eight and could only be separated by two points.
They’ve had 21 turnovers apiece, 10 clearances apiece, 15 tackles apiece and inside-50s is 19-18 in the Giants’ favour.
Both sides are prepared to handball and play on, it just seems efficiency going inside-50 and then in front of goal will be the difference tonight.
Bombers 5.4 (34), Giants 3.5 (23)
Tim Taranto and Josh Kelly combined for a beautiful play through the corridor before Daniel Lloyd marked and goalled for the Giants.
Tanner Bruhn sprinted out of defence and made a chip kick through the corridor to Taranto, who picked it up off his toes and flicked it to Kelly, who handballed it to Brent Daniels running shotgun. Daniels kicked long from the wing to Lloyd who had found himself on his own out the back.
But the Bombers have responded, with Jake Stringer catching Daniels holding the ball inside forward 50 before kicking a set shot major. Stringer has had six disposals, two clearances and a goal.
Bombers 5.3 (33), Giants 3.4 (22)
Essendon Bombers 4.3 (27)
GWS Giants 2.4 (16)
Leading disposals: Zac Merrett (11), Dyson Heppell (9), Lachie Whitfield (9), Jordan Ridley (8), Jayden Laverde (7), Harry Perryman (7)
Team stats (Bombers-Giants): Disposals 106-83, inside-50s 12-15, free kicks 3-6, hitouts 11-3, clearances 7-8, centre clearances 3-4, uncontested possessions 70-51, turnovers 13-14, marks 26-30, marks inside-50 6-3, tackles 11-6.
Both sides had their fair share of the ball, but they both could have been more clinical in front of goal. The Giants’ big men - Himmelberg and Hogan - are capable of having a big say on this contest, while at the other end, it’s Essendon’s small forwards the Giants have to keep an eye on. The clearance numbers are also playing a part in this match, with both sides boasting stars in their onball brigades. Right now, there’s not much between the two sides.
Harry Himmelberg and Jesse Hogan have just both missed gettable set shots from about 30 metres out.
Himmelberg took a brilliant mark about 25 metres out from goal, straight in front, but missed, and then Callan Ward caused a forward-50 turnover and chipped to Hogan, but he missed the 30 metre set shot on a slight angle.
The Bombers have now gone coast-to-coast, but Tom Cutler had no penetration on his kick and it was punched through for a behind.
Bombers 4.3 (27), Giants 2.4 (16)
The Bombers have kicked two goals straight, both within 15 metres of the goal line.
First it was via Cale Hooker. Giants ruck Shane Mumford pushed back into defence but couldn’t punch the ball through, and that allowed Hooker to gather and kick a goal from the goal square.
Minutes later, the Bombers won the centre clearance and again won a ground ball contest inside-50, with David Zahrakis goalling from 15 metres out.
Bombers 4.2 (26), Giants 2.2 (14)
When the Giants’ efficency going inside forward 50 is the issue, the last thing the Bombers needed was to give away a 50-metre penalty.
But Darcy Parish made late contact on Callan Ward, allowing the veteran midfielder to kick an easy goal from about 20 metres out.
Bombers 2.0 (12), Giants 2.2 (14)
They’re moving the ball well, the Giants, but from 11 inside-50s they’ve kicked just one goal.
They moved the ball by foot and hand, with Connor Idun linking up from defensive 50 and Tim Taranto getting involved through the corridor, but the Giants bombed forward from about 80 metres out and the Bombers had all the numbers on the last line of defence to take an easy mark.
They’re going at just 27.3 per cent efficiency inside 50 to Essendon’s 40 per cent.
Bombers 2.0 (12), Giants 1.2 (8)
The Giants are on the board, but it wasn’t clean, with Jesse Hogan snapping his side’s first goal on his left foot.
The Bombers had the numbers in defensive 50 but the ball was brought to ground and the Giants scrapped to win the footy.
The Giants are winning the centre clearances 3-0.
Bombers 2.0 (12), Giants 1.2 (8)
The Bombers have again gone from defensive 50 to forward 50, with Archie Perkins all by himself deep inside 50.
The Bombers ran in numbers through the corridor and kicked long to Perkins, who played on and ran into an open goal square. He’s kicked seven goals this season.
The Bombers are going at better than 80 per cent disposal efficency so far and are controlling the uncontested possessions.
Bombers 2.0 (12), Giants 0.2 (2)
1 of 7
0 Response to "AFL 2021 LIVE updates Essendon Bombers v GWS Giants Geelong Cats v Richmond Tigers"
Post a Comment