SYDNEY Swans spearhead Barry Hall limbered up for the 2009 AFL season with an imposing performance in his side's 27-point NAB Challenge win over the Western Bulldogs at Bruce Purser Reserve tonight.
Hall booted four goals, handed off two others and bungled another major trying to be unselfish in the 16.12 (108) to 12.9 (81) victory at the venue in Sydney’s north-west.
The 32-year-old, on the last year of his contract with the Swans, moved well and looked dangerous in his second appearance of the year.
Hall finished off last season in strong fashion, earning the club's player of the finals award as the Swans were bounced out of September action by the Bulldogs.
Both sides played close to full strength outfits in the balmy conditions in front of a sell-out crowd of 3,600 at the brand new ground at Rouse Hill.
Livewire Josh Hill led the Bulldogs' scoring with three majors.
The Swans had grabbed a seven-goal buffer by half time after Hall kicked three majors in the second term.
The visitors slashed the margin to two goals late in the final term before Jesse White sealed the win for the home team with a grubbered effort in the 21st minute.
Swans coach Paul Roos felt that former skipper Hall had led the way for his teammates.
"His first half probably showed the way he plays his best footy, the team stuff first and then the goals start to come after that," Roos said.
Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade was happy with the respective performances of reigning Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney and fellow match-winner Robert Murphy.
But he was less kind what rating Josh Hill’s input.
"He was really disappointing first half, that was as bad as I have seen him first half," Eade said.
"His second half was a lot better, he almost played himself out of round one but he might have played himself back into contention."
The Swans now travel to AAMI Stadium to tackle the Crows in their final NAB Challenge match, while the Bulldogs play Melbourne at Casey Fields.
In the season proper, the Bloods play St Kilda at Docklands on March 28 and the Dogs clash with Fremantle at Subiaco Oval the following day.
Goals
Sydney Swans: B Hall 4 A Goodes 2 J White 2 H Grundy E Barlow C Bird P Bevan J McVeigh B Kirk P Veszpremi R O'Keefe. Western Bulldogs: J Hill 3 J Akermanis 2 R Griffen 2 R Murphy S Higgins L Gilbee D Addison M Lynch.
Best
Sydney Swans: B Hall D Jolly C Bolton J Bolton P Veszpremi J White. Western Bulldogs: R Griffen A Cooney R Murphy J Hill.
Umpires: S McInerney M Vozzo C Kamolins.
Injuries: Nil.
Reports: Nil.
Crowd: 3,600 at Bruce Purser Reserve, Rouse Hill.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
