Australian Football

Match Report

Having played out an enthralling match in their SCG encounter in their last meeting in May last year, one which result in a thrilling four-point win to the Dogs, one could hardly have expected Sydney and the Western Bulldogs to produce an equivalent event in their next encounter. However, that is exactly what they did, with the two heavyweights slugging it out in a match that contained several eerie similarities to last season's blockbuster, right down to the final margin of four points in the Bulldogs' favour.

Virtually the only point of difference between the two encounters was the weather, last year's match played out in wet and slippery conditions, while this time around there was no rain and the ground was in perfect order. Notwithstanding those differences, the final scores were close to identical, 77-73 the Bulldogs' way last year and 83-79 in favour of the Dogs this time with the Swans having more scoring shots in both matches. 

With defences ruling early in proceedings, there was no score for the fist three minutes, a behind to Sydney's Gary Rohan the first. Another three minutes passed before the next score, a long,m running goal from Shane Biggs against his old side giving the Bulldogs the lead. The Dogs controlled the general play over the next few minutes, adding a behind through Lin Jong but Lance Franklin's first goal at the 16-minute mark signalled a turn of fortune and the Swans dominated the remainder of the term. They could only add one goal in that period though, via Jarrad McVeigh at the 21-minute mark, and misses from Franklin (two), Luke Parker and Dean Towers would ultimately prove costly. At quarter time, it was Sydney ahead 2.5 to 1.2.

Sydney got the first clearance of the second term and almost got the perfect start to the quarter but Towers' shot at goal hit the post. The Bulldogs then took complete control of the next 10 minutes and two majors to Jake Stringer, the second a magnificent boundary-line snap, gave them the lead, one which was extended to eight points when Marcus Bontempelli kicked a goal at the seven-minute mark. The Swans then settled and wrested back control and a goal to Luke Parker and a brace to Franklin, who was proving to be a real headache for the Dogs, had them back in front by 10 points. Jordan Roughead clawed one back for the Dogs but Callum Sinclair's first had Sydney ahead by 10 at the long break. 

Things looked dangerous for the Bulldogs when Parker kicked the first goal of the second half, extending Sydney's lead to 16 points after two minutes but the red, white and blue turned the match on its head over the next 15 minutes, with goals to Stringer, Jack Redpath, Tom Liberatore, Lin Jong and Liberatore again suddenly putting them 14 points clear. Parker's third at the 25-minute mark had the Swans back with seven, but a snap from Lachie Hunter, in his 50th match, had the Dogs back out to a 13-point lead at 'orange' time.

The Swans added a couple of behinds to start the last quarter but a dreadful mistake from Dan Hannebery saw Will Minson, playing his first AFL match of 2016, get a 50-metre penalty after a free kick, which he converted to put the Bulldogs 17 points clear and on the cusp of victory. But Sydney had other ideas and hit back hard, with three goals - one to George Hewett and a fifth and sixth to Franklin - restoring the lead.

The Swans continued to attack but added only two behinds to be ahead by three points before the Dogs swept the ball forward. A snap from Redpath missed, cutting the margin to two points before a lovely short pass from Caleb Daniel saw Bontempelli marked, within range, with a minute left on the clock. Amazingly, Bontempelli then found Jason Johannisen, returning from a 10-week injury lay off, free further inside the 50 arc. Johannisen marked and coolly kicked accurately to put the Dogs four points ahead with two seconds remaining. The siren sounded shortly after the ensuing centre bounce and all 22 Bulldogs players rejoiced in an amazing victory.

Lachie Hunter celebrated his 50th match with a 31-touch, eight-mark, best-on-ground performance while Buddy Franklin's five goals and 10 marks stamped him as one of Sydney's best.

The result leaves both sides locked in a ruck of six sides between second and seventh on the ladder with a 10-4 record, just one win behind top-of-the-table Hawthorn. The Dogs will return home to Docklands to lay Richmond on Saturday night, while Sydney faces another tough encounter against Geelong at Kardinia park on Friday night.

GOALS
Sydney: Franklin 5; Parker 3; Sinclair, McVeigh, Hewett
Western Bulldogs: Stringer 3; Liberatore 2; Bontempelli, Roughead, Redpath, Minson, Jong, Jonannisen, Hunter, Biggs

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Sydney: Parker, Franklin, Kennedy, Hannebery, Jack, McVeigh
Western Bulldogs: Hunter, Bontempelli, Roughead, Johannisen, Picken, Daniel

BEST - THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
Sydney: Franklin, Parker, Kennedy, Hannebery, Rampe, McVeigh, Mills
Western Bulldogs: Hunter, Boyd, Morris, Liberatore, Bontempelli, Picken, Wallis, Johannisen

INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil

UMPIRES: Fisher, Stevic, Schmitt, Findlay

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Dwayne Russell, Jason Dunstall, Gerard Healy, Barry Hall