3 minute read

A huge weekend for the Sydney Swans got off to a bad start when their AFLW team succumbed to the fast-finishing Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval.

Sydney star Ally Morphett has suffered a recurrence of a foot injury in her return AFLW game, adding injury to insult for the Swans who were overrun by the Western Bulldogs by seven points at Footscray.

The reigning All-Australian hobbled off Mission Whitten Oval in distress and in tears midway through the third quarter of Friday night's clash before receiving treatment on her troublesome right foot.

The Swans were mown down in her absence, the Bulldogs overcoming slender half-time and three-quarter-time deficits to finish strongly and notch their second successive win.

The ball lived inside the Bulldogs' front half down the stretch as Britney Gutknecht's first goal of the season midway through the fourth term - the only goal of the quarter - put the hosts in front for good as they won 5.9 (39) to 5.2 (32).

The Dogs started strongly, highlighted by smart snapped goals to Sarah Hartwig and skipper Deanna Berry, but their bench was shortened at the 13-minute mark when ruck Jorja Borg injured her left knee.

As a result, Alice Edmond rucked solo against Sydney's All-Australian ruck Morphett, and the athletic 189cm Bulldog acquitted herself superbly, combining neatly with Jess Fitzgerald.

Sydney, spearheaded by Laura Gardiner (31 disposals), regularly looked more slick on the outside and more clinical in attack but they ran out of puff late.

The Swans started the second stanza by streaming out of the centre-square with three goals in the first six minutes before Ellie Bennetts got one back for the Dogs after converting a 50m penalty.

The lead changed hands throughout an engrossing third-term arm wrestle before Morphett's exit paved the path for a strong final flourish from the Bulldogs, who won the fourth-quarter inside-50 count 12-2.