THE WESTERN Bulldogs have celebrated captain Marcus Bontempelli's milestone match in style after holding off Sydney for a nine-point triumph in a rollercoaster clash at the SCG.

The Bulldogs had been left searching for a big scalp after steamrolling sides sitting in the bottom half of the ladder, and while the Swans might not be the team that they were last year the pulsating contest was one befitting a pair of genuine finals contenders.

As the lead changed hands 10 times before the last change it was the Bulldogs' rapidly emerging midfielder Joel Freijah as much as their skipper who led the visitors to a 16.9 (105) to 14.12 (96) victory on Friday night.

The Swans had their chances as gun midfielder Isaac Heeney sparked a second-half revival with an equal career-high five goals, but like last week they paid the price for wasting too many set shots.

00:56

Heeney or Houdini? 'Special' Swan's magical patch

Isaac Heeney runs rampant after half-time with a flurry of thrilling goals in quick time

The Swans finished with 4.10 from set shots and a couple that failed to score to leave their finals hopes hanging by a thread. 

Bontempelli was at his bustling best in game No.250 as he gathered 18 disposals and booted a critical goal just as the Swans were threatening to pull away in the third term. 

But the Bulldogs captain was outshone by his sidekick Freijah as the 19-year-old then booted a pair of long bombs and finished with 23 touches as well as a career-high four majors. 

With Swans' tagger James Jordon locking down on the Dogs' electrifying Ed Richards, mature-age recruits Matt Kennedy (15 disposals, two goals) and Lachie Bramble (28, one) lifted in the midfield as the visitors tried to hang on. 

The Dogs' twin towers Sam Darcy and Aaron Naughton looked set to blow the game wide open as they booted three goals each in the first half against the Swans' undermanned defence. 

But with Tom McCartin a late withdrawal before the first bounce and Dane Rampe subbed out in the third term, the Swans backline was led by Lewis Melican and Aaron Francis.

08:13

Highlights: Sydney v Western Bulldogs

The Swans and Bulldogs clash in round 16 of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

Heeney overcame an unusually quiet start where his only disposal of the opening term came on the cusp of the first break to spark the Swans in the forward half. 

The gun midfielder snapped a classy goal from deep in the forward pocket just after Swans teammates had missed a pair of simple set shots, then tore the game open in the second half. 

Heeney continued to start at most centre bounces then looked to drift forward as he booted four majors in the third term.

Tom Papley (two goals) was the firestarter as the Swans trailed by as much as 28 points in the second term, Errol Gulden (30 disposals) showed signs of returning to his best and Brodie Grundy won the ruck battle but last year's runner-up is running out of time to chase down the finals hopefuls.

00:45

Nothing like Chad or pumped-up Papley to ignite SCG

Chad Warner scores a ripper in his 100th game of AFL before Tom Papley fires up the troops again with a sizzling snap

SYDNEY                         3.5    6.8    12.9    14.12 (96)
WESTERN BULLDOGS    4.2    8.5    14.6    16.9 (105)

GOALS
Sydney: Heeney 5, Papley 2, Buller, Grundy, Jordon, Lloyd, McInerney, Rowbottom, Warner
Western Bulldogs: Freijah 4, Darcy 3, Naughton 3, Kennedy 2, Bontempelli, Bramble, Harmes, West

BEST 
Sydney: Heeney, Gulden, Grundy, Blakey, Papley, Warner
Western Bulldogs: Freijah, Bramble, Kennedy, Dale, Naughton, Bontempelli, Harmes

LATE CHANGES
Sydney: Tom McCartin (illness), replaced by Jack Buller
Western Bulldogs: Nil

INJURIES
Sydney: Rampe (calf tightness)
Western Bulldogs: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Ollie Florent (replaced Tom Papley in the third quarter)
Western Bulldogs: Buku Khamis (replaced Lachie McNeil in the fourth quarter)

Crowd: 29,246 at the SCG