The Western Bulldogs' AFL finals hopes are well and truly alive after they beat Sydney by 39 points to surge into the top eight.
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Holding the ladder-leading Swans to just one point in the first quarter, the Dogs led at every break to claim a comprehensive 12.15 (87) to 7.6 (48) win in windy conditions at the SCG.
Inside the top eight for the first time since round six, Luke Beveridge's side have usurped Essendon to sit eighth on the ladder with four rounds of the home-and-away season left.
"We're a different version of ourselves this year," Beveridge said.
"We've evolved throughout the course of the year into a team that's playing their roles extremely well.
"To win that quarter emphatically was important but then to collect our thoughts at quarter time and discuss the fact that their second and third quarters have been quite ballistic and be prepared ... it was a good test that had been met.
"We needed to maintain the rage."
Sydney, for so long the premiership favourites, have now lost four of their last five games and face a growing injury list.
Already missing livewire forward Tom Papley, defensive veteran Dane Rampe and midfielders Justin Rowbottom and Justin McInerney, the Swans will be sweating on the fitness of Lewis Melican after Sunday's heavy defeat.
Key defender Melican was subbed out with a right hamstring injury in the second quarter.
Key defender Liam Jones (11 intercept possessions) was outstanding for the Bulldogs after making a speedy recovery from a knee injury, while usual stars Adam Treloar - with a game-high 40 possessions - Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (four goals) and Tom Liberatore (22 possessions, eight clearances) shone in their roles.
The visitors brought the heat from the first siren in front of a 36,028-strong crowd, kicking five goals to Sydney's one behind in the opening term to build a 34-point lead.
Will Hayward opened the scoring in the second term for the hosts before Hayden McLean added another, but a forced reshuffle of their defence following Melican's injury allowed the Dogs to reclaim any lost ground.
Swans key forward Logan McDonald was thrown down back as Ugle-Hagan inflicted more pain with two goals alongside Lachie McNeil's one major in the third term.
In the end, Sydney were emphatically outworked in the contest despite the efforts of Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Errol Gulden, trailing on clearances 30 to 40, on inside-50s by 47 to 61, and 135 to 162 for contested possessions.
"We were right off it," Sydney coach John Longmire said.
"We didn't lead and push back with the ferocity that we normally do.
"We've been competitive for the entire season and we weren't tonight.
"We got off to another poor start and not any real part of our game looked like it should."
Defender Matt Roberts was a shining light for the Swans, kicking one goal, taking 36 touches and 10 intercept possessions.
Sydney face fellow premiership contenders Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval next, while the Western Bulldogs are back at their Marvel Stadium home against Melbourne.
Australian Associated Press
