Round 17
Sydney v Western Bulldogs
7:40pm, Friday July 3 2026
SCG
The Sydney Swans have returned to winning ways with a convincing 35-point victory over the Western Bulldogs on Friday night. The Dogs were no match to the fired-up Swans after their defeat to the reigning champions Brisbane last week, responding accordingly to win 13.12 (90) to 7.13 (55).
Charlie Curnow returned serve again to a helpless Dogs backline, booting six majors to go with his seven he piled on the pups earlier in the season. His bag of goals has him leap frogging the star forwards of the competition where he enjoys the sights from the top of the Coleman Medal table for season 2026.
Isaac Heeney was instrumental for the Swans showing his versatility to play forward as well as assert dominance in the centre bounce. He finished with 27 disposals, eight clearances and one major in a complete performance from another Brownlow Medal contender. Heeney was the recipient of Brody Grundy’s superb ruck work as he finished with 60 hit outs for the evening in a dominant display.
Bailey Dale was the Bulldogs best player, seemingly the one trying to lift his side with anything in the early stages of the game as he finished with 32 disposals and the Dogs first goal of the evening from inside the center square.
The Swans burst out of the blocks exposing the napping Dogs who looked to be still getting off the team bus before Curnow piled on three first quarter goals and being five goals down by the time the siren sounded for the first break. The Swans were able to control the ball and pierce their way through the startled Dogs defence on every occasion, with the slicing connection by foot from the likes of Errol Gulden and Nick Blakey making it an enjoyable night to be a forward.
The Bulldogs had no answer to the Swans brutal pressure, often forcing a turnover or a rushed kick where Dean Cox’s men were set up perfectly all night. The Dogs could only manage 41 inside 50s for the evening and when they are having forward half connection problems that’s nowhere near enough service for a forward 50 that builds pressure on repeat entries. They amassed five marks inside forward 50 for the match which showed they were not clean enough amongst the Swans hunt on their ball users.
The Swans on the contrary had 61 inside 50s and struck a balance between going fast or slow in attack in a scintillating display. Curnow and Hayden McLean (three goals) proved a dynamic duo on the night, allowing each other to find the space they both required. looking at their best when the Sydney midfielders were lacing them out on the lead, to which the Swans kicked the footy at an 80% efficiency on the evening which is well above the AFL average.
Despite at times the Bulldogs looking like they could find their way back into the contest, they simply did not have enough class to overcome the power of the Swans who will look forward to a top of the table clash against Fremantle in Perth next Thursday night, whilst the Dogs will be made to lick their wounds yet again before they take on West Coast at Marvel Stadium next Sunday afternoon.
A Dogs Observation
The fan base is simply running out of times where we think this team is ready to take the next step all for it to come crashing down in what was quite simply another crushing defeat. A movie we’ve seen too often, starting the game poorly and having to chase a deficit so early in the game, which in conclusion is not good enough, particularly when it happens the same way, time and time again.
The energy was not there from the start, the pressure was off and quite simply we look rattled when we finally had time in possession, the adjustment period that it took to finally get into the game was quite simply too late and starting to front up consistently against the best teams like the Swans is something the Dogs need to improve on.
Tim English was thrown into defence where he definitely wasn’t fit to be playing, limping through four quarters of footy whilst Rory Lobb was made to soldier on in the ruck against a dominant Brody Grundy. After the last performance against the Swans, it would have been clear that Lobb was the matchup for Curnow however Buku Khamis took the responsibility again where he was simply outclassed and was at most times a victim of what was happening further up the field.
There were no positives to come out of this game for the Dogs, a wasted opportunity to be within arm’s reach of the top four and now back in the mix contending for a Wildcard Round spot. How we keep starting games like this continues to have this fan base scratching their heads and again proves this team is not ready to be challenging for big games in September, particularly when your flaws get exposed the same way.
A disappointing night the office as we dust ourselves off for a danger game against the Eagles next Sunday.
Malarkey Votes
3 VOTES – Charlie Curnow
2 VOTES – Isaac Heeney
1 VOTE – Callum Mills
SYDNEY 5.3 8.5 10.10 13.12 (90)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 0.3 3.8 6.10 7.13 (55)
GOALS
Sydney: Curnow 6, McLean 3, Cleary, Warner, Hamling, Heeney
Western Bulldogs: Jones 2, Croft 2, Naughton, Dale, Sanders
BEST
Sydney: Curnow, Grundy, Heeney, McLean, McCartin, Mills
Western Bulldogs: Dale, Richards, Freijah, Sanders, Liberatore
INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Budarick (ankle)
LATE CHANGES
Sydney: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Crowd: 35,227
Read other round 17 match reports HERE
Read more from Kristian Cavallo HERE
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Third year Media and Communications student at La Trobe University, exploring the many modes of writing, commentating and editing through my passion of sport, particularly AFL as a passionate Western Bulldogs fan.
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