TonyK
CibbuanoDogs end Sydney's season
September 12th 2008 13:39
THE Western Bulldogs have booked a preliminary final showdown with Geelong with a 37-point win over Sydney in the second semi-final at the MCG on Friday night.
The Bulldogs dominated after an even first half, booting 10 goals to four to win 16.10 (106) to 9.15 (69).
The Swans were outclassed in the second half by a Bulldogs side that was quicker and harder at the football.
Matthew Boyd was prolific in the middle with a game-high 33 possessions, Lindsay Gilbee generated plenty of run from defence with 28 touches while Ryan Griffen was damaging with 20 possessions and one goal.
Dale Morris did a superb blanketing job on Sydney star Adam Goodes, restricting the dual Brownlow medallist to just ten disposals and one goal while Ryan Hargrave kept Swans forward Ryan O’Keefe goalless.
Barry Hall played a lone hand up forward for the Sydney, booting four of his side’s nine goals while Brett Kirk (22 possessions) tried hard all night.
Two goals apiece were kicked in a first term that failed to reach any great heights with both sides reluctant to take any risks.
The Dogs hit the front when Shaun Higgins kicked the first goal of the second term and they looked set to extend their lead out to 11 points when Higgins lined up for his second in three minutes.
But an interchange breach by Tim Callan resulted in a turnover and a shot on goal for Tadhg Kennelly.
Kennelly failed to convert but the Swans grabbed the lead a minute later when Hall kicked truly from directly in front before Lewis Roberts-Thomson slotted one home to give Sydney a nine-point lead.
The Dogs responded with three of the last four goals, including two in the final three minutes to take a four-point lead into the main break.
The Bulldogs took control in the third term, piling on five unanswered goals to open up a commanding lead.
The Swans had their chances but failed to capitalise in front of goal, booting six straight behinds.
Hall had a chance to redeem himself after he gave up chasing Brian Lake, who kicked a running goal but his set shot sprayed wide.
It proved to be a costly miss with Griffen banging one home after three bounces to blow the margin out to 29 points.
Will Minson then kicked truly after Jarrad McVeigh hit the post from 25m out to give the Dogs a 32-point lead heading into the final change.
The Swans closed to within 25 points early in the final term thanks to Hall but the Dogs had all the answers, slamming on three goals in four minutes to seal just the club’s 12th finals victory in their history.
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 2.3, 6.5, 11.9, 16.10 (106)
SYDNEY: 2.4, 5.7, 5.13, 9.15 (69)
GOALS: Bulldogs: Murphy 3, Welsh 2, Hill 2, Eagleton 2, Hahn, Higgins, Lake, Griffen, Minson, Johnson, Akermanis.
Sydney: Hall 4, Jolly, Roberts-Thomson, Goodes, Crouch, Bevan
BEST: Bulldogs: Boyd, Gilbee, Griffen, Morris, Murphy, Hargrave, Hill, Hahn
Sydney: Hall, Kennelly, Kirk, C Bolton, Bevan
INJURIES: Bulldogs: Higgins (winded)
Sydney: Veszpremi (concussion)
UMPIRES: Vozzo, McBurney, Ryan
REPORTS: Barry (Sydney) reported by field umpire Ryan for striking Higgins (Bulldogs) in the final quarter
CHANGES: Nil
CROWD: 42,731 at MCG
The Bulldogs dominated after an even first half, booting 10 goals to four to win 16.10 (106) to 9.15 (69).
The Swans were outclassed in the second half by a Bulldogs side that was quicker and harder at the football.
Matthew Boyd was prolific in the middle with a game-high 33 possessions, Lindsay Gilbee generated plenty of run from defence with 28 touches while Ryan Griffen was damaging with 20 possessions and one goal.
Dale Morris did a superb blanketing job on Sydney star Adam Goodes, restricting the dual Brownlow medallist to just ten disposals and one goal while Ryan Hargrave kept Swans forward Ryan O’Keefe goalless.
Barry Hall played a lone hand up forward for the Sydney, booting four of his side’s nine goals while Brett Kirk (22 possessions) tried hard all night.
Two goals apiece were kicked in a first term that failed to reach any great heights with both sides reluctant to take any risks.
The Dogs hit the front when Shaun Higgins kicked the first goal of the second term and they looked set to extend their lead out to 11 points when Higgins lined up for his second in three minutes.
But an interchange breach by Tim Callan resulted in a turnover and a shot on goal for Tadhg Kennelly.
Kennelly failed to convert but the Swans grabbed the lead a minute later when Hall kicked truly from directly in front before Lewis Roberts-Thomson slotted one home to give Sydney a nine-point lead.
The Dogs responded with three of the last four goals, including two in the final three minutes to take a four-point lead into the main break.
The Bulldogs took control in the third term, piling on five unanswered goals to open up a commanding lead.
The Swans had their chances but failed to capitalise in front of goal, booting six straight behinds.
Hall had a chance to redeem himself after he gave up chasing Brian Lake, who kicked a running goal but his set shot sprayed wide.
It proved to be a costly miss with Griffen banging one home after three bounces to blow the margin out to 29 points.
Will Minson then kicked truly after Jarrad McVeigh hit the post from 25m out to give the Dogs a 32-point lead heading into the final change.
The Swans closed to within 25 points early in the final term thanks to Hall but the Dogs had all the answers, slamming on three goals in four minutes to seal just the club’s 12th finals victory in their history.
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 2.3, 6.5, 11.9, 16.10 (106)
SYDNEY: 2.4, 5.7, 5.13, 9.15 (69)
GOALS: Bulldogs: Murphy 3, Welsh 2, Hill 2, Eagleton 2, Hahn, Higgins, Lake, Griffen, Minson, Johnson, Akermanis.
Sydney: Hall 4, Jolly, Roberts-Thomson, Goodes, Crouch, Bevan
BEST: Bulldogs: Boyd, Gilbee, Griffen, Morris, Murphy, Hargrave, Hill, Hahn
Sydney: Hall, Kennelly, Kirk, C Bolton, Bevan
INJURIES: Bulldogs: Higgins (winded)
Sydney: Veszpremi (concussion)
UMPIRES: Vozzo, McBurney, Ryan
REPORTS: Barry (Sydney) reported by field umpire Ryan for striking Higgins (Bulldogs) in the final quarter
CHANGES: Nil
CROWD: 42,731 at MCG
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