The Western Bulldogs have backed up the hype over their young team with a stunning four-point win over the Sydney Swans at a sodden SCG.
The Bulldogs led for most of the day but the Swans snuck ahead in the final quarter before a mid-air kick on the goalline from Easton Wood snuck the Dogs in front and they held on to win 11.11 (77) to 10.13 (73).
In the tough conditions, Liam Picken, Luke Dahlhaus, and Matthew Boyd starred for the Bulldogs, on a day built for the in and under little men.
Picken finished the match with 32 possessions, 10 clearances and 12 tackles for the winners.
Midfielders Dan Hannebery, Tom Mitchell and Luke Parker were prominent for the Swans, while Lance Franklin, Kurt Tippett and Adam Goodes booted seven goals between them.
The Swans kicked the opening two goals of the game through the returning Goodes and Franklin, but the Bulldogs hit back to boot five of their own before the rain hit, and they led by 14 points at quarter time.
A goal to big man Tom Boyd gave the visitors a 20-point buffer just after the break before the Swans lifted. Goals to Tippett and Franklin dragged the margin back to seven points.
The Dogs tried to play dry weather footy in the wet and slippery conditions and their turnovers let the Swans back into the game. They were also wasteful in front of goal, kicking 1.7 for the term.
The Bulldogs clung to an 11-point lead at three-quarter time, but goals to Kieren Jack and Harry Cunningham gave the Swans the lead for the first time since the opening minutes of the game.
The Dogs went scoreless for the quarter until Wood soccered one out of mid air in the goalsquare with almost six minutes to play to wrestle back the advantage.
It was the Bulldogs’ only goal for the term but it enough to give the visitors a stirring victory.
SYDNEY SWANS 2.5 4.9 8.10 10.13 (73)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 5.1 6.8 10.9 11.11 (77)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Franklin 3, Tippett, Goodes 2, Rohan, Jack, Cunningham
Western Bulldogs: Crameri, T Boyd, Bontempelli, Honeychurch 2, Stringer, Jong, Wood
BEST
Sydney Swans: Mitchell, Jack, Franklin, Hannebery, Jetta, Parker
Western Bulldogs: Dalhaus, M Boyd, T Boyd, Picken, Murphy, Bontempelli
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Reid (calf) replaced in the selected side by Harry Cunningham
Western Bulldogs: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney Swans: Harry Cunningham replaced Dean Towers in the third quarter
Western Bulldogs: Nathan Hrovat replaced Ayce Cordy in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Findlay, Harris
Official crowd: 25,541 at SCG
