THE SYDNEY Swans have suffered their first home loss of the season against an impressive Western Bulldogs outfit in an entertaining, see-saw match that saw the Dogs run out 18-point winners.
The Bulldogs won 18.4 (112) to 14.10 (94). Stars for the home side were Kieren Jack, Jarrad McVeigh and Adam Goodes, while Adam Cooney was best on ground for the visitors.
In the fourth quarter, goals to Goodes and Jude Bolton gave hope for the home side's fans, and when Michael O'Loughlin kicked back-to-back goals, it suddenly looked like a surprise comeback was on the cards.
But Jason Akermanis, in an acre of space, found Bulldogs Brad Johnson in the forward pocket. The Bulldogs skipper squared the ball to the running Nathan Eagleton, who kicked the sealer.
After a promising first quarter for the Swans, the Bulldogs hit back with a devastating second quarter, kicking seven goals to one. With excellent scoring accuracy and efficient use of the ball through the middle, the visitors were in total command.
The Swans are now 3-3 with one draw but remain in the top eight ahead of next weekend's bye for the Hall of Fame tribute match.
Swans debutant and former Geelong Cat Henry Playfair started in the forward 50 and was a presence early on, with Ted Richards also in the half-forward line.
Jarrad McVeigh was on fire in the opening quarter lurking across half-forward with 10 disposals and two goals. He opened the day's scoring with a snap from 20 metres and a second just minutes later following O'Loughlin's precise pass in the forward pocket.
With Goodes picking up a stack of possessions - the Bulldogs rotated three different players on the dual Brownlow medallist in the first 10 minutes – the Swans were on top early in a high-tempo game.
Playfair's first goal for his new team – a bomb from 60m after a good lead and mark – saw the new Swan mobbed by his teammates.
The Swans' lead was kept in check by the high-scoring Bulldogs, who kicked accurately to keep the lead to within two goals by the first break. Sydney had 111 possessions to 68 in the first quarter.
After a spray from Rodney Eade at the break, the Bulldogs came out full of fire, scoring seven unanswered goals to stun the home side. Pressuring the Swans at the stoppages, the visitors hit back impressively with accurate kicking as the Swans dropped off the pace badly.
Only the impressive Kieren Jack's running shot from 40m out gave the crowd something to cheer about in a disastrous quarter for the Swans.
The momentum and the scoreboard were both with the Bulldogs, who went into the main break 21 points in front. It was the Swans' worst quarter of the season.
It was goal for goal in a frantic third quarter as the Swans matched it with the Dogs. A scrubby set shot from Amon Buchanan got the Swans back to within 13 points early on, but the Dogs replied with big Will Minson taking advantage of an open Swans defence and maintaining their three-goal advantage.
O'Loughlin won a free kick 30m out and goaled to keep the home side with a sniff, but once again the Dogs hit back when Cooney's grubber went under three defenders and through for a goal.
Buchanan's accurate set shot from the angle just inside 50m was again matched as an in-the-back against Leo Barry on Cooney saw the on-baller kick yet another goal.
The Swans could've gone into the final quarter with a two-goal lead, but four shots and four misses let the Dogs off the hook in the final few minutes. With Cooney's fifth of the game, a minute before the final break, the Swans must have felt this wasn't going to be their day. The home side trailed by 16 points going into the final quarter.
With the Dogs dominating the centre clearances, the first two goals of the fourth quarter took the sting out of the Swans as the lead blew out to 28.
And despite the final few minutes, the Swans just fell short.
Western Bulldogs 3.1 10.2 14.2 18.4 (112)
Sydney Swans 5.4 6.5 10.10 14.10 (94)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Cooney 5, Johnson 4, Hahn 2, Murphy 2, Tiller 2, Callan, Minson, Eagleton
Sydney Swans: O'Loughlin 3, Buchanan 2, McVeigh 2, Jolly, O'Keefe, Playfair, Jack, Everitt, Goodes, J. Bolton
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Johnson, Cooney, Murphy, Lake, Hahn
Sydney Swans: McVeigh, Jack, O'Keefe, Buchanan, O'Loughlin
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: TBA
Sydney Swans: None
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McInerney, Rosebury, Stevic
Official crowd: 29,018 at SCG
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
