TWO of the youngest team members stole the show as the Bulldogs disposed of an under-strength Sydney in their NAB Cup opener at Manuka Oval on Saturday.

The team showed their class early and kept the Swans at arm’s length all day, running out an easy winner, 1.12.16 (97) to 1.9.7 (70).

Rookie Jarrod Harbrow announced his arrival with a consistent game punctuated by several explosive bursts through the middle. He delivered beautifully to set up Ryan Griffen at a crucial point in the third quarter when the Swans had closed to within eight points.

And 178cm forward Malcolm Lynch showed enough smarts in a three-goal display to suggest he also has plenty to offer the Bulldogs in 2007.

When the game got underway in muggy conditions that eased throughout the day, most eyes were on big-name recruits Jason Akermanis and Andrew McDougall, who both made solid starts in blue jumpers.

Akermanis was tagged from the opening bounce by Kieren Jack but showed flashes of brilliance, including a centre clearance at the start of the last quarter that allowed Shaun Higgins to swoop on the ball and kick the sealer. McDougall bagged a great early goal, gathering the ball at ground level and snapping truly in a manner more reminiscent of a rover than a 197cm big-man.

But both McDougall and Akermanis were overshadowed as Harbrow and Lynch turned it on.

Bulldogs skipper Brad Johnson needed less than two minutes to open his team's scoring before Brett Kirk entered and opened Sydney's goal account.

However, McDougall's clever snap, defender Brian Harris’ booming nine-pointer in a rare foray forward and Lynch's goal on the siren handed the Dogs a 21-point quarter-time lead.

Jess White kept the Swans in the contest with a strong mark and goal from 45m out before All-Australian defender Craig Bolton got the fumbles in the goalsquare. Bolton accidentally knocked the ball back to Travis Baird, who kicked it off the ground straight past him for a major as the Dogs grabbed a 26-point half-time advantage.

The Swans fought back with the opening three goals of the third term, but the Bulldogs kept pouring the pressure on an inexperienced Swans backline, and twin turnovers led to goals for Lynch and Johnson.

Both sides were missing a host of big-name players but the Dogs had more of their senior players on display and the poise of Johnson, Matthew Robbins, Ryan Griffen and Daniel Cross proved crucial.

Bulldog Farren Ray was booked for charging Paul Bevan in the final moments of the match, but that was the only real worry in an otherwise positive day for the Dogs.

Cameron Wight went to ground after taking a courageous mark running with the flight of the ball in the third term. The Calder Under-18 recruit looked wobbly as he was taken from the ground but appeared to have escaped injury.

In Round 2 of the NAB Cup next weekend, the Bulldogs will play the winner of Saturday night’s clash between Brisbane and St Kilda.

WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.3.6 1.4.13 1.7.15 1.12.16 (97)

SYDNEY 0.2.0 0.3.3 0.6.3 1.9.7 (70)

Goals: Bulldogs: Nine-point goals: D Harris. Goals: M Lynch 3 M Robbins 2 B Johnson 2 A McDougall T Baird R Griffen J Harbrow S Higgins. Sydney: Nine-point goals: B Kirk. Goals: J White 3 T Richards 2 B Kirk S Rowe N Davis D Currie.

Best: Western Bulldogs: R Griffen D Cross M Lynch L Gilbee J McMahon S Power. Sydney: B Kirk B Mathews J White T Schmidt T Richards N Malceski.

Umpires: H Kennedy C Kamolins S Grun.

Official Crowd: 5,557 at Manuka Oval.[ends]