Match

Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans

Commentary / 10 Jul 2021

Pre Game

00:00
The Bulldogs have won six of their past eight games against the Swans, with their last loss coming in Round 4, 2018. They have also won eight of their last nine games at this venue.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:07
Western Bulldogs fans will be happy to see Jamarra Ugle-Hagan play his first AFL game today. Ugle-Hagan has kicked 13 goals in seven VFL games this season, and as a bottom-ager in the 2019 NAB League he impressed with 24 goals in nine games.
00:17
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Bailey Smith)
00:31
A great start to the game for the Bulldogs with a goal from the opening centre bounce clearance. Western Bulldogs rank No.1 for both centre bounce clearance differential and scores from this source with an average of 14.5 points per game.
03:25
The Bulldogs have won the first three clearances to start the game. They are ranked No.1 in this measure (winning seven more per game than their opposition), with the Swans only ranked mid-table in clearances.
06:18
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Oliver Florent)
06:31
Oliver Florent was one of six Sydney players to reach 25 disposals last round, amassing 28 disposals, 24 uncontested possessions, 500 metres gained, and a career-high 10 score involvements. The young midfielder has converted the Swans first shot at goal today.
08:21
Sydney has an early 15-1 lead in marks and has been able to move the ball through the Bulldog defence. The Swans rank second-last for marks this season, and in recent weeks have moved the ball quickly by hand.
08:47
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Oliver Florent)
09:33
SCORE GOAL - Swans (James Bell)
09:57
The second goal for the Swans was sourced from a forward half intercept. Sydney averages 32.5 points per game from this source, which is second only to the Western Bulldogs.
12:39
The Bulldogs are struggling to connect with their kicks early. Sydney has already taken four marks from Bulldog kicks, while the Bulldogs have only taken one mark from a kick by a teammate.
14:01
The second goal for the Bulldogs was launched by a chain started with an intercept in the defensive 50. Western Bulldogs average 11.2 points per game from this source, which is second only to Sydney (11.6).
17:33
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Bailey Smith)
18:41
The third goal to the Bulldogs was sourced from a forward half stoppage. Western Bulldogs average 17.5 points per game from this source (ranked second), and currently lead the clearance count 10-2.
21:23
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Jordan Dawson)
21:47
Both teams are moving the ball well to start the game, with the last goal to the Swans coming from a chain started in the defensive 50. Sydney averages 19 points per game from chains started in this zone, which is ranked No.1 by a clear margin.
23:01
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)
25:49
Sydney ranks No.1 in the competition for kicking efficiency differential this season. Currently, the Swans have recorded kicking efficiency of 75 percent compared to Western Bulldogs 57 percent.
28:35
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Jordan Dawson)
28:52
A pair of first-quarter goals from Jordan Dawson and two shots at goal from Oliver Florent is a great return from the two Swans who have played exclusively on the wing in this period and drifted forward unaccounted.
30:54
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Tom Papley)
30:59
The Swans had the better of intercept marks (6-3), forward 50 marks (4-1), forward half marks (10-5), and total marks (39-15) during the first quarter.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:18
The Bulldogs now have a 7-0 lead in centre bounce clearances, with two of these coming from free-kicks against the Swans for not having all of their players in the correct starting zones. Western Bulldogs also lead 7-0 in points scored from this source.
04:08
Jordan Dawson has made a terrific start to this game for Sydney. Along with two early goals, he leads all players for metres gained (224) and is the equal leader for both intercepts(4) and score involvements (3).
05:26
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Cody Weightman)
06:25
The only two players on the ground yet to record a disposal are the two key forward for the Swans in Joel Amartey and Lance Franklin. Last week they had a combined 28 disposals and five goals.
08:17
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Will Hayward)
08:35
A second goal to the Swans coming from a chain started in the defensive 50, and Sydney now leads 20-8 in points scored from chains started in the back half.
09:59
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Jordan Dawson)
10:10
An equal career-high three goals now for Jordan Dawson who continues to cause the Bulldogs problems, and the Swans have kicked the last four goals in the game.
11:24
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Caleb Daniel)
12:34
A quick answering goal for the Bulldogs, and again it came from a centre bounce clearance. Western Bulldogs lead 13-0 in points scored from this source and 19-12 in points scored from all stoppages.
15:12
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Riley Garcia)
16:12
Jack Macrae has contributed two score assists so far today, which gives him a total of 30 this season, and puts him back into the outright lead in the competition for this measure ahead of Zach Merrett (29).
18:11
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Lance Franklin)
20:39
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Anthony Scott)
21:20
Both teams have now kicked three goals from beyond 40 metres out, with the Bulldogs scoring 2.0 from beyond 50 metres. The AFL average conversion from beyond the arc this season is 38 percent.
22:22
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Josh Bruce)
24:27
After the Swans were able to control the ball with marks in the first quarter, the Bulldogs have turned this around in the second quarter, with a 22-12 advantage in this measure.
28:05
While the Bulldogs lead the clearances 25-13, they only lead 20-18 in first possession wins at stoppages indicating they have again done well at applying pressure pre-clearance.
28:25
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Lance Franklin)
30:03
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Joel Amartey)
30:16
A great opportunistic ground kick from Joel Amartey gives the Swans a crucial late goal. Sydney has now scored four goals from chains started in the forward 50, and averages just 13 points per game from this source.
31:21
Tom McCartin has again been an important defender today for the Swans in disrupting opposition ball movement. He has already taken four intercept marks among his six intercepts, while also recording eight spoils and not losing any of his one-on-one contests.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:38
Both teams have scored a slightly wasteful 2.4 from set shots at goal. The Bulldogs have missed all four set shots at goal from within 50 metres and kicked both set shots from beyond that distance.
04:55
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Isaac Heeney)
05:07
The first goal of the quarter goes the way of the Swans. Sydney now leads 39-14 in points scored from intercepts. The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents by 17.6 points per game from intercept possessions this season.
06:21
The Bulldogs average 16.4 marks inside 50 in wins this season (ranked No.1). With star forward Aaron Naughton absent, it has been more difficult today, with both teams so far taking just the five such marks.
08:19
The Bulldogs have scored 59 points per game from intercept possessions this season (ranked No.1). Sydney has done well to restrict the Bulldogs to just the 14 points so far today from this source.
12:55
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Sam Wicks)
13:35
Western Bulldogs average 33 points per game from forward half intercepts (ranked No.1), with a season-low of 15 points. The Bulldogs are yet to score from 11 such intercepts today.
14:46
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Josh Bruce)
15:02
An important goal for the Bulldogs and it again came from a stoppage. The Bulldogs have converted a 30-17 clearance advantage into a 27-13 lead in points scored from stoppages.
15:59
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Errol Gulden)
18:02
Caleb Daniel has won a career-high six clearance today for the Bulldogs. Daniel has also recorded team-highs for disposals (22) and score involvements (5) in a busy midfield-forward role.
20:30
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Joel Amartey)
20:52
The Swans again have a major advantage in uncontested marks this quarter (25-6). This ball control is helping prevent the Bulldogs from being able to score from turnovers.
22:50
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Tim English)
25:37
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Luke Parker)
25:53
Sydney has now scored 4.0 from snaps at goal today, including the last goal to Luke Parker. The Bulldogs have not scored from such a shot at goal.
27:05
The Swans have a 16-12 edge in forward half intercepts and a major 24-0 lead in points scored from this source.
27:56
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Lance Franklin)
28:18
Another strong quarter from the Swans who continue to have the better of general play. While the Bulldogs lead 28-15 in points scored from stoppages Sydney leads 47-14 in points scored from turnovers.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:04
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Tom Liberatore)
01:19
The Swans actually lead 32-28 in first possession wins at stoppages, despite the Bulldogs now having a major 38-20 advantage in clearances.
03:24
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Tim English)
04:10
In addition to dominating uncontested marks (87-45), the Swans have also had the better of both intercept marks (14-8) and contested marks (16-7). The Bulldogs are ranked second-last in contested mark differential.
05:32
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Rushed)
07:38
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Lewis Young)
07:50
Since half-time the Bulldogs lead 13-2 in free kicks, and it was the last of these that produced the scoring opportunity for Lewis Young.
08:58
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Jason Johannisen)
09:58
The Bulldogs have won the time in forward half differential by nine minutes and 39 seconds per game, which is ranked No.1. In the final quarter, the Bulldogs have had the ball in their forward half 69 percent of the time, but kicking efficiency of just 40 percent is undoing this advantage.
10:38
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Tom Papley)
12:02
A strong contested mark and goal from Will Hayward converted the forward half intercept by Isaac Heeney. Sydney now leads 31-1 in points scored from forward half intercepts.
14:06
Swans Interchange - Jake Lloyd off due to an injury.
14:46
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Rushed)
15:01
Tom Papley has finished goalless just once this season and ranks equal 16th in the competition for total scoreboard impact. Papley is yet to score a goal today but has a game-high ten score involvements including three assists.
15:24
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Sam Wicks)
17:36
Callum Mills recorded career-highs for both disposals (35) and metres gained (660) last round against the Eagles. Mills has again been prominent today with 30 disposals and a game-high 570 metres gained.
19:06
SCORE BEHIND - Swans (Justin McInerney)
19:31
The Bulldogs have scored from 39 percent of their forward half intercepts this season (ranked No.1) and averaged 33 points per game from this source (also ranked No.1). Today they have scored just one point from 14 such intercepts.
19:41
SCORE GOAL - Swans (Lance Franklin)
20:31
Another goal to the Swans to punish a Bulldog turnover featuring another contested mark. Sydney has now scored 38 points from 22 such intercepts (Bulldogs have one point from 14), and also lead 18-7 in contested marks.
21:15
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Tom Liberatore)
22:00
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)
24:22
Tom McCartin has today become the first Swan to record at least ten spoils, ten intercepts and ten marks in the same game since all of these measures have been recorded (2002).
25:32
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Josh Bruce)
27:58
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Tim English)
29:50
An emphatic win by the Swans who conceded clearances (26-46) and scores from stoppages (17-37), but dominated general play with major advantages in one-on-one contest wins (17-7), marks (123-67), kicking efficiency (74-60 percent) and scores from intercepts (62-23).