Western Bulldogs v Sydney Swans

Thursday May 23, 7:30pm AEST
Marvel Stadium, Docklands • Wurundjeri
Broadcast: Channel 7, Fox Footy/Kayo

Tickets: Purchase here

Sir Doug Nicholls Round - Spirit Strong, Game On

Our Thursday night match against the Sydney Swans will kick off the second week of Sir Doug Nicholls Round where we celebrate and recognise the contribution of First Nations people to the game of football.  

At the game, expect to enjoy and experience a live Welcome to Country, indigenous music and a not-to-be missed pre-game performance from the cast of 37 presented by to Melbourne Theatre Company.  

The Western Bulldogs will also play in our 2024 Indigenous Guernsey, designed by proud, young Djab Wurrong, Kirrae Wurrong and Peak Wurrong artist, Tarni Jarvis.

Tickets are selling fast - limited seats remaining – Buy now.

Deadly Choices  

As part of Sir Doug Nicholls Round we are proud to partner with Deadly Choices. Deadly Choices aims to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to make healthy choices for themselves and their families.

In partnership with local Community Controlled Health Services (CCHS), Deadly Choices encourages mob to regularly access CCHS and complete an annual ‘Health Check’. For more information visit www.deadlychoices.com.au

A special performance presented by Melbourne Theatre Company  

The Western Bulldogs and Melbourne Theatre Company are proud to present an excerpt from 37, a play by Trawlwoolway Pakana playwright Nathan Maynard, as part of the pre-game entertainment.  

Members and fans are asked to be in their seats by 7pm to witness this special performance celebrating Marngrook—the traditional Aboriginal game that inspired AFL—which will take place in the centre of Marvel Stadium, Wurundjeri. 

Learn more

Barcoded membership cards are back!

All members in 2024 receive a physical barcoded card with their membership packs giving them access to home games.

Members are still able to use their digital membership card if they wish to do so. Information on accessing your digital membership card can be found here.

All other access members (Silver & Gold) can either scan in as general admission or upgrade to a reserved seat for $10 through Ticketmaster using their home barcode. 

Please note: General admission members will see seats in their digital card – this is NOT your actual seat and refers only to general admission bays. 

Need help on match day?

Please contact our team prior to the match on 1300 46 36 47 between 10AM – 4PM AEST or via email at membership@westernbulldogs.com.au

When and where: Thursday 23 May, 7.30pm AEST, Marvel Stadium (Wurundjeri)
Broadcast: Channel 7, Fox Footy/Kayo
Head-to-head: Played 166 (won 84, drawn once, lost 81) 
Last time we met: Round 18 2023, WB 11.10 (76) def. by Sydney 11.12 (78)

Secure your tickets today: BUY NOW

Unleash more in ’24 with a Bulldogs membership: SIGN UP TODAY

What it means

Following back-to-back wins against Richmond and GWS, the Bulldogs are set up with the perfect opportunity to make it three straight – a streak they have struggled to hit consistently in recent times.

Since the end of the 2021 season, the Dogs have only won more than three consecutive games twice - a five-game streak from Round 6–10 last year, and three games across Round 9-11 in 2022.

A win this Thursday night would fill the team with plenty of confidence, ahead of a three-week run at Marvel Stadium to come against last year’s Grand Finalists (Collingwood, Brisbane) and Fremantle before the bye.

Who to watch

Bulldogs stalwart Liam Jones is in red hot form this season, setting a leading example for his fellow defenders. Sitting third across the competition for intercept marks (35), he is also averaging career-best disposals (12.2) and marks (6.3). Jones, a Kija man, will wear boots painted by his cousin Kamilya Lowana White tomorrow night, inspired by his journey to fatherhood.

‘Spirit Strong, Game On’

The Bulldogs will launch the second week of Sir Doug Nicholls Round this Thursday night, celebrating, recognising and paying tribute to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples who have contributed to the game and community.

This year’s theme is 'Spirit Strong, Game On', which recognises the resilience and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The theme also honours their traditions, enduring spirit and ongoing legacy in Australian Rules Football and society.

To mark the occasion, the Bulldogs will proudly wear an Indigenous guernsey designed by Tarni Jarvis, a Djab Wurrong, Kirrae Wurrong and Peak Wurrong woman living on Wadawurrung country.  To purchase the traditional blue kit or any of the exclusive Indigenous-themed merchandise, please click here.

A special performance presented by Melbourne Theatre Company

The Western Bulldogs and Melbourne Theatre Company are proud to present an excerpt from 37, a play by Trawlwoolway Pakana playwright Nathan Maynard, as part of the pre-game entertainment.  

Members and fans are asked to be in their seats by 7pm to witness this special performance celebrating Marngrook—the traditional Aboriginal game that inspired AFL—which will take place in the centre of Marvel Stadium, Wurundjeri. 

Find out more here.

Check before you travel

Avoid public transport and road disruptions this Thursday night by checking before you travel.

From 9pm, the Footscray Road airport-bound entry ramp to the CityLink will be closed, while eastbound Lower Plenty Road between Greensborough Road and Borlase Street will be reduced to a single lane from 7pm – 5am.

Buses replace trains on sections of the Pakenham, Cranbourne, Frankston, Stony Point and Gippsland lines.

Buses will also replace Route 78 trams between North Richmond and Balaclava, and Route 58 trams between Toorak and Stop 119 Wells Street.

To plan your journey ahead of time, visit Victoria's Big Build website for more information.

The Western Bulldogs have fallen to Sydney by 14 points on Thursday night in Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

A late surge saw the hosts cut the deficit to just eight points late, but ultimately couldn't stop the Swans' run in the 16.6 (102) to 12.16 (88) at Marvel Stadium.

The Dogs were brave to the end despite losing key forward Aaron Naughton (knee) and in-form midfielder Ed Richards (concussion) early in the game.

The Swans, who got out to a 30-point lead midway through the final quarter, attempted to ice the clock but the Dogs had other ideas as Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (six marks, three goals) put them back within eight points with six minutes remaining.

But a 50m penalty paid to Hayden McLean just as the Bulldogs threatened to snatch it put an end to the comeback.

Richards was dominant for the home side in the opening half, breaking through packs and neatly directing the ball inside 50, but a head clash early in the third quarter, which subsequently ruled him out for the game, saw momentum swing the Swans' way.

The Dogs' pain was compounded with Anthony Scott (concussion) and Naughton also ruled out through the game. Despite having depleted stocks, the Dogs never stopped pushing.

They owned large patches, applying oppressive, suffocating pressure to maintain possession in the front half and exploit the height advantage the likes of Ugle-Hagan and Sam Darcy had over Sydney's keys.

Turning that field position into a damaging score proved more difficult, however, with the side kicking 12 goals from 28 scores.

Speed from the restart was the Dogs' best friend, led initially by defender-turned-midfielder Richards, sending the ball high inside 50 to dominate the aerial contest, and then driven by the likes of Adam Treloar (30 disposals, six clearances) and late inclusion Ryley Sanders (20 disposals, six tackles).

It forced the Swans' defenders into panicked ball use and poor decision making, allowing the Dogs repeat opportunities on goal.

There was a concerted focus on defending the corridor from the Dogs, preventing Sydney from using its aggressive end-to-end transition that has allowed it to shoot up the ladder this year.

It was largely effective, but when the Swans did break through, the attacking ball use was devastating. 

The Bulldogs will look to bounce back against Collingwood next Friday night at Marvel Stadium. 

WESTERN BULLDOGS             4.3    7.8    8.11   12.16 (88)
SYDNEY                                   4.1    7.4    12.6   16.6 (102)

GOALS 
Western Bulldogs: Ugle-Hagan 3, Garcia 2, Darcy, English, Naughton, West, Vandermeer, Harmes, Gallagher
Sydney: Warner 4, Amartey 2, Hayward 2, McLean 2, Papley, Gulden, McDonald, Wicks, Adams, Heeney

BEST 
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Ugle-Hagan, Treloar, West, Richards
Sydney: Warner, Gulden, Grundy, McInerney, Heeney, Blakey

INJURIES 
Western Bulldogs: Scott (head clash), Naughton (right knee), Richards (head knock)
Sydney: Nil

SUBSTITUTES 
Western Bulldogs: Ryley Sanders (replaced Anthony Scott in the first quarter)
Sydney: Matt Roberts (replaced Aaron Francis in the final quarter)

LATE CHANGES
Western Bulldogs: James O'Donnell (illness) replaced in selected side by Ryley Sanders
Sydney: Nil

Crowd: 27,377 at Marvel Stadium.