AFL Saturday Scoreboard: Demons vs Bombers
Quick Look
- Melbourne Demons dominated Essendon Bombers in an AFL match, leading significantly at halftime.
- Key players like Kysaiah Pickett and Max Gawn performed well for Melbourne, while Essendon struggled with turnovers and an injury to Archie Roberts.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Melbourne has dominated proceedings so far, putting huge pressure on the Bombers and punishing turnovers. The stats indicate Melbourne has had the better of the first half, improving their contested game in the second quarter.
AFL Saturday Scoreboard
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By Andrew McGarry
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Demons vs Bombers
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HT stats
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By Andrew McGarry
Inside 50s: 35-19 Melb
Clearances: 21-15 Melb
Centre clearances: 7-5 Melb
Contested possessions: 80-56 Melb
Uncontested possessions: 130-127 Ess
Marks Inside 50: 5-5
Tackles: 31-30 Ess
The stats don't really lie, here. Melbourne has had the better of the first half, and they have actually improved their contested game in the second quarter. The Dees won contested ball 45-27 in that term.
HT: Melbourne 9.10 (64) leads Essendon 3.5 (23)
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By Andrew McGarry
The siren sounds, and Essendon will be glad of a chance to reset after a torrid first half.
They have tried, but their lack of composure under pressure has hurt them. It's not so much the number of turnovers as the amount of times Melbourne has been able to punish them on the way back.
Kozzy Pickett is in his usual - that is to say, rare - form, and Max Gawn has been dominating in the ruck and adding a couple of goals himself.
The 41-point margin does not flatter Melbourne - the question is how can the Bombers hit back after the break? Stick with us and we'll find out.
Pickett has three and Melbourne clears out
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By Andrew McGarry
The Dees are purring here, and once again they take advantage of a Bombers turnover.
Extra pressure brings the error and it gets to Kysaiah Pickett who grabs it, steadies and kicks the goal.
The lead is out to 40 points, deep in time on.
Injury problems for Essendon as Archie Roberts does a shoulder
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By Andrew McGarry
When things aren't going your way...
Essendon's Archie Roberts has come down badly after a contest where he tried to tackle Kysaiah Pickett - and he is holding his shoulder. He's in a lot of pain here, it looks like it has popped out.
That's awful luck for the young Bomber. He's coming off.
He's been one of Essendon's best this season, and he will be missed for the rest of the day.
Trent Rivers kicks one from distance!
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By Andrew McGarry
I don't want to keep repeating myself, but the Bombers' turnovers are just deadly for them.
They've done it again a couple of times there, and a clearing kick has been chopped off on the wing.
Ed Langdon found Trent Rivers near 50 in the left forward pocket. And the Demon unloaded a big kick which somehow went through despite a few Bombers on the goal-line.
Nate Caddy gets one back for Essendon
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By Andrew McGarry
That was better from the Bombers!
Nate Caddy has looked dangerous so far, he just hasn't got his hands on it enough.
That time the Bombers went long to the pocket, and Caddy came in from the side to take a big juggled mark at the second attempt.
Not the easiest angle, but his curling kick went through.
That's Essendon's third goal of the day. Clearly, they need a few more - but that's a start.
Demons forward dominance continues
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By Andrew McGarry
The Bombers are trying to stick in here, but it's very hard when the opposition is having as many looks at it as Melbourne are.
The inside 50s count halfway through the second quarter is: Melbourne 27, Essendon 11.
Big goal from Max Gawn
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By Andrew McGarry
The Demons are cranking it up here.
They go forward and force a stoppage near 50 on the right.
Max Gawn gets a free for being blocked by Nick Bryan.
It's outside 50, and he doesn't look too confident. But he's absolutely brained that!
It goes through, and the Demons are over the moon for the big man. The lead is out to 30 points.
Pickett kicks another for the Demons
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By Andrew McGarry
The Bombers had been lifting their intensity, but sadly for them they are still giving away turnovers, and the Demons are still making them pay.
They shift it through the corridor and it's Kozzy Pickett who benefits, kicking his second and Melbourne's sixth.
That's not the start Essendon wanted.
The rain is falling at the MCG
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By Andrew McGarry
The skies have opened and the rain is falling at the MCG, which will make any lead harder to peg back.
The second quarter is under way and the Bombers have lifted their intensity, but there hasn't been any scoring in the first couple of minutes.
QT stats
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By Andrew McGarry
Inside 50s: 20-9 Melb
Clearances: 11-8 Melb
Centre clearances: 4-3 Melb
Contested possessions: 35-29 Melb
Uncontested possessions: 74-67 Ess
Marks Inside 50: 3-3
Tackles: 16-13 Ess
QT: Melbourne 5.4 (34) leads Essendon 2.4 (16)
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By Andrew McGarry
The siren sounds, after a nice late goal for the Bombers to Ben McKay.
They will be not too unhappy with a 17-point margin at quarter time after that first term.
Melbourne have had way too many forward entries for Essendon's liking, and the Bombers' turnover numbers are not sustainable if they want to stay in this contest.
But they have had moments where they have managed to cut through the Demons. A bit more of that would make things interesting.
Harrison Petty gets the quick reply for Melbourne
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By Andrew McGarry
The Bombers have had to work really hard to get their first goal, and then the Demons have just put one on in a minute or two.
Harrison Petty had the set shot from inside 50, and he kicked straight to restore a lead of close to four goals.
Will Setterfield replies for Essendon
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By Andrew McGarry
Well, that was definitely needed!
The Bombers finally put some pressure on in forward 50, they forced a stoppage, the ball was scrambled out to Will Setterfield, and his snap was true.
The Bombers are on the board, they still trail by three goals.
Turnovers killing the Bombers as Langdon extends the lead
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By Andrew McGarry
It's fair to say that Melbourne has dominated proceedings so far, putting huge pressure on the Bombers and punishing turnovers.
It's happened again in time on, and this time it's Ed Langdon who is ther in the right forward pocket to snap the Demons's fourth goal of the day.
So far there have been 16 inside 50s to Melbourne, and just four to Essendon. That's a fair summary of how things have gone.
Pickett adds another for Melbourne as the Demons are flying
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By Andrew McGarry
This is looking a little ominous for Essendon, as the Demons' front-half game is going very nicely.
They pounce again on a Bombers' error, and it goes to Kysaiah Pickett, who darts forward, straightens up and curls a kick home from 25m.
The crowd roars and the Demons are flying! They lead 3.2 -0.2.
Van Rooyen extends Melbourne's lead, as the MCG stands and applauds Neale Daniher
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By Andrew McGarry
The Demons are playing better here, and Jacob Van Rooyen has kicked their second of the day.
The clock has ticked over to the sixth minute of the first quarter, and the MCG has stood and produced a minute's applause in honour of Neale Daniher, whose jumper at the Bombers was number six.
That's a lovely moment. The Dees lead by 11 points.
Great snap from Max Gawn!
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By Andrew McGarry
That's a great bit of play from the Demons.
They take advantage of some spilled ball from Essendon, and go inside 50.
It's a series of handballs, and comes back to Max Gawn, who snaps a beauty from the pocket!
Dees get back in front.
Open Questions
- How can the Bombers hit back after the break?
- Will Archie Roberts' injury impact Essendon's performance?