On June 27, 2025, the Sydney Cricket Ground would see one of the most phenomenal matches in world history. The Western Bulldogs went on to defeat the Sydney Swans, winning by a mere nine points to take the premiership. The end result was 16.9 (105) to 14.12 (96). This victory gave Bulldog star Marcus Bontempelli a special reason to celebrate, as he played in his 250th AFL game.
The contest was a heavyweights display of will, with the Bulldogs coming out and quickly building a huge 48-35 advantage. The Swans showed their toughness, as they powered back with a furious second-half charge. It wasn’t enough — they came up short, failing to take advantage of key opportunities.
Game Overview
For the majority of the first half, it was one way traffic from the Western Bulldogs. They took a substantial 28 point lead into the main break. Their initial march through the leagues was hallmarked by combative teamwork and defensive goal-scoring efficiency. Joel Freijah was on fire for the Bulldogs, netting a career-high four goals. On the other side, Isaac Heeney shined for the Swans, scoring five goals.
While the Swans continued to battle as they moved through the second half, they responded quickly. They restructured their game plan and started to get into a groove, chipping away at the score. But try as they might, the Tigers couldn’t move past the Bulldogs’ first half lead.
In a vintage Eagles dramatic late-game twist, Hayden McLean almost made it all level up. Regrettably, he fumbled the punt. The atmosphere in the packed stadium grew tense as home fans chewed their nails, waiting for the proverbial shootout to end all shootouts.
Controversies and Challenges
The match was not without its controversies. Umpiring decisions created this kind of drama, resulting in intense discussion, particularly amongst the Swans faithful in the forums. They expressed their displeasure at various times throughout the match. The calls umpires made or didn’t make elicited discontent from players on and off the field.
Furthermore, the SCG’s playing surface faced criticism in the aftermath of the match. Despite the excitement, players from both teams admitted that the turf’s poor condition played a part in impacting injuries and overall performance on the night.
The bottom term, which played host to one of the best wrestling matches you’ll see indoors in an Aaron Francis v Rory Lobb bout. This titanic confrontation poured a gallon of gasoline onto an already raging fire. Francis found himself in a swinging arm incident and could find himself with more attention from league’s ever-watchful eyes.
Bontempelli’s Milestone
Marcus Bontempelli’s landmark game proved to be a highlight for the Western Bulldogs. Looking back on his time in the AFL, Bontempelli thanked everyone who’s backed him since he began playing professionally.
“It has been such a long journey. As you know, they see the ups and downs,” – Marcus Bontempelli
He understood, more than most, how important a deep support network is in the face of adversity. His fiancée’s influence, gained from her own experience, proved essential in ensuring that he successfully negotiated the pitfalls that the club presented.
“They really help you through those down periods and at different points you do feel a little bit blue and you are trying to get through tougher periods which we have had at the football club. Especially my fiancée.” – Marcus Bontempelli
Yet his milestone celebration was made even better by a strong showing from his team — a victory which lifted them into fifth place on the ladder.
