The Western Bulldogs have made four changes ahead of tomorrow night’s clash with Sydney at the SCG.

Mitch Hannan will make his long-awaited return to senior football, having been sidelined since round three this year with concussion symptoms.

Tim English also returns after missing the past fortnight with delayed concussion symptoms himself, joined by Ed Richards who sat out last week due to the 12-day concussion protocols.

Riley Garcia has also been elevated into the starting 22, after being the unused medical substitute against Brisbane a week ago. 

Jordon Sweet, Tim O’Brien, Robbie McComb and Hayden Crozier make way.

Sweet, O’Brien and McComb have been listed as emergencies, alongside Luke Cleary.

One of the four will be confirmed as this week’s medical substitute an hour before the first bounce.

Channel 7 and Fox Footy will broadcast the game live. 

ROUND 17 TEAM 
Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs
Friday 8 July, 7.50pm AEST
SCG 

B: Ed Richards, Ryan Gardner, Anthony Scott
HB: Bailey Williams, Alex Keath, Bailey Dale
C: Lachie Hunter, Jack Macrae, Dom Bedendo
HF: Jason Johanissen, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Tom Liberatore 
F: Marcus Bontempelli, Aaron Naughton, Cody Weightman
R: Tim English, Josh Dunkley, Adam Treloar
Int: Rhylee West, Mitch Hannan, Riley Garcia, Josh Schache
Emer: Tim O’Brien, Robbie McComb, Luke Cleary, Jordon Sweet.

In: Mitch Hannan, Tim English, Ed Richards, Riley Garcia
Out: Jordon Sweet, Tim O’Brien, Robbie McComb, Hayden Crozier (omitted)

Last week’s sub: R. Garcia (unused)

The Western Bulldogs have suffered defeat to Sydney at the SCG on Friday night.

An early Swans’ surge meant the Bulldogs were left to chase their tails all night, eventually going down 17.18 (120) to 9.13 (67) in the Harbour City.

It was an opening term to forget for the visitors, conceding the first five goals, before Cody Weightman was able to stem the bleeding with a clever snap from close range.

Jason Johannisen converted for the Dogs’ second late in the term, but heading into quarter-time 37 points down needed to find a spark.

To the Dogs’ credit, the second quarter was much-improved – levelling up around the contest to offer some better looks at goal.

Weightman, Aaron Naughton and Marcus Bontempelli helped peg the margin back to 29 points at the main break, but Sydney was quick to respond in the third.

Reaching a game-high 57-point deficit with a quarter and a half to play, time started to play a factor as the Bulldogs struggled to stop the Swans’ run and transition.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Aaron Naughton added one each either side of three quarter-time to close the gap to 42 points, but it was ultimately too big a buffer as Sydney ran out 53-point winners.

Adam Treloar (32 disposals, five marks) and Jack Macrae (26 disposals, four tackles) found plenty of the footy, while Tim English (13 disposals, 27 hit-outs, one goal) was impactful in his return.

Josh Dunkley battled hard in the middle, registering 10 clearances to go with 17 touches and five tackles, while Tom Liberatore and Marcus Bontempelli tried to inspire.

Anthony Scott was ruled out with concussion on the eve of half-time, with Robbie McComb activated as the medical substitute.

The Bulldogs will next face St Kilda at Marvel Stadium in a weeks’ time.

SYDNEY                                7.8      9.11      15.15      17.18 (120)
WESTERN BULLDOGS           2.1      5.6          8.8          9.13 (67)

GOALS  
Sydney: Heeney 4, Amartey 2, Franklin 2, Papley 2, Warner 2, Clarke, Hayward, Mills, Rowbottom, Stephens
Western Bulldogs: Naughton 2, Weightman 2, Bontempelli, English, Johannisen, Schache, Ugle-Hagan

BEST  
Sydney: Papley, Heeney, Reid, Warner, Franklin, Mills, Lloyd
Western Bulldogs: Liberatore, Macrae, Treloar, Naughton  

INJURIES  
Sydney: Ladhams (thumb)
Western Bulldogs: Scott (concussion)

LATE CHANGES 
Sydney: Braeden Campbell replaced in selected side by Ryan Clarke
Western Bulldogs: Nil

SUBSTITUTES  
Sydney: Harry Cunningham (replaced Ladhams in the second quarter)
Western Bulldogs: Robbie McComb (replaced Scott in the second quarter)