Sydney has cemented themselves in the top eight courtesy of a blistering start that saw the Western Bulldogs five goals down before they had the chance to move.
But on the other hand, the Bulldogs might have blown their finals hopes with two disastrous quarters at the SCG.
In what was billed as an eight-point match given both sides are still fighting for a locked-in top eight spot, it was the Swans who were able to string together patches of momentum that saw them run away with a 53-point win.
It was off the back of an extremely hot first quarter performance by the home side, John Longmire clearly firing his troops up as they kicked seven goals from 15 shots in the first term.
AFL Nation’s Gerard Healy speculated the Swans players had copped a bake from their coach pre-match, saying: “The Swans look like they’re playing like John Longmire told them to wear the mouthguard this week (at training).”
“The Dogs are deadest quiet and in the Kennel at the moment.”
At the first break, Sydney had won contested footy by almost 20, won the clearances 14-6 and dominated efficiency inside their forward 50 68-27 per cent.
Callum Mills had six tackles with eight minutes still to play in the opening quarter in a showcase of the fire from the Swans, with the co-captain going on to gather 23 touches, 15 tackles and a goal.
Chad Warner 🔥
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) July 8, 2022
The Swans are making it look easy.
📺 Watch #AFLSwansDogs on ch. 504 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/c5Vwhmwg3e
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/Bu9cWDfr2y
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/VSff1hvUoY pic.twitter.com/pG5lYX7uPE
He was well supported by Sam Reid (13 tackles, 15 contested possessions) and Chad Warner (25 disposals, two goals).
And while Tom Papley didn’t overcome his goalkicking woes from last week – kicking 2.5 on the SCG turf – he was still among the top handful on the ground, having 17 score involvements, some seven more than any other player on the ground.
The Swans had five goals on the board at the halfway mark of the first quarter, doing the damage early in the contest. The Dogs claimed the rest of the half, but Sydney’s defence held up, with the margin 29 points at the main break.
Despite the minor comeback, Luke Beveridge’s troops undid all of their good work when putting forward a dreadful third quarter.
They conceded another six goals in the premiership term. All in all, the Dogs won a quarter of the clash and only lost the last by four points, yet still found themselves down 53 on the scoreboard at the final siren.
It’s an impressive switch from the Swans, given they’ve conceded their own share of momentum swings in 2022.
That is sublime footwork from Isaac Heeney!
— AFL (@AFL) July 8, 2022
How on earth has he got through that pack of players?#ColesGoals | #AFLSwansDogs pic.twitter.com/gCtYdzgtbY
Only a few weeks ago the Swans were looking like a strong chance to book a top four ticket, and the win only enhances their credentials that their best can be electrifying to watch.
However, as Healy notes, it’s difficult to get a read on the Swans given just how off their game the Dogs were in patches on Thursday night.
Beveridge never saw his side play their game style, their midfield well-beaten and the narrative only getting worse from there.
“This has been a sensational win by the Swans… but it’s hard to know just how good they’ve been because the Dogs have been horrible. The worst I’ve seen them play all year,” Healy said.
It has been a tough start for the Dogs, but this was sharp from Cody Weightman.#AFLSwansDogs pic.twitter.com/eIZgyg6r3G
— AFL (@AFL) July 8, 2022
The Bulldogs are under no illusions about the well-publicised difficulty of their run home and they now find themselves two games out of the top eight with six games to play.
“Once you’re two games out of the eight, you’re just about cooked aren’t you?” Healy added.
Meanwhile, all of a sudden, the Swans find themselves fifth on the ladder, an example of just how tight the competition is.
FULL SCORE
Sydney: 7.8, 9.11, 15.15, 17.18. (120)
Western Bulldogs: 2.1, 5.6, 8.8, 9.13. (67)
GOALS
Sydney: Heeney 4, Amartey 2, Franklin 2, Papley 2, Warner 2, Clarke, Hayward, Mills, Rowbottom, Stephens
Western Bulldogs: Naughton 2, Weightman 2, Bontempelli, English, Johannisen, Schache, Ugle-Hagan
BEST
Sydney: Papley, Parker, Mills, Warner, Reid
Western Bulldogs: English, Bontempelli, Treloar, Liberatore, Dale
INJURIES
Sydney: Ladhams (Thumb)
Western Bulldogs: Scott (Concussion)