W Bulldogs 16.10 (106) Sydney Swans 9.15 (69)

THIS time, there was to be no twist in the tail. Sydney's season ended last night in the manner that seemed likely for most of a competitive but not stellar year, with defeat to one of the handful of teams that now stand above them in the competition's pecking order.

On a night when the energetic youth of the Western Bulldogs overwhelmed the experienced and hard bodies of the Swans, the 37-point margin was reflective both of the gap in ability between the teams and that between a still-competitive Sydney line-up and the AFL's new elite, one that could take some time to bridge.

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Multimedia: Bulldogs trounce Swans
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After a tight opening, the Swans were blown away in a one-sided second half when the Bulldogs scored 10 goals to four. The Dogs mostly marked time in the final stages against a badly beaten opponent.

At the end of a tumultuous season, Barry Hall kept his head up and his fists down to kick four goals, providing minor consolation for the Swans - and, perhaps, the promise that the big forward can repay some of his vast accumulated debts to the club next season. However, elsewhere, a team that had seemed revitalised during an impressive elimination final victory over North Melbourne last Saturday went out without a whimper.

Coach Paul Roos agreed that the Swans' season accurately reflected their standing - just below the competition's powerhouses. "Now we have to decide how to get back to winning a premiership, which is very hard to do," he said. The Swans' post-season clearout began immediately, when veteran ruckman Peter Everitt announced his retirement after two seasons with the club.

Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said the Dogs had backed their fresher legs going into last night's contest, believing if they were close at half-time they could open the game up. "We saw them play a tough, physical game last week and we thought if we were with them we could run over the top," he said.

Symbolic of the Swans' performance was the plight of Adam Goodes, whose inability to move through the midfield because of a groin injury was a vital loss against the hard-running Dogs. While he tried to get into the game from his post near the goal square, Goodes's absence left the Swans' midfield looking sluggish and defensive.

Sydney had hoped to reach a fourth preliminary final in their six full years under coach Paul Roos. Instead they will be left to ponder some difficult list management decisions, with a few heroes of their glory days, such as co-captain Leo Barry, nearing their use-by dates.

While the Swans have rebounded quickly from finals disappointment before - most notably when they followed a semi-final drubbing by St Kilda in 2004 with a premiership the next season - the Sydney team overwhelmed by the Bulldogs for long periods last night is clearly in need of rejuvenation if it is to even hold ground next season.

On the other hand, having restored both their pride and salvaged a season that was going off the rails after six defeats in eight games, the Bulldogs face the even greater challenge of taking on reigning premiers Geelong with a grand final place on the line, a match for which they look far more prepared than just seven days ago, when they were being humiliated by Hawthorn.

Having seen Lance Franklin and his cohorts demolish the Dogs' defence, the Swans started by loading their attack with Goodes, Hall, Ryan O'Keefe and Peter Everitt all close to the goal square during the first bounce. However, while Hall would cause some problems, it was evident throughout a see-sawing first half that the Swans' midfield would not be able to provide the quality ball required to hurt the small Dogs defence. Instead, with both defences on top, for large portions of the night the ball was ping-ponged between the respective 50-metre arcs.

While the Swans' hard runners, such as Tadhg Kennelly, relished that movement early, inevitably the Dogs' larger fleet of midfield runners, led by Matthew Boyd - who finished with a game-high 33 possessions - proved more damaging. In the second quarter, luck did swing Sydney's way briefly when a penalty near goal for an incorrect Bulldogs interchange as the Dogs were about to take a shot for goal (Kennelly missed the Swans chance), and fortunate free kicks to Hall and Lewis Roberts-Thomson that both resulted in goals gave them the lead even as the Dogs were winning the midfield battle.

However, that was the signal for end of the Swans' resistance rather than the beginning. The Dogs would kick three of the next four goals before half-time - and eight of the nine before three-quarter time - to take a stranglehold that never looked likely to be broken.

For the Bulldogs, the only disappointing aspect of the night was the crowd of 42,731. After the paltry attendance at ANZ Stadium last Saturday night made some wonder if there was room for two teams in Sydney, perhaps last night's was vindication for those who still wonder if there is room for nine in Melbourne.