Blog log from R23 of 2023: Western Sydney vs Essendon

Daniels strikes the opening blow for the Giants with a front-and-centre rove of Riccardi’s contest and a nice snap from 30m on the flank. (Q1 1:58)
Langford marks in front of Buckley at the hotspot for the opener for Essendon. (Q1 3:11)
Hogan beats Zerk-Thatcher to mark a long Brown kick from the wing to 15m on a slight angle, superior body strength there from the older man. He kicks truly. (Q1 5:24)
Cumming feeds Lloyd who snaps across the body from 25m on the flank but it’s narrow to the right. (Q1 9:30)
Buckley intercepts Kelly’s rebound kick on the wing and goes quickly to Greene, who lets fly from 55m on a slight angle to an empty square… bounces through! (Q1 10:37)
Another front half turnover pounced on by the Giants, Ward pokes a pass to Bedford near the hotspot for his first goal. (Q1 16:28)
Brown misses a snap from the HFF. (Q1 18:13)
Greene performs a party trick roving on members wing, does a one-two and kicks to the HFF where Riccardi marks and goals. Pretty game when Toby plays it! (Q1 20:35)
Daniels marks behind Jake Kelly 35m out on the boundary and curls in a long checkside set shot off the right boot, quality finish! (Q1 23:11)
Greene’s pressure forces Heppell to cough up a handball at half back straight to Coniglio who pops through another one from 40m on a slight angle. (Q1 28:04)
Essendon breaks down on rebound around outer wing, Ash receives from Coniglio and runs to the flank 45m out and sails through another one! (Q2 1:38)
Bedford juggles the mark from a Josh Kelly pass on the boundary behind Hind 25m out, his checkside is narrow. (Q2 5:09)
Coniglio gets around Hind on the mark in the centre and hits the diving lead of Hogan 40m out in front, who hits the right goalpost. (Q2 8:48)
Daniels sails through a lovely snap off a couple of step from 45m near the boundary, the Dons are not giving a yelp in this game, they have not turned up at all. (Q2 10:38)
Hogan beats Zerk-Thatcher to mark 20m out on a slight angle for his second goal, way too easily. (Q2 14:13)
Laverde is incredulous that Hogan gets a free for a push in the back 40m out on the flank. Hogan clunks another set shot for his third. (Q2 19:33)
Menzie plays on into the open goal after a contact free against Whitfield to Perkins. (Q2 22:21)
Ash passes to Bedford 40m out on the flank on the end of another flowing rebound through the centre by the Giants who love owning the corridor like they have today. Bedford goals. (Q2 25:14)
Briggs receives from Coniglio and bombs from the next bounce, Greene marks in front of Kelly 40m out in front and slots another one for the orange horde. (Q2 27:14)
Caldwell runs free to 50m on a slight angle but shanks a running snap wide right, disappointingly. (Q2 28:42)
Langford dives for a contested grab in front of Buckley just inside 50m on a slight angle, HT siren sounds so he has to go back for the set shot… torpedo attempt shanked OOTF. (Q2 29:39)
Fahey roves a Greene bounce pass and gives outside to Josh Kelly who blazes wide off the left from 25m, ump saw contact by Cox and brings back the free, which Fahey converts. Luck. (Q3 5:08)
Hogan takes another contested pack grab 40m out in front, Zerk-Thatcher lowering his colours today albeit with bulk supply from midfield. Hogan clunks his fourth major. (Q3 7:36)
Hogan pops through his fifth goal from a set shot from the top of the square. BZT looks thoroughly disgusted. (Q3 13:47)
Lloyd roves and shoots from 45m on the flank but it’s across the face. (Q3 16:29)
Himmelberg sails through another one from the HFF, this is the most ridiculous one-sided cakewalk of the year. (Q3 17:48)
Brown marks untouched in front of Heppell from a Ward centre clearance to the hotspot, he pops through another one. (Q3 19:47)
Green pushes the margin into three figures with another long kick that just clears the goal line after marking a Whitfield short pass 45m out on a slight angle. (Q3 23:12)
Langford marks a Stringer pass on the lead in front of Buckley 40m out on the flank and kicks truly for his 50th goal of the season. (Q3 24:22)
Phillips converts a set shot from 45m on a slight angle. Bit of sauce on an otherwise terrible-tasting sandwich for Essendon fans. (Q3 26:48)
Whitfield hits the lead of Hogan 40m out in the corridor with another exquisite low and hard pass, Hogan boots his sixth. (Q3 28:48)
Brown misses under pressure from 25m on the flank. (Q4 2:12)
Hogan gets the benefit of a 50m penalty on Laverde for his seventh goal from the top of the square. (Q4 5:48)
Hogan kicks his eighth goal from 20m on a slight angle after marking a Himmelberg kick in front of Laverde. (Q4 9:34)
Lloyd hears the home crowd chant his name as he lines up for a set shot from 40m in front which he dobs, the Giants get around their retiring clubman. (Q4 11:37)
Hogan beats Zerk-Thatcher to mark a Riccardi kick from the HFF to the hotspot to shoot for number nine… number nine… number nine… yes. (Q4 14:29)
McMullin catches a dithering Perkins HTB 40m out but misses. (Q4 17:34)
Coniglio roves and blazes wide from 40m on the flank. (Q4 18:17)
Bedford gives Josh Kelly a Joe the Goose special. (Q4 18:51)
Ah, but review shows a nick on the goalpost. (Q4 20:34)
Caldwell marks a Hobbs pass at the hotspot for an extremely smelly garbage time goal. (Q4 25:04)
McMullin roves a stoppage at the top of the square for his first senior goal to break the club record for team score with a minute to play. (Q4 30:04)
Riccardi marks 35m out on the flank for a kick after the siren which is shanked for no score. (Q4 32:01)