The Western Bulldogs have gone down to the Sydney Swans in heartbreaking fashion on Thursday night at the SCG.

The Dogs recorded their eighth loss of the season, falling two points short in a spirited contest that ebbed and flowed over the four quarters.

A goal by Jamarra Ugle-Hagan at the 20-minute mark of the final term put the Bulldogs in front, but a quick response by Tom Papley – who booted four majors for the night – saw the Swans narrowly get over the line.

The result leaves the Bulldogs at risk of falling outside the top eight by the end of Round 18, with a crucial clash against Essendon looming next Friday night.

Despite the loss, which was a flip of the coin in the dying stages, the Dogs won all the key match indicators, including clearances (+18), contested possessions (+21) and inside 50s (+7).

The Bulldogs had the top three possession winners on the ground with Adam Treloar (33 touches), Marcus Bontempelli (31 disposals, eight tackles and two goals) and Tom Liberatore (31 possessions, including a game-high 20 contested) all prolific in a losing side.

Tim English amassed 60 hitouts – the highest tally of his career so far, eclipsing his next best of 40 which he achieved in Round 8 last year.

Aaron Naughton booted three goals, maintaining his streak of kicking at least one major in each of his games so far in the 2023 season.

The Dogs lost two key position players by half time, with James O’Donnell subbed out with concussion and Sam Darcy removed from the game with a corked thigh.

The Bulldogs skipped out to an early advantage with a strong first term, leading by 19 points at the first change, but the Swans kicked six of the next seven goals to threaten to take the game away from the visitors.

The Dogs steadied with the final three goals of the third term to wrestle back the momentum, but Sydney kicked three goals to two in the last quarter and hung on in the frenetic final exchanges.

SYDNEY                         2.3     6.7     8.9     11.12 (78)
WESTERN BULLDOGS    5.4     6.4     9.6     11.10 (76)

GOALS   
Sydney: Papley 4, Franklin 2, Florent 2, Rowbottom, Amartey, Heeney,  
Western Bulldogs: Naughton 3, Bontempelli 2, Liberatore, Vandermeer, Poulter, Weightman, Scott, Ugle-Hagan 

BEST   
Sydney: Gulden, Rowbottom, Parker, Florent, Papley 
Western Bulldogs: English, Liberatore, Bontempelli, Naughton, Richards, Treloar 

INJURIES   
Sydney: Melican (hamstring) 
Western Bulldogs: O'Donnell (concussion), Darcy (corked quad) 

SUBSTITUTES 
Sydney: Ryan Clarke (replaced Lewis Melican in the third quarter)
Western Bulldogs: Riley Garcia (replaced James O'Donnell in the second quarter)