Laitham Vandermeer celebrates a goal during the match between the Sydney Swans and the Western Bulldogs at Sydney Cricket Ground. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos.

A determined performance on the road has seen the Western Bulldogs claim a 28-point victory against the Sydney Swans.

Skipper Marcus Bontempelli owned the big moments in a best on ground performance at the SCG on Thursday night, as an injury-depleted Bulldogs outfit made it back-to-back wins.

05:51

Match Highlights | Sydney v Western Bulldogs

Watch highlights from the Western Bulldogs' round four victory over the Sydney Swans at the SCG, featuring a captain's performance from Marcus Bontempelli.

An ankle complaint saw Aaron Naughton’s night finished in the first quarter, while fellow forward Sam Lloyd (shoulder) played little part after half time.

But the Bulldogs matched their four-quarter effort from a week prior against the Giants, despite four goals to star Swan Tom Papley, to run out 10.7 (67) to 5.9 (39) victors.

Both sides wore black armbands and observed a minute's silence pre-game to honour Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend John Kennedy snr, the grandfather of Swans co-captain Josh Kennedy, who played his 250th AFL match.

The result gives the Bulldogs a 2-2 ledger, after starting 2020 with two losses.

It was all Bulldogs in the opening half.

The Swans went goalless in the opening term and could only manage one by half-time due to the Bulldogs’ fierce pressure, as majors to Bailey Dale, Naughton, Lloyd, Laitham Vandermeer and a pair to Bontempelli gave the visitors a five-goal lead at the major break.

00:28

Bont clunks back-with-flight stunner

Marcus Bontempelli displays outstanding courage to haul in an amazing mark against Isaac Heeney

There was a response from the home side in the third term, but they couldn’t capitalise on the scoreboard.

Bontempelli had 12 disposals to go with the two majors at half-time, but a Callum Mills tag negated his impact in the third term. 

01:36

Bont delivers captain's performance

Marcus Bontempelli chimed in with a typically inspired performance against the Swans

The Swans could only manage 1.5 for the term though, after Josh Bruce snagged the first goal after half-time.

From there, the Bulldogs found a response when the Swans pushed again in the final term. 

Goals to the returning Rhylee West, and an opportunistic Jack Macrae toe-poke gave the Bulldogs some breathing space.

MATCH CENTRE | For the full match recap, news, highlights, player stats and more from the Bulldogs' win in Sydney.

Ruckman Tim English capped off another strong performance with the final goal of the game, finishing with an equal team-high 22 disposals to go with 17 hit-outs and six marks.

Ball magnet Jack Macrae (22 disposals) was also prominent, while young midfielders Bailey Smith (20 disposals, five clearances) and Pat Lipinski (20 disposals) found plenty of the ball and debutant Louis Butler (14 disposals) looked at home. 

After three games in the past 12 days, the Bulldogs will now have a longer break ahead of a round five clash with North Melbourne next Saturday night.

00:23

Dogs celebrate the win in Sydney

Watch the Bulldogs celebrate their round four win over the Sydney Swans, singing the team song in the rooms post match.

 

SYDNEY                           0.1     1.3     2.8     5.9     (39)
WESTERN BULLDOGS     3.2     6.3     7.4     10.7     (67)

GOALS
Sydney: Papley 4, Kennedy
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli 2, Dale, Naughton, Lloyd, Vandermeer, Bruce, West, Macrae, English

BEST
Sydney: Papley, Parker, Heeney, Kennedy, Lloyd
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Smith, Macrae, English, Daniel, Crozier 

INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Naughton (ankle), Lloyd (shoulder)

AFL Round 4 | Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs

Making a trip interstate for the first time in season 2020, the Western Bulldogs headed to the Sydney Cricket Ground to take on the Swans on a Thursday night. Inspired by a captain's performance from Marcus Bontempelli, the Bulldogs started led from the outset and went on to record a 28-point victory. Photos by AFL Photos.
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