The Swans have bounced back in style from last week’s reality check against the Brisbane Lions, with superstar recruit Charlie Curnow booting six goals to power his new side to a 35-point win over the Western Bulldogs at the SCG, 13.12 (90) to 7.13 (55).
The Bulldogs’ backmen will be happy to see the back of Curnow for now, given he kicked seven last time they met in round seven, and his haul on Friday night took him to the top of the Coleman Medal leaderboard.
Brodie Grundy, meanwhile, looked almost unstoppable in the ruck, fishing with 17 disposals, five tackles, six clearances a staggering 60 hitouts. The Bulldogs, as a team, had just 29 hitouts.
As Grundy was dominating, Tim English was deployed deep in defence, prompting Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend Jason Dunstall to ask in the Kayo Sports commentary, “What message is [Bulldogs coach] Luke Beveridge sending by playing Tim English at full-back? It’s a vote of no confidence in the ruck”.
In Brisbane, the Swans were suffocated, but against the Bulldogs, they were gifted the space to roam free and wide. The Bulldogs also seemed happy to play the role of pantomime villains in Sydney, dropping to the ground dramatically at times after what appeared to be minimal contact.
Injuries to talls Logan McDonald and Joel Amartey forced the Swans to reshuffle their forward line, with Hayden McLean getting the nod to partner Curnow.
They worked perfectly together, McLean also finishing with three goals in his just fifth AFL game of the year.
The 27-year-old has patiently waited for his opportunities and taken each one he has been given. With Amartey out of action with an Achilles strain for 10 weeks, McLean’s form is essential for the Swans, especially given his ability to deputise in the ruck if needed.
There was a curious lack of intensity from both teams in the first quarter, not helped by the rare sight of empty seats at the SCG for Friday night football, with just over 35,000 fans in attendance.
If the Lions provided the blueprint of how to strangle the Swans with a high defensive press, the Bulldogs completely ignored it, allowing the home side to amble around the SCG at will.
McLean volleyed the Swans’ first goal within the first two minutes and Curnow got some early target practice by kicking three in the quarter.
One of the Swans’ rare bright lights from Brisbane, Chad Warner, kicked a goal against an opposition that looked designed to showcase the midfielder’s full attacking skill set.
James Jordon was tasked with tagging superstar Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli to try to limit his influence, and it succeeded with Bontempelli finishing the quarter with just three disposals to his name.
The Bulldogs ended the first term not only goalless, but also bereft of energy and ideas on how to stop a Swans team desperate stamp its credentials as a premiership contender.
Curnow’s fourth goal opened the second quarter. The Swans were able to play with such swagger and space that ruckman Brodie Grundy had enough confidence to dummy a handpass after taking a bounce. Grundy ended up losing the Sherrin, but it didn’t matter; the Swans had recovered their mojo after their beating in Brisbane.
Seven minutes into the second quarter, the Bulldogs kicked their first goal through Bailey Dale. The Swans’ Caiden Cleary kicked just his second goal of the season to reestablish a 34-point lead.
The Bulldogs lifted their pressure and intensity from their lacklustre start and were rewarded with goals through Arty Jones and Ryley Sanders.
McLean’s second goal was the perfect reward for a forward who has had to patiently work for so much of the season in the sparsely attended suburban grounds of the VFL. McLean’s ability to apply defensive pressure from the forward line also frustrated Beveridge’s men.
Grundy finished the first half with 36 hitouts, underlining his dominance over Rory Lobb who finished with just 11. To give this context, Grundy is averaging 34 hitouts a game this season.
A needless, careless shove from Errol Gulden on Cody Weightman gave the Bulldogs a free kick and an easy goal for Aaron Naughton to start the third quarter.
Isaac Heeney had a relatively quiet night by his standards, but squeezed his first goal through on a tight angle in the forward pocket to shake the Swans from an early slumber. McLean’s third goal gave the Swans a 36-point lead.
Two late goals in the quarter from the Bulldogs Jordan Croft cut the lead to 24 points, setting up what would have been the unlikeliest of comebacks.
Curnow kicked his fifth and sixth goals in the final quarter, killing off the Bulldogs’ fleeting resistance and reminding the competition of his talent.
A comfortable win against the Bulldogs was perfectly timed, but the Swans will also be fully aware of the limitations of their opposition.
The Swans’ attacking swagger is back, but a far tougher Fremantle defence will demand it lifts to even higher levels in Perth.
On the match review front, hard-nosed Bulldog Matt Kennedy will be eagerly awaiting the findings of an incident where he made head-high contact with Swan Caiden Cleary.
Bulldog defender Nick Coffield copped an incidental knee to the head midway through the final term and was removed from the ground for a head injury assessment.
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