Sydney Swans lose chance to top table after narrow loss to Western Bulldogs

Sydney have squandered a chance to go top of the table over Hawthorn after Western Bulldogs defender Jason Johannisen sunk the Swans' hearts with a goal from the last kick of the match to secure a thrilling 83-79 victory. 

Despite trailing by 16 points in the third term, the Bulldogs clawed their way back to lead by as many as 17 before Lance Franklin booted consecutive goals, one from 55 metres out, to wrestle back momentum and bring a strong SCG crowd to their feet.

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AFL: Doggies down Swans again

Western Bulldogs nail a thrilling four-point win over Sydney Swans.

The dying minutes were far from polished footy and although the Swans held onto a slim two-point lead, Johannisen's final kick from 40 metres with seven seconds remaining put a dampener on a game the Swans will hope won't come back to haunt them later in the year. 

The loss means Sydney remain in a top-eight logjam with Geelong, GWS and North Melbourne on 10 wins apiece. 

" Challenging is a word for it," said Swans coach John Longmire of the defeat. "We shouldn't have got to that point. Our third quarter was poor. They out-hunted us in that third term in contested ball, uncontested ball as well as clearances. We didn't get it right in the end." 

Franklin became the first player to crack the half-century in season 2016 with a scintillating five-goal haul, overtaking West Coast's Josh Kennedy, who kicked three majors against Essendon on Thursday. 

Franklin has now booted more than 50 goals in eight of his last nine seasons and although his magical mark of 113 in 2008 looks to be a little out of his reach, he could very well better his second-highest tally of 82 in 2011.

It could have been a night to remember for gun midfielder Luke Parker, not least for his 34 disposals and 15 handballs but his clever off-the-deck strike for his second of three goals. 

" We had some players that played pretty well," Longmire said. "Franklin obviously, Parker, he's got back into that really good touch and a few others but we need to be a bit more consistent across that group." 

Fresh off a bye and with the benefit of playing at home again after a 55-point demolition of a hapless Demons outfit two weeks ago, there was a little more to play for than usual this Saturday evening. 

Not since round three have the Swans sat atop the competition ladder, meaning Hawthorn's bye this week presented a handsome opportunity to leapfrog them and stay there for good.

An early error from the Bulldogs gave Gary Rohan first crack at points from a 45-degree angle but it was the visitors' Shane Biggs who cracked a goal from 50m out against his old club to get the ball rolling.

In what was a dour opening term – three goals were scored all up – it was clear that Franklin had a big haul in mind.

He kicked a neat goal from an acute angle but on a handful of occasions decided to kick to himself rather than use other viable options nearby. 

Nonetheless, Franklin was his slippery self, popping up more often than not to register his second-best tally of the year since his six goals against Essendon in round seven. 

Such was the Bulldogs' ineffectiveness with ball in hand, their first quarter was the fifth time this year a team has had more than 15 forward 50 entries without a mark in that area.

After six Swans scores to end the first quarter, Bulldogs half-forward Jake Stringer then nailed two majors – the second of which was a superb strike off the right boot from 40m out – to put the visitors ahead and remind Sydney that their sloppy handling needed improving.

The game opened up and points flowed more in the second term, however the Swans kept their noses in front to take a 10-point advantage to the main break.

Parker's goal stretched the lead to 16 points but the Bulldogs once again reared their head, notching up 19 consecutive points midway through the third term to turn the game on its head.

Even with a 13-point difference, the Swans would have backed their experience, particularly up front, to get over the line, even if it was just the second time all year they had trailed at three-quarter time, however some late poise from a gallant Bulldogs side helped them draw level with Sydney on 10 wins.