THE Western Bulldogs have broken Sydney's undefeated streak for the season with a 27-point win on a windy Saturday afternoon at their home of Mission Whitten Oval. 

A seesawing affair, the Swans kicked four in a row in the second and third terms but the Dogs held their nerve, ramming home six goals to finish 9.6 (60) to 5.3 (33) in the second week of AFLW Indigenous Round. 

BULLDOGS v SWANS Full match coverage and stats

Firecracker Wilcox finished with a career-high three goals, while teammate Emma McDonald bobbed up in the final term with three of her own.

Co-captain Izzy Pritchard led the way with 23 disposals, nine clearances and four tackles. Celebrating her 75th game on Saturday afternoon, Elle Bennetts was everywhere, finishing with 20 disposals, three tackles and 477 metres gained with 100% game.

Chloe Molloy was a shining light for the Swans, scoring three goals off 14 possessions. Tanya Kennedy made a successful return from a pre-season back injury, finishing with a whopping game-high 12 tackles. 

Young star Zippy Fish held up her end of the bargain, with 25 disposals and 546 metres gained, although she came off worse for wear late after running into the goalpost.

The result leaves both sides at a promising 3-1, giving the Bulldogs in particular some confidence.

Swans key forward Taylor Smith was a very late out in the warm-up, after being named well ahead of schedule to return from a wrist injury sustained in round two against Essendon.

Post-game, coach Colin O’Riordan confirmed that she was ready to go following fitness tests during the week but suffered an issue in the warm-up. The Swans will assess her availability after a likely scan back in Sydney on Sunday. 

The Bulldogs brought the heat early, with the ball living in their forward half for the first ten minutes of the match (leading inside 50s 11 to 5 at quarter time) despite kicking into the wind. It forced the Swans onto the back foot and chasing, leading tackles 21 to 6 at quarter time.

Fearless Wilcox opened proceedings with two goals, her second an opportunistic slide through the pack helped along by a lucky bounce or two. 

Not to be outdone, Chloe Molloy sold some candy and snapped, the wind guiding the ball through to open the Swans’ ledger, before Pritchard extended the lead after scoring from stoppage.

Sydney tightened up its game in the second quarter, in particular around clearance and contested possessions. The side scored the only two goals of the quarter to reduce the half-time margin to four points.

Both goals resulted from the Swans taking their chances, with star Montana Ham throwing the ball on the boot out of a pack and co-vice-captain Sofia Hurley snapping on the run.

The Swans brought the pressure to the start the third, with the Dogs trying to kick into space and get out the back while the defence held up well.

It was a Molloy masterclass in the third quarter. Slipping a tackle and scoring to put the Swans in front for the first time of the afternoon, a deep entry by Fish then found her again out the back to extend their lead and wrestle momentum away from the Bulldogs.

Repeat forward 50 entries for the Bulldogs built relentless pressure before a scramble in the goal square led to a Jasmyn Smith goal, and it was party time for the Dogs from there.

Morphett v Edmonds
This ruck battle was one to be pencilled in for a watch. Both Ally Morphett and Alice Edmonds have become known for their athleticism and ability to get involved around the ground. Morphett in particular has started the year in outstanding style, but was nullified early by the Dogs (Edmonds leading hit-outs 11 to Morphett’s seven at half-time). The Dogs finished leading clearances 33 to 18.

Four seasons in one day
Melbourne really lived up to the stereotype for the visiting Swans. After overnight rain and an unfriendly weather radar, the sun came out ahead of the game. It was deceptive though, with a swirling breeze wobbling the goalposts pre-game and brushing the Gordon St trees and forcing both sides to change how they played throughout the afternoon. After scoring her first of the day, Wilcox brought out a fitting windmill celebration.

Up next
The Bulldogs head to Kennedy Community Centre in Dingley next Saturday to take on Hawthorn at 1.05pm. A Sydney derby awaits the Swans at their home of Henson Park against GWS Giants on Sunday at 2.35pm.

WESTERN BULLDOGS            3.2   3.4   4.4    9.6   (60)
SYDNEY                                   1.0   3.0   5.2    5.3   (33)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Wilcox 3, McDonald 3, Pritchard, Smith, Carruthers
Sydney: Molloy 3, Hurley, Ham

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Pritchard, Edmonds, Bennetts, Wilcox
Sydney: Fish, Kennedy, Hurley, Ham

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Cann (nose)
Sydney: Nil

LATE CHANGES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Sydney: Smith (wrist)

Crowd: 2,142 at Mission Whitten Oval