Papley boots late Swans winner in thriller in opposition to Canine

Sydney firebrand Tom Papley has booted the match-winner to safe a two-point triumph in a thriller in opposition to the Western Bulldogs on the SCG.

Each groups had a number of possibilities to grab victory within the dying phases however it was the Swans that held on for an 11.12 (78) to 11.10 (76) win on Thursday night time to maintain their finals hopes alive.

Papley completed with 4 majors, making him essentially the most prolific ahead on the night time, however it was his aim on the run on the 22-minute mark of the ultimate quarter that secured the stirring win in John Longmire’s three hundredth sport as coach.

The slim victory retains the Swans (7-1-9) inside attain of eighth place as they put a extreme dent within the Bulldogs’ top-four hopes.

Errol Gulden (30 disposals) was excellent for the Swans to proceed his breakout season, whereas Ollie Florent (23 disposals, two objectives) and co-captain Luke Parker (23 disposals) had been additionally necessary.

The ultimate siren set off wild scenes because the Swans gamers raced straight to their coach in his milestone match.

“It is a bit of stick with it, is not it? I had a cake yesterday, that was a little bit of stick with it, after which I noticed my huge boofhead on the massive display,” Longmire mentioned.

“However I do not need to be flippant about it, I am very fortunate to work for a improbable footy membership.

“I have been very lucky that I have been a part of a number of their journeys. I really feel very privileged and honoured that I used to be part of it for thus lengthy, for thus a lot of them. To see them tonight was an actual thrill.”

The Swans entered the conflict with rising talls Hayden McLean and Joel Amartey as their ruck duo to tackle the Canine’ main huge man Tim English.

It was a transfer that backfired early as English made an impression on the stoppages and across the floor, and went on to complete with 22 disposals, 10 clearances and 60 hitouts.

The Canine threatened to interrupt the sport open within the first time period as they dominated the possessions 122-67 together with a 17-8 benefit in clearances to construct a 19-point lead at quarter-time.

Captain Marcus Bontempelli (31 disposals, two objectives) led the best way for the Bulldogs however back-to-back losses has them liable to tumbling out of the highest eight with the remainder of spherical 18 nonetheless to play.

Tom Liberatore was immense for the Bulldogs, gathering 30 disposals with game-highs for 19 contested ball and 11 clearances, in addition to booting the opening aim of the sport inside 45 seconds.

Adam Treloar (33 disposals), Ed Richards (28) and Jack Macrae (24) discovered loads of the ball for the Bulldogs, whereas Aaron Naughton booted three objectives.

However the Canine had been hit arduous by accidents with younger talls Sam Darcy (corked thigh) and James O’Donnell (concussion) each dominated out within the center phases of the competition.

“Shedding the 2 keys in James and Sam was going to be tough to cowl and I feel that advised in the long run with their greater forwards, they began to mark it,” Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge mentioned.

“We solely had the 2 talls and we could not fairly defend a few of these balls and it was pricey.

“If we had have received, they’d say it is one which bought away, and we in all probability really feel like that as a result of on the finish I nonetheless thought we had been going to win it.”

Western Bulldogs have one other crunch conflict to come back in opposition to Essendon subsequent Friday night time, whereas Sydney will journey to face Fremantle the next night time.

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