STARING down the barrel of a 'worthless' season, the mid-week concern of coach Rodney Eade, the Western Bulldogs' premiership dream is alive and well after they defeated the Sydney Swans by 37 points in Friday night's semi-final at the MCG.
In front of a crowd of 42,731, the Dogs arm wrestled the Swans in the first half before applying the choke-hold with a blistering third term that sealed passage through to next week's showdown with Geelong – their first preliminary final since 1998.
Leading by four points at the half, the Dogs kicked five goals to none in the third term to turn what had been a tough, high-pressure encounter into a lop-sided final – winning comfortably, 16.10 (106) to 9.15 (69).
In what had been their trademark for much of the season, it was an even effort over individual brilliance that produced the Dogs' stunning result.
Matthew Boyd, Lindsay Gilbee and Ryan Griffen were superb in helping the Dogs kick 12 of the game's final 16 goals in an effort that rekindled their early season form.
Four players – Robert Murphy, Nathan Eagleton, Scott Welsh and Josh Hill – kicked multiple goals, while Ryan Hargrave, Tim Callan, Gilbee and Brian Lake formed a brick wall in defence.
Given last week’s failure against Hawthorn, it was a meritorious effort by the Dogs and one that breaths new life into its premiership aspirations.
Having started last week in nervous fashion, the Dogs got off to a far more positive start thanks to the work of Gilbee, Boyd, Eagleton, Griffen and ruckman Ben Hudson.
In true finals fashion, it was tough, uncompromising footy.
With neither side prepared to concede an inch, scoring was difficult as the tackling, harassment and numbers behind the ball meant the game was played primarily between the arcs.
Two goals apiece in the opening term told the story of a game that was low on scoring but high on September pressure, and the second quarter afforded no let-up.
After a seven-minute arm wrestle, the Dogs grabbed the lead throughr some relentless forward-line pressure handed Shaun Higgins a snap goal, and when he marked again a minute later, the resultant set shot would have had the Doggies out to an 11-point lead.
However, an interchange infraction by Callan, who came onto the ground outside of the marked yellow lines, took the ball out of Higgins’ hand and into those of Tadhg Kennelly directly in front of goal.
While Kennelly's shot hit the post, the Swans grabbed the lead two minutes later after Brian Lake interfered with Barry Hall in a marking contest.
More undiscipline gifted Lewis Roberts-Thomson another after Mitch Hahn gave away a 50-metre penalty and suddenly it was the Swans by nine points.
Needing a lift, and needing it fast with the Swans growing in confidence, the Bulldogs dug in.
Hahn redeemed himself to snap a goal to cut the margin, albeit momentarily after Adam Goodes answered a minute later.
However, the Dogs kept coming. Two goals in the final three minutes of the term snatched them the lead and the momentum going into half time.
In the wash-up, it proved the game’s pivotal moment.
With a spring in their step to start the third term, the Dogs produced a stunning period of football that netted their berth in next week’s preliminary final.
Josh Hill, who had been quiet in the first half, got the ball rolling with two set shot goals before Lake burst through 50 to kick the 13th goal of his career and put his side 24 points up.
Griffen and Will Minson, who was proving a headache inside forward 50 and at the stoppages, joined the party and suddenly it was 33-point ball game heading to the final change.
With the air well and truly ejected from their sails, the Swans battled hard in the final term but were unable to make any serious dent in the sizeable margin.
Whatever they did, the Dogs answered with vigour to earn a result fitting of their impressive home and away season.
Western Bulldogs 2.3 6.5 11.9 16.10 (106)
Sydney Swans 2.4 5.7 5.13 9.15 (69)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Murphy 3, Eagleton 2, Welsh 2, Hill 2, Lake, Hahn, Minson, Higgins, Griffen, Akermanis, Johnson
Sydney Swans: Hall 4, Jolly, Roberts-Thomson, Goodes, Crouch, Bevan
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Murphy, Boyd, Gilbee, Minson, Giansiracusa, Eagleton
Sydney Swans: Kirk, Hall, Kennelly, Bevan, Buchanan
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Sydney Swans: Nil
Reports: Leo Barry (Sydney Swans) reported by umpire Ryan for striking Shaun Higgins (Western Bulldogs) in the fourth quarter
Umpires: Vozzo, McBurney, Ryan
Official crowd: 42,731 at MCG
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
