The Western Bulldogs have ended a two-match losing streak after overcoming a sloppy start to defeat an undermanned Sydney by 16 points at Manuka Oval on Sunday.
The Bulldogs fought their way back into the game after conceding four goals in the opening six minutes of the match then were let off the hook by an inaccurate Sydney to win 17.11 (113) to 14.13 (97).
They made their match-winning move during the second quarter when they booted eight goals to Sydney's one. The Swans scored only one goal from the six-minute of the opening quarter to the 17-minute mark of the third.
Despite a six-goal haul from Jarrad McVeigh in a best-on-ground performance, the Swans made costly blunders during key moments of the game to deny themselves more chance to cause an upset.
Trailing by 20 points at the last change, a careless kick in defence from Heath Grundy early in the last quarter resulted in the Bulldogs scoring the valuable first goal of the term through Mitch Hahn.
That must have had a deflating effect on the Swans, who had blown five set shots during a third quarter where the intensity lifted significantly with the game on the line.
The loss was the Swans' fifth against a top-three side this season, providing more evidence of the gulf between the competition's leading trio and the other finals aspirants.
While the result all but guaranteed the Bulldogs a top-three berth and ensured the club would not have to travel during the finals, it would have done little to dissuade punters from backing in a Geelong-Hawthorn grand final.
Against a Swans side missing seasoned campaigners such as Leo Barry, Nick Malceski, Adam Goodes, Michael O'Loughlin and Nic Fosdike, the Bulldogs did not have the game in their keeping until early in the final quarter.
The Bulldogs, who were not at their peak and have not been since the split round, did enough to win.
Only Daniel Cross managed more than 20 possessions and there was no dominant individual performance from their high-class midfield. But nine goals from the pairing of Scott Welsh, who kicked five, and Brad Johnson made up for this.
But there are still some worrying signs for the Dogs. Jason Akermanis, who the Dogs need at their best to threaten Geelong, had a quiet match for the third week on the trot.
The Swans will be ruing an ordinary second quarter. It was during this period when they could not overcome the Bulldogs' tactic of pushing numbers behind the ball.
Often, Swans players would look up to see a sea of Bulldogs, and rather than having the patience and skill to find the right target they would blaze away.
One passage of play saw them transfer the ball from one wing to the other for the gain of only 50 metres.
But there was also much to like about Sydney's performance. Barry Hall found more of the ball as the game wore on, finishing with three goals and 10 marks.
And debutants Ryan Brabazon and Patrick Veszpremi both did not look out of place at the level, the latter blowing a chance to be among the votes with four behinds to go with his goal.
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 3.2, 11.4, 13.7, 17.11 (113)
SYDNEY: 5.3, 6.6, 9.11, 14.13 (97)
GOALS: Western Bulldogs: Welsh 5, Johnson 4, Boyd, Cooney, Giansiracusa, Gilbee, Hahn, Harbrow, Hargrave, Hill
Sydney: McVeigh 6, Hall 3, J. Bolton, Brennan, Jack, Richards, Veszpremi
BEST: Western Bulldogs: Welsh, Johnson, Cross, Murphy, Gilbee
Sydney: McVeigh, O'Keefe, Veszpremi, Crouch, Kennelly
INJURIES: Western Bulldogs: Nil
Sydney: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Moore (Sydney) replaced in selected side by White
UMPIRES: McBurney, Nicholls, Chamberlain
CROWD: 13,550 at Manuka Oval
Sportal AFL Player of the Year votes
3. Jarrad McVeigh (Sydney)
2. Scott Welsh (Western Bulldogs)
1. Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs)