Charlie Curnow has been the talk of the summer since moving to Sydney, but another key forward in red and white – Logan McDonald – showed that he is finally over the long-term ankle injury that wiped out of his 2025 season. 

The 23-year-old hasn’t played since being substituted out of the 2024 Grand Final loss to Brisbane, but after completing the full pre-season at the Swans, McDonald kicked two goals in the first half and finished with four in a major positive out of Thursday’s match simulation win by 33 points against the Western Bulldogs, 15.9 (99) to 9.12 (66). 

Curnow was traded from Carlton on deadline day in exchange for three first-round picks in a blockbuster move that sent Will Hayward to Princes Park and also netted the Swans three second-round picks. The two-time Coleman Medallist finished with four goals in his first appearance in red and white at Mission Whitten Oval.

Only two Swans kicked more than 25 goals last year – Isaac Heeney and Hayward – and Dean Cox relied on Jack Buller and Joel Hamling to provide tall targets inside 50.

Sydney brought a near full-strength team to Melbourne – only Chad Warner, Tom Papley and Justin McInerney were missing from their first-choice team – for a season launch on Wednesday night before defeating Luke Beveridge's on Thursday. 

After badly breaking his ankle in a practice match last pre-season, Errol Gulden dominated across all four quarters, amassing 30-plus disposals, and looks ready to regain his All-Australian status after being restricted to just 10 games in the back half of 2025.

Former Gold Coast small forward Malcolm Rosas jnr also caught the eye and hit the scoreboard, kicking two goals after making a move late in the Trade Period.

07:22

Match Sim Highlights: Western Bulldogs v Sydney

The Bulldogs and Swans clash in match simulation

With Marcus Bontempelli and Ed Richards watching on from the stands at Mission Whitten Oval after playing in the AAMI AFL Origin game, Joel Freijah and Ryley Sanders got plenty of time inside and impressed. Freijah looks set for even more midfield minutes in 2026, while Sanders has recovered from two hamstring strains since December and made up for lost time.
Tom Liberatore has been moved around across the summer and missed weeks with a quad injury, but the veteran midfielder was one of the Dogs’ best players ahead of his 16th season in the AFL.

Arty Jones staked his claim for a spot on the flight to Queensland for Opening Round in a fortnight after slotting three goals. The 22-year-old has played five games in the past two seasons, but kicked two as the sub against Fremantle in round 24 last year and could be set for more senior exposure in 2026. 

Jordan Croft signed a three-year contract extension last week and after overcoming an interrupted pre-season due to a toe injury, the 20-year-old looked dangerous in an attack that didn’t include Aaron Naughton or Sam Darcy following Origin duties, but didn’t make the most of his chances. 

01:00

Back with a bang: Injury-riddled Swan returns in style

Logan McDonald gets off to a flyer in 2026 with a strong clunk and finish in the first term of match simulation

Footscray VFL premiership player Will Lewis played for the Western Bulldogs in his first week as a full-time train-on under pre-season supplemental selection rules ahead of the deadline on March 2. The 26-year-old started down back but then moved forward in the second half and kicked two late goals to show why the Dogs are considering him for the final spot on the rookie list.   

WESTERN BULLDOGS   2.1   3.5   5.8.  9.12 (66)
SYDNEY   3.3   6.4   10.8   15.9 (99)

GOALS 
Western Bulldogs: Jones 3, Lewis 2, Croft, Emmett, Kennedy, Williams 
Sydney: Curnow 4, McDonald 4, Rosas 2, Gulden 2, Heeney 2, Jordon