Blog log from R7 of 2020: Essendon vs Western Bulldogs
Liberatore gets the first centre clearance and runs forward to receive and snap from the pocket but misses. (Q1 0:19)
McDonald-Tipungwuti runs free to the hotspot and gives to Langford who snaps off the left from 20m under no pressure and shanks it wide. Oh dear. (Q1 0:59)
The Dogs rebound at pace after that Bomber brain explosion, English keeps a ground ball alive in the pocket, Bontempelli feeds Wallis for the first goal from 20m. (Q1 2:01)
Cahill gives outside of a pack at the hotspot to Ham whose snap lands on the behind line, McKernan smacks it backwards into the hands of McDonald-Tipungwuti for a fine team goal! (Q1 3:46)
Bruce flies in front of Hooker to clunk a mark 40m out on a slight angle, he converts. (Q1 7:43)
Laverde fights on at ground level after contesting with Williams at the top of the square, he volleys home but did Crozier touch it? Video review, ruled a goal on ump’s call. (Q1 11:17)
Smith dumps Macrae after disposal to concede a downfield free kick to Bruce 30m out on a slight angle, who misses the lot. (Q1 16:04)
Snelling is tackled as he snaps from a pack on the boundary 20m out, that one sails through in impressive fashion. (Q1 18:19)
English to Bontempelli for the next centre clearance, Suckling marks on the lead 45m out on the flank, his run in is crooked and the kick is ugly but it’s long and straight. (Q1 20:19)
Weightman takes a fabulous pack mark on the boundary 35m out and screws through a sensational finish like shelling peas! First game, first kick, first goal! (Q1 22:58)
McKernan marks, wheels and misses from 35m on the boundary on the end of a classic Essendon fast rebound around the outer wing. (Q1 25:48)
McKernan marks again at much the same spot, a little further inside, but again misses. (Q1 26:47)
Ham is pinged for encroachment to bring Richards from wing to 40m on a slight angle after marking, he hooks it OOTF (Q1 27:42)
Hunter roves and kicks over his shoulder from the HFF after a stoppage in the pocket, English rises over Phillips to pluck the mark 20m out on a slight angle, he goals. (Q2 3:34)
The Dogs boss the next centre bounce and work it to the wing where Bontempelli hits up Bruce 35m out on a slight angle, who shanks it OOTF. (Q2 5:05)
Suckling hits the square with a bomb from the HFF but it’s easily rushed. (Q2 8:10)
Laverde is behind the Dog defence to mark an excellent long kick by Merrett near the goal post for a red time goal to bring the Bombers back within a kick. (Q2 17:34)
Bailey Smith misses from a stoppage 30m out on the flank. (Q2 19:29)
Lipinski roves and snaps a lovely goal from the hotspot, lots of fantasy scoring in this quarter but not much scoreboard action until red time. (Q2 21:39)
Hurley catches Weightman around the neck 20m out on the flank, who chips wide right. (Q3 2:12)
Johannisen forces Saad to turn the ball over by foot on the HBF, the pass comes in over Langford to Suckling to mark and goal from 20m. (Q3 4:42)
Wallis is front and centre for a Dale contest 40m out on a slight angle, steadies and screws through a quality finish off a step. (Q3 6:38)
Richards volleys wide the crumb from a Bruce contest near the hotspot. (Q3 14:46)
Ham has a gallop down members wing with a bounce, and passes to Laverde 40m out on the flank who misses. (Q3 15:54)
Bailey Smith passes from CHF wide to Johannisen 40m out on the flank, whose set shot is a peach. Dogs have long since got this one under the thumb. (Q3 17:27)
Devon Smith is pinged for a block on Macrae to bring Vandermeer from the edge of the centre to the goalsquare for a charity goal. (Q3 19:32)
Phillips clunks a speculator by Devon Smith from the centre square to a huge pack 20m out in front, but misses. (Q3 22:28)
Hurley is smothered deep in defence, the ball squirts to Bontempelli who gives Richards a Joe the Goose special. (Q3 23:28)
English rises in front of Saad to mark a Suckling pass 40m out on the flank, he misses. (Q3 25:28)
Weightman hits a crumb at pace 20m out in the pocket and bounces through a nice finish. (Q4 0:24)
Vandermeer fumbles a difficult ball in the centre, Merrett passes to McKernan 40m out on a slight angle who misses. (Q4 7:24)
Wallis marks a high ball over Redman 35m out on the flank after winning a wrestling match, he kicks truly for his third. (Q4 9:55)
Hooker marks on the lead 40m out on a slight angle but shanks for no score. (Q4 12:13)
Hooker roves his own contest 20m out and snaps some garbage under a Cordy tackle. (Q4 13:23)
Langford feeds Zaharakis for a snap on the run from 40m on a slight angle, more junk. (Q4 14:55)
McDonald-Tipungwuti marks 50m out on a slight angle and misses. (Q4 18:38)
Dale roves a Wallis contest in the pocket and grubbers through some garbage. (Q4 18:49)
Cahill passes to Hibberd 40m out on a slight angle who misses. (Q4 21:50)
Devon Smith marks on the boundary 35m out and kicks truly in the last minute, that was extremely aromatic stuff and not in the good way. (Q4 23:53)