Big Swan Joel Amartey has struck twice in the space of a couple of minutes. He kicked his first major after a 50m penalty, and then helped himself to a second soon after by outpointing Bulldog defender Liam Jones and marking 30m from goal. The Swans are looking good.
They have countered the Bulldogs’ opening two goals through Amartey before hitting the front at the 10-minute mark of the first term thanks to a goal from Hayden McLean. Sydney lead by six points. Bulldog Anthony Scott has been subbed out of the game with concussion.
Playing just his first game of the year, Scott banged heads with Sydney’s Harry Cunningham about three minutes into the first quarter while both were bending down to grab the ball. He was ruled out of the game soon after the sickening clash, with Ryley Sanders brought into the game. Sanders was a late call-up for James O’Donnell.
The Bulldogs were able to regroup quickly after the incident and kick their second goal through Tim English. English kicked from the goal square after a brain fade from opposing ruckman Brodie Grundy resulted in a 50m penalty. The action, an old-fashioned tummy tap, caused coach John Longmire to shake his head in annoyance.
A second 50m penalty, this time to Sydney’s Joel Amartey, allowed the Swans to claw a goal back. The Bulldogs lead 12 points to six. Boom, and the Bulldogs are away, striking first blood inside the first minute.
Marcus Bontempelli won the ball in the centre square, squirted a quick handball to new.
