Bulldogs stun Swans to clinch AFL top eight spot

Joanna Guelas | July 28, 2024

The Western Bulldogs’ AFL finals hopes are well and truly alive after they beat Sydney by 39 points to surge into the top eight.

Holding the ladder-leading Swans to just one point in the first quarter, the Bulldogs led at every break to claim a comprehensive 12.15 (87) to 7.6 (48) win in windy conditions at the SCG.

Inside the top eight for the first time since round six, Luke Beveridge’s side have usurped Essendon to sit eighth on the ladder with four rounds of the home-and-away season left.

Sydney, for so long the premiership favourites, have now lost four of their last five games and face a growing injury list.

Already missing livewire forward Tom Papley, defensive veteran Dane Rampe and midfielders Justin Rowbottom and Justin McInerney, the Swans will be sweating on the fitness of Lewis Melican and Will Hayward after Sunday’s heavy defeat.

Key defender Melican was subbed out with a right hamstring injury in the second quarter before star goalkicker Hayward went to the rooms with an ankle injury in the final term.

Hayward had already aggravated his ankle in Sydney’s two-point loss to Brisbane last round.

Key defender Liam Jones (11 intercept possessions) was outstanding for the Bulldogs after making a speedy recovery from a knee injury, while usual stars Adam Treloar – with a game-high 40 possessions – Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (four goals) and Tom Liberatore (22 possessions, eight clearances) shone in their roles.

The visitors brought the heat from the first siren in front of a 36,028-strong crowd, kicking five goals to Sydney’s one behind in the opening term to build a 34-point lead.

Will Hayward opened the scoring in the second term for the Swans with a bouncing shot at goal before Hayden McLean added another but a forced reshuffle of their defence following Melican’s injury allowed the Bulldogs to reclaim any lost ground.

Swans key forward Logan McDonald was thrown down back as Ugle-Hagan inflicted more pain with two goals alongside Lachie McNeil’s one major in the third term.

In the end, the hosts were emphatically outworked in the contest despite the efforts of Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Errol Gulden, trailing on clearances 30 to 40, on inside-50s by 47 to 61, and 135 to 162 for contested possessions.

Defender Matt Roberts was a shining light for the Swans, kicking one goal, taking 36 touches and 10 intercept possessions.

Sydney will next face fellow premiership contenders Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, while the Western Bulldogs return to their Marvel Stadium home against Melbourne.