The Swans are back to winning ways, winning their first post-bye game since the stone ages in emphatic fashion, putting a dire Dogs outfit to the sword to tune of 46 points.
Pre-game
The Swans made the bold decision to drop out-of-form Kurt Tippett in place of returning ruckman Sam Naismith. Young forward Oliver Florent made way for returning former captain Kieren Jack, while Harry Marsh came in for Gary Rohan who was a late change with illness.
The Game
The Swans got stuck into the underserving 2016 Norm Smith Medalist before the match even started, and his terrible night started there. The Swans dominated the opening exchanges and it was almost 3 minutes before the Dogs had their first disposal.
Despite their dominance, the Swans could only muster a goal in the early part of the first quarter, and the Dogs hit back with their own.
The game ebbed and flowed through a lot of poor disposal and slippery hands, with both sides coming off the bye, clean hards are often hard to find early on.
Franklin had his first goal towards the end of the first quarter and moments hit the scoreboard again, but this time just a point. But it wasn't long before he had another shot at goal, this time hitting the post.
Hayward was proving a fantastic target up forward, with 4 marks in the first 5 minutes, and Franklin well on top of Adams.
Heeney was dominant in the first quarter, winning the ball with impunity, while the Swans pressure across the ground were forcing the Dogs into constant turnovers.
Bontompelli was well held, with Heeney winning two holding the ball free kicks with terrific tackles.
The Dogs were still in the game early in the second with the Swans failing to put the game beyond doubt, kicking 5 behinds in a row.
The Swans could only manage to extend the lead to 9 points midway through through the second quarter before the Dogs kicked a goal to narrow the margin.
Up stepped Lance Franklin, who was threatening a boil over already, nailing his 2nd goal of the game off the back of superb work by Jones and great play by the Swans to keep the ball locked in.
Before long, the Swans extended the lead again through Papley, who was in the right place at the right time, drilling through a close range goal.
It was impressive to see Newman and Melican working hard to lock the ball in and win it, showing far more desperation than their opponents.
Franklin put through his third of the half with a goal after the siren to put an end to the Swans dominant half.
The Swans lead by 24 points at half-time, despite the match stats being mostly even. The one tale it doesn't tell is how hard the Swans were working and their impressive pressure.
The Swans extended their lead early in the third quarter through big man Sam Reid, who was marking everything in the air.
He banged through his first, redemption for a shocking miss in the first quarter, extending the Swans lead to five goals.
With a period of ascendency, the Dogs hit back with the next two goals, but it was the closest they would come for the rest of the match.
The Swans hit back immediately after Dixon's goal through Reid, who put through his second of the quarter and capped off an impressive game.
Josh Kennedy was dominating in the midfield, and put through a captains goal to steady the Swans, marking just inside the 50 before he let fly with a long shot, pushing the lead to four goals.
The Dogs wouldn't lay down, answering back with another two quick goals through Wood and Dalhaus, and while the game was still in the balance, Papley stood up and banged one through from the 50 on the run.
Heeney had a chance to score another goal for the Swans late in the quarter on the run from outside 50 but could only score a behind.
The Swans went into the final break 29 points up with the commentators talking up a Dogs comeback, but the Dogs had injury concerns and many of their important ball movers and winners were well down on form.
Luke Parker put the game beyond doubt in the first minute of the last quarter with an emphatic goal from star midfielder Luke Parker.
The resistance fell away and the Swans cruised for the rest of the match, extending the lead to 49 points before the plucky Dogs managed to crawl past 40 points.
Goals to George Hewett, who was superb on shutting down Johannisen, keeping him to just nine disposals throughout the match, and none in the last quarter and Jake Lloyd rounded out the victory.
The forward half pressure for the Swans was a massive improvement over their last hit out against the Hawks, effectively shutting down the Dogs and making it almost impossible for them to work any meaningful scoring opportunities.
Travis Cloke had a night to forget, as did Johannisen and Bontompelli, who were both well held.
Medical room
Gary Rohan was a late out, replaced by Harry Marsh before the start of the match.
Next up
Next up the Swans face the inform Tigers, who despite several narrow losses, should be top 2.
| Sydney Swans | ||||
| 2.2 | 5.8 | 9.14 | 12.16 | 88 |
| Western Bulldogs | ||||
| 1.2 | 2.3 | 6.3 | 6.6 | 42 |
Goals:
Franklin 3, Reid 2, Papley 2, Hannebery, Kennedy, Parker, Hewett, Lloyd
Best:
Kennedy, Heeney, Papley, Franklin, Parker, Grundy, Hannebery, Lloyd
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