AFL 2024: Relive updates, SuperCoach scores for Western Bulldogs vs Essendon
An under siege Essendon has responded from its poor Gather Round performance by blitzing the Western Bulldogs. Relive updates and SuperCoach scores here.
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Essendon has responded from its poor loss to Port Adelaide last week with a commanding win over the Western Bulldogs.
In front of a crowd of over 50,000 at Marvel Stadium, the Bombers kicked a string of goals in the second half to get ahead of the ledger for 2024.
Kyle Langford kicked three majors while Jake Stringer kicked two.
Midfielder Sam Durham played a great role on Marcus Bontempelli, holding the Western Bulldogs star to 17 disposals, which included just one in the final term.
Zach Merrett led all comers in SuperCoach but seven Bombers recorded centuries in the 29-point victory.
Relive all the action here...
10:03: DOGS END ROLLICKING BOMBERS RUN
A soccer from Sam Darcy has ended Essendon’s eye-catching run of goals.
It’s the Bulldogs’ first major in 40 minutes of football.
The goal is a boost for SuperCoaches as Darcy now has 80 points.
9:53: GOOD KICKING IS GOOD FOOTY
Essendon has skipped out to a 31-point lead at Marvel Stadium, all but finishing the Western Bulldogs.
The Dons have kicked eight of the last nine goals to break Bulldogs’ fans hearts.
The Bombers’ lead is largely due to how efficient they’ve kicked in front of goal, they’ve had just one more shot on goal than the Dogs but lead by five goals.
Channel 7 commentator James Brayshaw has referred to the Dogs as “shell shocked”
9:47: JONES PUTS DOGS ON THE CANVAS
Essendon forward Harry Jones has put the Dogs on the canvas with an early fourth-term goal.
His neat set shot followed Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s costly miss at the other end of the ground.
The Dogs have kicked just one goal since midway through the second term and need at least four to win this game.
9:42: DOGS NEED MORE FROM THE SKIPPER
If the Western Bulldogs are to win this game, it will need more out of superstar captain Marcus Bontempelli.
Bontempelli has just 16 disposals (59 SuperCoach points) early in the fourth term.
He has been closely followed by Bomber Sam Durham all night.
9:35: 3QT — BOMBERS HOLD EDGE OVER DOGS
Essendon leads the Western Bulldogs into the final change after a thrilling three quarters in front of a packed Marvel Stadium.
After leading by eight points at the main break, Brad Scott’s men increased their lead by a straight kick in the third.
Bulldogs midfielder Adam Treloar leads all in terms of SuperCoach but is closely followed by Essendon livewire Kyle Langford.
9:32: THEY HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN
Essendon fans have issued a frosty reception to Western Bulldogs small forward Cody Weightman when he’s got his hands on the ball tonight.
Weightman was the recipient of a string of free kicks during an elimination final between these two sides in 2021 and the Bombers’ faithful haven’t let their feelings on those calls go.
The small forward has had a quiet night with just nine disposals but each of those has been recognised by the Essendon fans.
9:26 BEVO DOES IT AGAIN
Luke Beveridge has broken the hearts of SuperCoaches once again by activating sub Bailey Dale at the expense of rookie Ryley Sanders.
Sanders had been noticeably quiet since quarter time and will finish the night with 43 SuperCoach points.
It’s the second time Sanders has been subbed out this year.
9:21: ROOKIE WATCH
The Bulldogs have two of the highest owned players in this game in rookies Ryley Sanders and Sam Darcy.
Darcy, owned by nearly half of coaches, has had his moments to have 52 SuperCoach points halfway through the third quarter.
Sanders, meanwhile, is owned by 73.4 per cent of coaches and has 42 points.
The first-year player had majority of those points to the first change but has had a quiet period since then.
Essendon’s Nic Martin has 73 points.
9:13: ALMOST FOR ‘MARRA
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has almost brought down a stunning one-handed mark.
Coming in from the side, Ugle-Hagan stuck his right hand out and nearly hung on to a mark that would have resembled that of Gary Ablett senior.
It would have followed a similar one-handed grab he took earlier in the night.
"Almost a Gary Ablett Sr!"
— AFL (@AFL) April 12, 2024
If Jamarra held onto that 😳#AFLDogsDonspic.twitter.com/NCrc7fwhGK
9:04: SLIPPERY NIGHT AT MARVEL
Commentators and supporters are questioning why players from both teams have lost their feet constantly all night.
The roof, as it always is, is closed at Marvel Stadium, meaning the ground should be dry.
Channel 7s Brian Taylor and Matthew Richardson discussed the players’ inability to keep their feet throughout the second term while it has been a topic Kane Cornes has called out for years.
New year, same issue. 🌋 #AFLDogsDonshttps://t.co/T1UYL9zBFb
— Kane Cornes (@kanecornes) April 12, 2024
8:50: HT — BOMBERS LEAD ENTHRALLING BATTLE
Essendon leads the Western Bulldogs by only eight points in what looms to be a Friday night classic.
The story is only have finished, but so far 14 goals have been kicked and neither side has led by more than 10 points.
The Dogs launched an early onslaught but, much like the first term, weren’t able to put an efficient Essendon away.
Only two Bulldogs sit inside the top 10, which is led by Bombers’ ball-winner Zach Merrett with 64.
8:40: BOMBERS BLITZ
The Bombers have now capitalised on their purple patch, kicking successive goals to pinch the lead back.
The Dogs have owned much of this second term but have nothing to show for it after a quick Bomber blitz spun the margin in their favour.
Todd Goldstein (55) and Andy McGrath (53) are the only players to have cracked the half-century in SuperCoach.
8:32: HERE COMES LIBBA
Tom Liberatore has surged up the SuperCoach leaderboard after a quieter opening stanza.
As it stands, the inside bull has 44 SuperCoach points which is his side’s best.
Todd Goldstein still leads all with 56.
8:20: OUCH ENGLISH
The SuperCoaches that brought in star ruck Tim English are feeling the pinch.
Such is Goldstein’s dominance, English has had three handballs for the return of just eight SuperCoach points.
Over 3000 SuperCoaches traded English in this week.
Thoughts with the people who paid up for Tim English this week. Hope he recovers to make your best 18!#supercoach
— Al Paton (@al_superfooty) April 12, 2024
8:13: QT — BOMBERS BRING IT TO DOGS
Essendon leads after a scintillating opening term at Marvel Stadium.
The Bulldogs’ talls fired early but the Bombers showed a blend of discipline and maturity to kick its way back into it.
Todd Goldstein was outstanding, collecting 46 SuperCoach points.
Rookie Ryley Sanders was impressive while Aaron Naughton plummeted after a hot start.
8:10: GENUINE GOLD FROM TODD
Essendon has kicked itself back into this contest and veteran Todd Goldstein is to thank.
In the dying stages of the opening term, Goldstein has 51 SuperCoach points.
Only 714 SuperCoaches have big Goldy.
7:58: WHERE’S BONT?
Western Bulldogs’ star Marcus Bontempelli has just eight SuperCoach points in the final minutes of the first term.
He does not seem to be injured but has been stuck on the interchange for some time.
Aaron Naughton and Ryley Sanders are picking up his slack, sharing 31 SuperCoach points apiece.
7:51: DOGS’ TWIN TOWERS ON THE BOARD
Milestone man Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has joined fellow tall Aaron Naughton with an early goal, kicking truly after taking a one-handed pluck running backwards.
This game is red hot with the ball pinging from end to end.
Naughton leads all players in SuperCoach with 26 points.
That is a ridiculous one-hander from Jamarra in game 50!#AFLDogsDonspic.twitter.com/nBxVVFi61U
— AFL (@AFL) April 12, 2024
7:43: DONS, DOGS TRADE MAJORS
Both Western Bulldogs and Essendon have made fast starts under the roof at Marvel Stadium.
Todd Goldstein kicked the first for Essendon before Aaron Naughton responded for the Bulldogs.
Zach Merrett has started well and Sam Durham appears to be following Marcus Bontempelli closely at stoppages.
7:22: MARTIN ... THE MIDFIELDER?
Nic Martin has been spotted warming up with the midfielders ahead of Friday’s clash with the Western Bulldogs.
Martin is listed as a midfielder on SuperCoach and is owned by 19 per cent of coaches.
He’s averaging over 100 from his past three weeks and still has a break even of just 35.
Garry Lyon certainly thinks Martin’s role across half back is easy, stating “my gran could get 30” in his position on the Fox Footy pre-game coverage.
7:15: DANIEL UPDATE
The siren has sounded on the VFL curtain raiser and Bulldog Caleb Daniel was among his side’s best three players on the ground.
Daniel, who was dropped this week, gathered 26 disposals with 17 kicks.
Only Riley Garcia and James Harmes had more possessions than Daniel.
6:42: FINAL TEAMS
Another All-Australian has been handed the Western Bulldogs’ vest, with defender Bailey Dale tonight’s substitute.
Dale is owned by very few SuperCoaches but he is further proof no solidified player is safe from Luke Beveridge’s out of the box calls.
Nick Hind will be Essendon’s substitute.
Neither side has had a late change.
6:30: AFL GREAT’S BRUTAL ASSESSMENT OF MACRAE
AFL great Dermott Brereton has delivered a brutal assessment of Western Bulldogs midfielder Jack Macrae.
Brereton wants to see more “beast like” football out of Macrae and suggests his days of 40 possessions a week are over.
“He has to get more beast like, his days of wrapping around the back and cueing up are gone,” Brereton said on the Fox Footy coverage.
Originally published as AFL 2024: Relive updates, SuperCoach scores for Western Bulldogs vs Essendon
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