AFL 2024: Sydney Swans hold off depleted Bulldogs to win 102-88, Chad Warner stars again

The hits kept on coming for the Dogs, and as they hit back valiantly, their comeback after Chad Warner’s latest masterclass was cruelly denied by a contentious decision.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 23: Chad Warner of the Swans celebrates a goal during the 2024 AFL Round 11 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Sydney Swans at Marvel Stadium on May 23, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

On a night where everything went against them it was cruelly appropriate that a horrible umpiring decision was what finally killed off the Western Bulldogs.

They were gallant, they were gutsy, they were gone several times in the second half but with less than three minutes to go they were remarkably still a chance to win.

That was until the umpire deemed Laitham Vandermeer’s spoiling attempt on Hayden McLean to be late and therefore justified a 50m penalty.

It didn’t but McLean walked to the goalsquare to put the Swans 14-points up. The Bulldogs had kicked the previous three goals of the game to give themselves a sniff against all the odds.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge was visibly angered by the decision to award a 50m penalty and certain goal to McLean, but did not weigh in on its importance to the result.

“What can you say? I’ll always make sure that I don’t comment on the umpiring,” he said.

“I suppose whether it’s there or not, I don’t really know, I haven’t looked at it, but ultimately the decision was made and we’ve got to live with it.”

"That's not 50."#AFLDogsSwanspic.twitter.com/PEgF12nC3b

— 7AFL (@7AFL) May 23, 2024

Thirty seconds into the third quarter Luke Beveridge’s side had only two fit players on the bench when Ed Richards jogged off after a head clash (he was subsequently ruled out with concussion) to join Anthony Scott (concussion) and Aaron Naughton (knee).

The Dogs coach must be wondering if he drove over a black cat or walked under a ladder on the way to Marvel Stadium.

Many thought the moment Naughton had his knee twisted in a tackle 50 seconds into the second quarter that the Dogs’ night was over.

Given they’d already lost Scott three minutes into the game after a head clash and were coming off a five-day break against the high-flying ladder leading Sydney, it was impossible to shake that feeling of doom and gloom at half-time.

Then that headache became a migraine when Richards, who had been best-on-ground in the first half, clashed heads with Oliver Florent.

Richards had averaged more than 10 inside 50s and 10 score involvements per game over the previous fortnight, and was on track to reach both those figures again when he was ruled out.

“(Richards’) growth in there since he’s gone into that new role has been important for us. It’s encouraging for him and for us for the future. He’s a bit of a loss, with Libba out as well, but what it does is it gives others an opportunity to shine,” Beveridge said.

Chad Warner ripped the game to shreds in the third term. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

And the last thing Beveridge then needed was for Chad Warner to get interested.

The electrifying Swan took over the game, kicking two goals from 10 possessions and then booting his fourth goal 50 seconds into the last quarter just to make a certainty of the three Brownlow Medal votes.

While the injury pandemic was a major issue, the Dogs didn’t help themselves.

They dominated the stats sheet – midway through the second quarter they were plus 31 contested possessions – but they continually shot themselves in the foot with easy misses at goal, notably Rhylee West and Bailey Dale.

And at times the difference in class between the sides was put in the spotlight which was ugly viewing for Dogs fans.

One passage of play midway through the third quarter told the story. Youngster Harvey Gallager had possession on the wing but only managed to kick the ball into the man on the mark.

The Dogs lost Aaron Naughton to a knee injury. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

It then spilt to teammate Lachlan Bramble who instead of giving off the first give he momentarily thought he was a combination of Harley Reid and Dustin Martin.

The end result was three Swans drilling him into the ground to win the free-kick for dropping the ball. Then in a blink of an eye the ball was at the other end for a Warner goal.

Debacle.

Yet still the Bulldogs kept coming and when Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, who stood up brilliantly in the absence of Naughton, kicked a superb 40m snap over the shoulder with five minutes remaining the margin was back to eight points.

Enter that 50m penalty which we all know the AFL will try and spin as the right decision in the coming days.

Cruel.

Post-game, Beveridge said his side was optimistic on the outcome for Naughton.

“The indications are that hopefully it’s not as extreme as an ACL, so you never can tell. Obviously they’ve looked at it a bit closely … fingers crossed it’s not too extreme.”

SCOREBOARD

BULLDOGS 4.3, 7.8, 8.11, 12.16 (88)

SWANS 4.1, 7.4, 12.6, 16.6 (102)

BOURKE’S BEST Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Treloar, Ugle-Hagan, Dale, Richards, Garcia. Swans: Warner, Gulden, Grundy, Papley, Florent, Heeney.

GOALS Bulldogs: Ugle-Hagan 3, Garcia 2, Darcy, English, Naughton, West, Vandermeer, Harmes, Gallagher. Swans: Warner 4, Hayward 2, Amartey 2, McLean 2, Papley, Gulden, McDonald, Wicks, Adams, Heeney.

UMPIRES Mollison, Stephens, Toner, Williamson

INJURIES Bulldogs: Naughton (knee), Richards (concussion), Scott (concussion). Swans: nil.

CROWD 27,377 at Marvel Stadium

BOURKE’S VOTES

3. Chad Warner (Syd)

2. Errol Gulden (Syd)

1. Marcus Bontempelli (WB)

Originally published as AFL 2024: Sydney Swans hold off depleted Bulldogs to win 102-88, Chad Warner stars again