Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans
Sunday 4August 2013, 1:10pm
Venue: Etihad Stadium

Head to head:

Round 21, 2012: Western Bulldogs 13. 7 (85) defeated by Sydney Swans 26. 11 (167), Etihad Stadium
Round 10, 2012: Sydney Swans 20.12 (132) defeated Western Bulldogs 5. 10 (40), SCG
Round 18, 2011: Sydney Swans 16. 18 (114) defeated Western Bulldogs 11. 9 (75), SCG
Round 7, 2011: Western Bulldogs 10. 5 (65) defeated by Sydney Swans 10. 13 (73), StarTrack Oval  
Semi Final, 2010: Western Bulldogs 11. 11 (77) defeated Sydney Swans 10. 12 (72), MCG

Last time they met:

  • A premiership-bound Sydney outfit dominated the Bulldogs in uncontested possessions, finishing with a +47 differential. The Swans also narrowly won contested possessions 142 to 139.
  • Sydney produced an even performance with 14 individual goalkickers to the Bulldogs’ seven and nine players with over 20 disposals to the Bulldogs’ four.
  • The Bulldogs effort was punctuated by the brilliance of Ryan Griffen, who gathered an all-time club record 47 disposals including eight clearances, eight inside-50s and four rebound-50s.  
  • Dylan Addison also performed strongly for the Dogs, kicking an equal career-best four goals.
  • Sydney won the tackle count 67 to 40 with midfielders Ryan O’Keefe and Jarrad McVeigh laying 16 between them.

Recent Form:

Western Bulldogs
After gallant efforts in defeat against Essendon and Hawthorn, the Bulldogs find themselves back on the winners’ list with a victory over the West Coast Eagles last weekend. Over the past three weeks, the Doggies have proven strong around the contests, averaging five more clearances and 15 more contested possessions than their opponents. While Boyd and Jones will be absent through injury from last week’s winning team, Tom Campbell, Daniel Cross and Jake Stringer are back in the mix. The Bulldogs will be eager to continue their recent form and consolidate the development seen already in 2013 with another determined effort this weekend.

Sydney Swans
Sitting at third place on the ladder, the defending premiers have won their past five matches and boast the highest percentage of any team. Leading the competition for tackles, Sydney’s renowned defensive game has risen to another level in recent weeks with the Swans averaging a staggering +29 contested possessions and +29 inside-50s against their past three opponents (Greater Western Sydney, West Coast and Richmond). New recruit Kurt Tippett has contributed consistently, scoring three goals in each of those three matches. While the Swans seem destined for another serious premiership push, Geelong and Hawthorn in the final two rounds will test their mettle. First, they will look tighten their grip on a top-four finish against the Bulldogs.

Key match ups and game breakers:

  • A gruelling battle lies ahead for the both midfields. The Bulldogs and Swans are ranked first and second respectively for average contested possession differential (+11.2 and +10.4) and second and fourth for clearances (+4.9 and +3.6). Two of the AFL’s most prolific clearance players in Tom Liberatore (ranked second) and Josh Kennedy (third) will vie for control in the centre square. With some of the competition’s most damaging outside midfielders on both sides, first use of the footy throughout the match will prove critically important.
  • Daniel Hannebery, Josh Kennedy, Kieren Jack and Ryan O’Keefe are formidable pressure players and can win the footy all over the ground. All are ranked within the AFL’s top 20 ball-getters. Bulldogs onballers Tom Liberatore, Ryan Griffen and Adam Cooney will need to pay special attention to their defensive game while also playing their roles as effective users of the ball.
  • Challenges abound for the Bulldogs in front of goal at both ends. A resurgent Kurt Tippett (15 goals in six matches this year) is likely to be matched up by Dale Morris in sterling form. However, Sydney’s goalkicking midfielders could provide an even greater threat. Bulldogs defenders must be wary of being drawn out of position by the likes of Jude Bolton (21 goals) and Jarrad McVeigh (13) who have proven lethal this year in the centre square and in front of goal.