Dogs pull out Hollywood script in front of Chris Hemsworth and Matt Damon

Matt Damon stole the show in Melbourne, putting up a best-on-ground performance alongside Chris Hemsworth as the Dogs beat the Swans.

Tom Liberatore and Josh Schache celebrate an early goal.

As Hollywood stars Chris Hemsworth and Matt Damon watched on, the Western Bulldogs broke Sydney Swans’ hearts, with midfielder Marcus Bontempelli the leading man in a dramatic win.

Hemsworth — a noted Bulldogs fan — brought Damon along to the game and the pair had a blast as they watched the Victorian club wear custom-made Thor jumpers that would have been right up Hemsworth’s alley, given he’s played the character in several films.

Damon was seen getting out of his chair and cheering, high-fiving anyone within reach as he sat in a box with AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan.

At one point the AFL boss was seen explaining — or at least trying to explain — something about the game to the acting icon. We’re not sure whether he understood it or not, but we’re giving him 10 points for his enthusiasm.

Dogs footy! @chrishemsworth and Matt Damon are loving this!#AFLDogsSwans pic.twitter.com/vz5njAvcj7

— AFL (@AFL) March 23, 2019

What's Gill explaining to Matt Damon? 👀#AFLDogsSwans pic.twitter.com/rDb23IiTso

— AFL (@AFL) March 23, 2019

Matt Damon enjoying @AFL fills me with great joy

— ANGUS O'LOUGHLIN (@Angus_OL) March 23, 2019

Damon was on hand to witness a Dogs win that got a little too close for comfort as controversy struck the Swans late in the fourth quarter. With Sydney on the charge, Lance Franklin took a mark inside the 50 and went back to take the set shot but was called to play on by the umpire, who assumed Buddy had used all of his allotted time.

Franklin frantically played on and hit the post with a kick that would have put the Swans in front.

It would have also been their fifth straight goal, as John Longmire’s side roared back into contention at Marvel Stadium.

Zak Jones then had a chance of his own but his flying shot faded wide of the mark.

Then it was sown to the biggest hero the Dogs have had in recent years, Marcus Bontempelli. The Dogs hacked it out of defence and the hard-running “Bont” powered beyond the Swans’ defenders, got on the end of the play and kicked the goal that broke Sydney’s hearts as the Bulldogs grabbed an 11.16 (82) to 9.11 (65) win in front of 32,303 fans on Saturday night.

Marcus Bontempelli again was the hero for the Western Bulldogs

Perhaps it was fitting the Bulldogs wore their much derided Thor-inspired superhero guernseys because Bontempelli ended up being just that — a hero with one goal, seven tackles and 29 disposals.

The Swans trailed by a game-high 40 points shortly after halftime and were still 32 points in arrears at three-quarter time before they slashed the margin to just four points with five minutes remaining.

But the courageous Bulldogs found a way to wrest the momentum as Bontempelli and Sam Lloyd kicked the last two goals.

SAM LLOYD!

Where did this run come from?#AFLDogsSwans pic.twitter.com/Y8u4OvmC7u

— AFL (@AFL) March 23, 2019

Bontempelli was rapt with the win and having midfield star Tom Liberatore, who had 28 touches, back in the side.

“That means a lot to start the year off well, really happy,” Bontempelli said.

“We love having him (Liberatore), he’s a little mongrel, he gives us that little bit of hardness inside.”

Luke Beveridge stuck with rising star Aaron Naughton in attack and the versatile tall repaid his coach with three goals in an influential display. Swans star Isaac Heeney had a superhero moment in the opening minute of the game when he took a contender for mark of the year, but the visitors managed just one goal for the half.

Heeney, last year’s mark of the year winner, leapt onto the back of Bailey Williams and completed a spectacular grab and then booted his side’s lone goal before the long break.

Which grab from @iheeney was better?#AFLDogsSwans pic.twitter.com/yzxRHh8Q7C

— AFL (@AFL) March 23, 2019

The rampant Dogs took control and stormed to a 33-point halftime lead before the almost-inevitable Sydney challenge came.

With Franklin struggling to impose himself after groin surgery limited his preparation, Jones (24 disposals) and Jake Lloyd (35) were the architects of the stirring fightback.

In a gutsy display that will thrill Beveridge, his players dug deep to score a famous win.

The Bulldogs have an injury concern, however, with Matt Suckling hurting his ankle after the oft-maligned turf at Marvel Stadium gave way under him.

—With AAP