Blog log from R2 of 2024: Sydney vs Essendon

Merrett kicks from the first bounce of the game, Gresham marks in front of Cunningham 45m out on a slight angle and draws the set shot right to left for the first goal! (Q1 0:48)
Merrett kicks inside 50 again, Cox draws a rather soft holding free on Lloyd 20m out in front and steers through the second goal. (Q1 2:42)
A lull as Cunningham is assessed following a big hit by Wright. A melee has ensued as well. (Q1 4:42)
Finally, play resumes. (Q1 9:06)
Grundy gets a contact free on Draper on the HFF, his kick is wide and rushed on the line. (Q1 10:05)
Gulden marks a McDonald pass in the pocket well within range but centres quickly for Hayward 45m out on a slight angle, who slots it. (Q1 13:22)
A pass to Langford in the pocket is touched off the boot so he has to turn and shoot from 20m with Rampe closing, Rampe throws a boot out, what happened? Ruled a goal. (Q1 15:57)
That goal came from a lunging spoil by Duursma on Jordon on outer wing. (Q1 17:25)
Setterfield gives to a flat-footed Langford who snaps on the turn from 45m on a slight angle, that one sails through as well! (Q1 21:53)
Roberts intercepts a rebound kick by Perkins and goes back to the pocket for Hayward to mark in front of Heppell 30m out. Hayward screws in a lovely finish! (Q1 25:03)
Heeney volleys a loose ball from half back to Papley in the centre, pass goes to McDonald 30m out on a slight angle who misses. (Q1 28:03)
Corey Warner snaps across the face from 30m on the flank. (Q1 28:59)
McLean marks a Gulden pass from the centre over Duursma to 20m out in the corridor, he makes no mistake with the set shot. (Q1 31:23)
Roberts spoils Cox in the centre to cause a turnover, McDonald passes to Amartey who draws a contact free on Laverde leading to 45m on the flank and goals, Swans lead! (Q1 34:13)
Hind’s kick to Cox was not of high quality, if you’re going to go through the corridor at the SCG you have to be precise to beat the crowd. (Q1 35:10)
Amartey drops a Roberts kick towards the hotspot, Heeney roves and snaps off the left, bounces the wrong side of the left post. (Q1 37:10)
Essendon gets the lead back early in Q2 with a Draper goal, after which a melee forms at half forward for the Dons, free against Gulden to Setterfield, Durham to Cox, miss. (Q2 2:32)
Wicks runs free up the wing on a quick rebound and has Heeney over the back of McKay to mark untouched at the hotspot and goal. (Q2 5:32)
Hind gets back in front of Corey Warner to rush a snap by Hayward from the hotspot. (Q2 7:32)
Draper drops Lloyd after marking on members wing, 50m paid and Lloyd has Papley on his own 35m out on the flank. Papley’s drop punt falls inside the far right post. (Q2 9:55)
Lloyd is paid for deliberate rushing from a Gresham bouncing snap, Menzie takes the free on the right behind line and hits the post, much to the delight of the home fans. (Q2 12:09)
Hobbs misses outside a stoppage 45m out on a slight angle. (Q2 13:40)
Langford marks on the wing, goes OOB then plays on over the mark while OOB, crowd hoots but play on, Stringer has Gresham over the back to run into the open goal! Controversy! (Q2 14:38)
Chad Warner does a one-two with Heeney but blazes wide from 40m on a slight angle. (Q2 17:50)
Wright gets lusty boos from the home crowd after marking a Perkins pass 50m out on a slight angle. The set shot shuts them up, it’s a boomer! (Q2 18:36)
McInerney volleys a crumb in the square despite two Dons diving to smother, ball sits up on the line for Amartey to backheel through to make sure of the goal. (Q2 20:05)
That was quite a skilful goal by Amartey, and it was needed as the ball had come off a defender’s hand last. (Q2 20:43)
Goldstein marks over Blakey at the top of the square to give Essendon the lead back again. (Q2 21:48)
After hard run to provide a link option, Gulden passes from the centre to the lead of Papley 45m out on a slight angle. Papley pushes the set shot left. (Q2 26:42)
Papley marks 55m out, dithers and gives off to Blakey who blazes wide. (Q2 27:18)
Gulden marks a Blakey pass on outer wing and passes inside 50 again to Papley, this time at the hotspot. Papley gets this one on target. (Q2 28:58)
McLean marks a Campbell pass 50m out on a slight angle but tugs the set shot left. (Q2 31:10)
McDonald beats McKay to take a contested grab at the hotspot, he boots the first goal of Q3. (Q3 0:54)
Stringer plays on around Blakey on the mark to shoot from 45m on a slight angle but tugs it left. (Q3 2:58)
Wright leaps over Melican to clunk a contested grab from a Perkins inside 50 kick from outer wing to 35m on a slight angle. Crowd hooting as he strides in… second goal. (Q3 4:24)
Tsatas kicks inside 50 high and wobbly off his left boot from half forward, ball drops short to be marked on his chest by Draper 35m out in front. Draper shanks the kick right. (Q3 9:06)
Blakey monsters Duursma off a ground ball on outer wing and the Swans swarm, Gulden is released to 55m on a slight angle, kick to an empty square, skids through for a big goal! (Q3 12:24)
Durham gives inside from a stoppage on the HFF to Tsatas who tries a checkside off a step from near the hotspot… flies wide left. (Q3 15:28)
Corey Warner misses from 15m after roving a pack. (Q3 16:29)
Campbell juggles twice in the pocket but drops a mark, butters up and misses from 20m. (Q3 18:14)
Wicks hits Jordon in stride running to the HFF on a slingshot play, he keeps going for the short pass to Papley near the hotspot, third goal for him. (Q3 19:50)
Gresham gets a lucky bounce on the HFF, he gives to Menzie, Roberts corrals and Menzie kicks OOTF from 20m. (Q3 21:42)
Swans attack the corridor after a turnover behind outer wing, Heeney to McLean to Hayward leading back behind Cox to 20m on a slight angle, who hoofs it wide right. (Q3 24:08)
Gresham feeds Stringer who finally gets a snap on line from 40m on a slight angle. across the body favouring his right boot. (Q3 25:31)
McInerney passes short to Blakey on the end of another flowing move up the guts by Sydney, he shoots from 40m in front and nails it. (Q3 28:06)
Gulden wobbles a clearance from the HFF to the corridor for McLean to mark just before the 3QT siren, he goals. The Swans now have a stranglehold on the game with red time scores. (Q3 31:15)
Gulden’s bounce pass towards Grundy in the pocket is mopped up with good skill for a big man, the ex-Pie gives inside to Hayward who does the rest off the right from 20m. (Q4 0:38)
Florent misses a flying snap form 40m in front. (Q4 2:09)
Merrett catches a baulking McCartin HTB near the goalpost and kicks the goal off the left. (Q4 5:00)
Corey Warner gives sideways to Chad Warner for a shot on the lope from 50m… wide left. Be bi be bi be bi, that’s not all folks. (Q4 9:30)
Merrett roves a dump kick to grass near the hotspot, he snaps across the body off his left for another one! (Q4 10:51)
Heeney roves on the HBF but delivers a high fend to the face of Gresham, pass towards Wright in the pocket but broken up, no score. (Q4 14:28)
Bombers surge from the pocket, Rampe saves a goal with a tackle on Langford, eventually Gresham grubbers wide from 10m. (Q4 15:40)
Dons pushing now with Davey jnr running down McInerney in the centre, Gresham marks a Durrsma pass 40m out in front and kicks straight! Two kicks in it now halfway through Q4! (Q4 16:52)
Grundy baulks past Goldstein on outer wing and has McInerney on the HFF, he passes to Gulden 30m out on a slight angle. Big kick for Errol… he’s a champ, straight through. (Q4 18:37)
Chad Warner wins the footy, McInerney kicks from the next bounce to the lead by McLean in front of Laverde 40m out on a slight angle. McLean leans on it and shoots to the right. (Q4 20:22)
Papley draws a contact free on Hind at a stoppage 40m out on a slight angle, arms around his torso. The kick is another beauty, Swans kick away again after being challenged. (Q4 22:28)
Merrett passes to Langford in the pocket 30m out, he misses near side left. (Q4 24:15)
Lloyd misses a set shot from 50m on the flank. We are in junk time now. (Q4 26:17)
Langford feeds Stringer for some junk from 20m in the pocket, to little reaction. (Q4 27:15)
Chad Warner deserves a gaol and het gets one after baulking clear and snapping off the left boot from the hotspot. (Q4 28:52)
Gulden roves on the HFF and gives to Jordon running the boundary, he tries a kick on the burst from 50m and skids it through to give the remaining fans a big thrill! (Q4 31:38)
Chad Warner runs forward after the next bounce to roves Hind’s fumble under Papley pressure and slot another one from 40m on the flank! (Q4 33:28)
Gresham roves in the pocekt and centres to Stringer 20m out on a slight angle, he goals after the final siren to make it three for him. (Q4 35:28)