Australian Football

Match Report

The surprise packet of 2015, the Western Bulldogs, have continued their unexpectedly successful start to the season with a thrilling four-point win over Sydney at the SCG to take third place on the ladder and stake a claim as a genuine finals contender this year. The Dogs led for most of the afternoon only to surrender their advantage late in the last quarter before snatching a nail-biting win with a goal to Easton Wood. It was the Bulldogs' first win at the SCG since 2008.

it was anticipated by most that the young Dogs would meet their match against a seasoned, stronger Sydney outfit and for the first few minutes of the match, that looked to be very much the case as the Swans opened menacingly, dominating the clearances and kicking the first two goals through veteran Adam Goodes and star spearhead Lance Franklin. After nine minutes, Sydney led by 13 points and the ball had hardly been in the Bulldogs' forward line. But an intercept mark and goal from Marcus Bontempelli changed the fortunes of the Dogs. They started to get drive out of defence and began to take advantage on the scoreboard, with goals to Stewart Crameri (two), Jake Stringer and Lin Jong following and giving the Bulldogs a 14-point lead, 5.1 to 2.5, at quarter time.

Within the first minute of the second term, Tom Boyd marked and goaled to extend the margin to 20, before wet weather set in and a dour, goalless 10-minute period followed. Kurt Tippett finally kicked the Swans' third goal at the 11-minute mark and Franklin kicked his second to cut the margin back to seven after 18 minutes. The Dogs held sway over the next 10 minutes but could only convert that control into five consecutive behinds. A late shot at goal by Sydney's Josh Kennedy went wide and the Dogs held an 11-point lead at the long break. 

Tom Boyd opened the third quarter as he had the second, with a inside the first three minutes, but Sydney threatened after that, goals to Franklin and Tippett bring the difference back to five points after eight minutes. But the Bulldogs fought on and goals to Mitch Honeychurch and Stringer stretched the margin back out to 17 points, before majors to Gary Rohan and Goodes reduced it to five points once more. Just before three-quarter time, Bontempelli emulated his first quarter intercept mark and converted for a goal, meaning both sides had scored 4.1 for the term and the half-time margin of 11 remained at the last break.

As the rain continued to tumble, the big question was whether the young Pups could withstand the inevitable last-quarter surge from Sydney. And when the Swans dominated the first half of the term to kick 2.3 - with goals to Kieran Jack and Harry Cunningham - to take a four-point lead, it looked as though the answer to that question would be "no." But the Dogs fought on, defending grimly and then, on a rare foray forward, a mid-air hack out of a pack from Luke Dahlhaus was helped through by the boot of Easton Wood to restore a Bulldog lead. The Dogs added a couple more behinds to lead by four before a final surge forward by the Swans was repelled by Wood. When the siren sounded seconds later, all 22 Western Bulldogs erupted in jubilation as Swans players slumped in despair, the Dogs deserving winners in an epic encounter.

Liam Picken was magnificent for the Dogs, with 12 tackles and 33 disposals, while Bontempelli (23 possessions, six tackles) and Crameri (20 touches and two goals) were also excellent. For the Swans, Dan Hannebery (37 possessions, 10 tackles), Tom Mitchell (30 touches and nine tackles) and Kieran Jack (18 disposals and a goal) could all hold their heads high in defeat.

The Bulldogs have a 4-1 record and will be favoured to make that 5-1 against St Kilda at Docklands next Saturday afternoon, while Sydney (3-2) will take on Melbourne at the MCG later that evening.

GOALS. 
Sydney: Franklin 3; Tippett, Goodes 2; Rohan, Jack, Cunningham
Western Bulldogs: Crameri, T Boyd, Bontempelli, Honeychurch 2; Stringer, Jong, Wood

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Sydney: Mitchell, Jack, Franklin, Hannebery, Jetta, Parker
Western Bulldogs: Dalhaus, M Boyd, T Boyd, Picken, Murphy, Bontempelli

BEST - SMH.COM.AU
Sydney: Hannebery, Pyke, Mitchell, Rohan, Parker, Richards
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Picken, Dalhaus, Murphy, Roberts, Macrae 

INJURIES
Sydney: Reid (calf) replaced in the selected side by Harry Cunningham
Western Bulldogs: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Harry Cunningham replaced Dean Towers in the third quarter
Western Bulldogs: Nathan Hrovat replaced Ayce Cordy in the third quarter

UMPIRES: Margetts, Findlay, Harris

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Anthony Hudson, Jason Dunstall, Mark Thompson, Barry Hall