The Western Bulldogs travel to the harbour city to play the Sydney Swans who are returning to their home ground after a loss to Fremantle. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2:10pm (AEST).
Will the Bulldogs continue their fantastic start to the season or will the Swans flex their feathers and put the dogs back in their place?
Both clubs come to this match with three wins and one loss, with their only losses, both being interstate games. It’s for this reason the Swans will hold the advantage playing before their home crowd. The Swans have also won the last six meetings between the two.
Wet weather is again expected in Sydney and this should also favour the Swans.
The Swans strength is their great midfield. Dan Hanneberry, Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker are three who have began the season in good form and they will not let the young Dogs run off and create as freely as they have been allowed to in previous weeks.
Then there is the ‘Buddy’ factor. The Bulldogs have struggled with tall forwards in the past and Franklin is in good touch and doesn’t need many opportunities to turn a match the Swans’ way.
The Bulldogs Michael Talia is a young defender making a name for himself and will most likely take on Franklin. Talia is showing he is as good as his Adelaide Crows brother Daniel and will be a key in keeping the Swans goal kicker in check.
The Bulldogs have several other youngsters coming to the fore. Luke Dahlhaus and Marcus Bontempelli are exciting to watch and will need to be locked down by the Swans. Bontempelli will possibly face Josh Kennedy in a mouth watering match up.
Jake Stringer is providing a great focal point up forward and their new Captain Bob Murphy has returned to the form of his career and is directing traffic from the back line.
The Swans have lost young gun Isaac Heeney to injury but Adam Goodes makes a welcome return.
Prediction
The Swans by 31 points.
They will give the Bulldogs a lesson in tough, uncompromising, in close football. The small SCG will not allow the Bulldogs to get their new game plan of fast running into play.
Will the Swans hit back after their loss in the West last week or will the young Bulldogs continue to improve with their run and carry and take the game from the Swans?
Join The Roar Saturday at 2:10pm for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
WhereIsGene
Guest
Hard not to laugh at the Swans supporters booing the Pyke non-mark after the siren because they didn't understand what touched-play on means.
Avatar
Roar Guru
Totally didn't see this coming. Well done to Luke Beveridge and the Western Bulldogs. You deserve every piece of it.
Bill Larkin
Guest
Well done Dogs. You are now officially the real deal.
Big Dallo
Guest
No disrespect to the Dogs they where the better team but why do people still think the swans are good in the wet. Maybe way back in 05 we where considered a very good wet weather team but in recent years wet weather= loss. I would go as far as saying saints or Brisbane or even box hill thirds would get the job done against this woefull wet weather team. Horse needs a new game plan in the wet.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
A couple of years ago, people were talking about how the Bulldogs would be good in a couple of years, perhaps they just had to get worse before they could get better; happens to some sides.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
MATCH REVIEW Western Bulldogs 11.11.77 Def Sydney Swans 10.13.73 by 4 points. Major goalscorers BULLDOGS: Crameri, Honeychurch, Bontempelli, T.Boyd 2 SWANS : Franklin 3, Goodes, Tippett 2 Best : BULLDOGS Picken, Bontempelli, Dahlhaus SWANS Hanneberry,Mitchell. In wet conditions the Bulldogs kicked away in the first quarter with 5 goals and then withstood everything a Swans outfit could throw at them to take a memorable victory! It was a real slog after quarter time and a credit to the younger bodies of the Bulldogs. The Swans won in most areas on the stat sheet but the Bulldogs were very good at making the most of some counter attacking moves. Longmire threw a player behind the ball after quarter time and this played into the Swans favour but alas after hitting the front in the last quarter they couldn't keep the lead. Overall the Bulldogs beat the Swans at their own game and recorded what they can look back on as a win that starts their climb up the ladder. Liam Picken was superb. His strength and run and carry off the backline saw him as my best player. Marcus Bontempelli and Luke Dahlhaus are two young players who were terrific in the midfield and who you will hear a lot more of in the future. For the Swans Dan Hanneberry and Tom Mitchell picked up a lot of possessions but in the end were overwhelmed by the ferocious Bulldogs. It was a pleasure to watch a young team achieve such a great win and one of the best matches I've seen for a while. If you get a chance , watch the Bulldogs for a refreshing game of AFL. The Swans have now lost two close ones in a row and will regroup before travelling to face Melbourne next week. In the end an Easton Wood toe pock in the square got the Bulldogs the chocolates!!
Mister Football
Roar Guru
We outswanned the swans on a wet, soggy SCG - awesome effort by the pups.
joe
Guest
Didn't expect that
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
Great win by the Dogs, cracking finish!
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
GAME OVER Bulldogs win by 4 points.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
Bulldogs by 4
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
BULLDOGS BY 3. SWANS 10.13.73 BULLDOGS 11.10.76 Q4 2'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
GOAL BULLDOGS Wood kicks one out of the square. What a valuable goal against the flow. SWANS 10.13.73 BULLDOGS 11.9..75 Q4 5'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
Swans by 4 points. They seem to have game on their terms. SWANS 10.13.73 BULLDOGS 10.9.69 Q4 7'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
GOAL SWANS 4 points in front. 11 minutes to go. A hell of a long time for the Bulldogs to hold on. Cunningham gets a goal. SWANS 10.13.73 BULLDOGS 10.9.69 Q4 10'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
3 Points. Great contested footy! Ball stuck on wing on the outer side. SWANS 9.12.66 BULLDOGS 10.9.69 Q4 13'
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Absolutely flagrant shirt grab by Tippett..
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
4 points in it. The Swans are coming! SWANS 9.11.65 BULLDOGS 10.9.69 Q4 15'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
GOAL SWANS Jack strikes first for the Swans. 5 points in it. SWANS 9.10.64 BULLDOGS 10.9.69 Q4 18'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
3 QTR TIME SWANS 8.10.58 BULLDOGS 10.9.69 Goals BULLDOGS: Crameri Honeychurch Bontempelli T.Boyd 2 SWANS: Franklin 3 Goodes Tippett 2 After a lot of toing and froing both sides scored 4 goals that quarter. Both sides are going hard at it in the wet and all is in store for a fascinating last quarter. Liam Picken continues his drive from defence and Marcus Bontempelli lifted and is taking it up to Kennedy. Strap yourself in for a close finish.