Match Recap
Round 5·Sun, 5-Apr-2026 7:20 PM·Docklands·38,786 att.
Western Bulldogs
14.15 (99)
vs
Essendon
9.11 (65)
Western Bulldogs won by 34

Western Bulldogs defeated Essendon 99–65, by 34 points. The match turned in the first quarter, when Western Bulldogs outscored Essendon 44–9; Western Bulldogs won disposals 402–342 and contested possessions 129–110.

Quarter scores

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Western Bulldogs7.2 (44)10.7 (67)10.14 (74)14.15 (99)14.15 (99)
Essendon1.3 (9)1.7 (13)5.9 (39)9.11 (65)9.11 (65)

Best on Ground

Top six by KICK Game Score — our 0–100 rating of the game each player had.

What is KICK? A 0-100 rating for every player, every game. 85+ elite · 70-84 top tier · 50-69 best-22 · <50 fringe. How it works →

1
Marcus Bontempelli
Western Bulldogs
35 disposals, 1 goals, 3 tackles
KICK 86
2
Zach Merrett
Essendon
30 disposals, 7 tackles, 7 clearances
KICK 82
3
Matthew Kennedy
Western Bulldogs
36 disposals, 1 goals, 1 tackles
KICK 76
4
Archie Roberts
Essendon
37 disposals, 3 I50s
KICK 76
5
Ryley Sanders
Western Bulldogs
34 disposals, 5 tackles, 5 clearances
KICK 69
6
Sam Darcy
Western Bulldogs
15 disposals, 3 goals, 3 tackles
KICK 69

Western Bulldogs — full stats

What do K, HB, I50, CP mean?
KKicks
HBHandballs
DDisposals (kicks + handballs)
MMarks
TTackles
GGoals
BBehinds
HOHit-outs (rucks tapping the ball from a bounce)
I50Inside-50s (ball moved into attacking zone)
CLClearances (first possession from a stoppage)
CPContested possessions
CGClangers (errors: bad kicks, turnovers, frees against)
BRBrownlow votes (3-2-1 best-on-ground, one match)
R50Rebound 50s (ball cleared from defensive zone)
TOG%Time on ground percentage

Full glossary: AFL stats & terms →

PlayerKHBDMTGBHOI50CLCPCGBRTOG%KICK
#4 Marcus Bontempelli152035831—167103—8486
#8 Matthew Kennedy142236511——411186—7876
#9 Ryley Sanders10243465———35135—8469
#10 Sam Darcy105155333221102—8869
#27 Joel Freijah13132636———6386—9159
#34 Bailey Williams11920821——2163—8151
#13 Oskar Baker11132492———4163—8050
#19 Connor Budarick1652162———5244—7749
#29 Lachlan Bramble107174211—4—32—8145
#7 Rory Lobb1321510———31—33—8943
#33 Aaron Naughton73106—33—1—32—9142
#26 Josh Dolan79163111—4—31—7738
#31 Bailey Dale1752231—————21—8038
#11 Lachie Jaques1071743—1—1143—8538
#32 Arthur Jones64104131—2—31—5538
#24 Buku Khamis931242———1—41—9535
#44 Tim English62831——16433——5335
#14 Rhylee West6131931—2—1261—7434
#18 James ODonnell561142———1—43—10030
#42 Sam Davidson831151———1—21—7526
#16 Jordan Croft358—2——61152—6624
#37 Michael Sellwood25741—————34—7113
#30 Lachlan McNeil268———1———62—4512

Essendon — full stats

What do K, HB, I50, CP mean?
KKicks
HBHandballs
DDisposals (kicks + handballs)
MMarks
TTackles
GGoals
BBehinds
HOHit-outs (rucks tapping the ball from a bounce)
I50Inside-50s (ball moved into attacking zone)
CLClearances (first possession from a stoppage)
CPContested possessions
CGClangers (errors: bad kicks, turnovers, frees against)
BRBrownlow votes (3-2-1 best-on-ground, one match)
R50Rebound 50s (ball cleared from defensive zone)
TOG%Time on ground percentage

Full glossary: AFL stats & terms →

PlayerKHBDMTGBHOI50CLCPCGBRTOG%KICK
#7 Zach Merrett15153057———37112—8182
#21 Archie Roberts2983712————3—42—8676
#2 Jacob Farrow15621122———2—31—8053
#6 Jye Caldwell61319351——1798—8051
#31 Zach Reid14519114—————63—7350
#1 Andrew McGrath10132362———1—93—8047
#25 Jaxon Prior1662271———3—33—8445
#20 Peter Wright7310511221——66—8443
#40 Zak Johnson11122391—————41—7042
#26 Archie May5164—2142—5——7536
#11 Jade Gresham7411123——2—31—7836
#45 Tom Edwards82103—22—1—73—8136
#4 Kyle Langford751232———3261—7935
#3 Darcy Parish8111921———5261—6635
#22 Sam Durham571226———1165—8433
#44 Archer Day-Wicks641036—1—3136—8531
#41 Saad El-Hawli103134——1—2—3——6529
#28 Xavier Duursma871531—1——123—7824
#46 Lachlan Blakiston246—2——13—132—7322
#16 Archie Perkins53832———1—21—6920
#32 Ben McKay22432—————23—10013
#10 Isaac Kako4372————2243—7312
#35 Matt Guelfi325—1—1—1—31—7812