SYDNEY has taken a huge step towards their first AFL finals series in three years with a stunning 19-point upset of the Western Bulldogs.
Jordan Dawson kicked three first-half goals and the Swans midfield kept chipping away as they gradually ground down their highly credentialed opponents in an 11.13 (79) to 8.12 (60) victory at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
Jake Lloyd (33 disposals), Callum Mills (31) and Luke Parker (27) all played big roles and George Hewett was important in shadowing prolific Bulldogs midfielder Jack Macrae around the contest.
Will Hayward bobbed up with two majors as one of seven goal-kickers for Sydney as they spread the load in a true team performance.
The Swans, who won just five games and finished 16th last year, have now beaten three of the top-four sides and look destined for September action.
Their latest triumph came almost three weeks after being hurriedly relocated out of Sydney because of the Harbour City’s worsening COVID-19 crisis.
The Bulldogs dominated clearances 46-26 but were unable to take advantage as they registered one of their lowest scores of the season, with a makeshift forward line failing to fire in the absence of spearhead Aaron Naughton.
Bulldogs young gun Jamarra Ugle-Hagan entered the contest under an intense spotlight and had an ‘almost’ day in his highly-anticipated debut.
The No.1 draft pick had seven disposals in attack and spilt a few marking attempts, while his two early shots at goal resulted in a smothered kick and a rushed behind in a goal-mouth scramble.
The man he has long been likened to – Sydney superstar Lance Franklin – had a dirty day for the most part at the other end of the ground.
Franklin finished with 1.3 from 10 disposals under the close watch of Alex Keath and put another shot out on the full as the Swans looked to shut the gate midway through the final term.
But it mattered little as he grabbed his next opportunity and ran into an open goal in front of the Swans cheer squad to put the exclamation mark on his team’s impressive performance.
Marcus Bontempelli (27 disposals), Bailey Smith (27) and Caleb Daniel (30) all won plenty of the ball for the Dogs but couldn’t drag their side over the line.
Sydney will remain in Victoria as they await details on a NSW derby clash with Greater Western Sydney in the coming days, while the Bulldogs have a chance to bounce back when they meet Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium in round 18.
(C) AAP 2021
SYDNEY 4.2 7.4 9.8 11.13 (79)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.2 5.5 6.6 8.12 (60)
Goals: Sydney: J Dawson 3 W Hayward 2 I Heeney J Amartey J Bell L Franklin L Parker O Florent. Western Bulldogs: A Scott B Smith C Daniel E Richards J Bruce L Young M Wallis T English.
Umpires: Brett Rosebury, Craig Fleer, Hayden Gavine.
Official Crowd: 24,817 at Marvel Stadium.
