The Dogs will face Geelong next week after ending the Swans' season with a comprehensive 16.10 (106) to 9.15 (69) win in front of 42,731 fans.
The Swans were simply run off their feet in the second half by a Bulldogs outfit that was quicker, harder at the ball and – surprisingly – much stronger in the tackle.
A goal to Barry Hall two minutes into the final term cut the margin to 25 points, but the Bulldogs quickly banged on three goals in four minutes through Jason Akermanis, Brad Johnson and Robert Murphy to seal the contest.
Johnson's goal, a neat snap from deep in the right forward pocket, was particularly delightful for the Dogs, who had seen their inspirational skipper taken from the field in the second quarter, groggy after a sickening clash with Martin Mattner in a marking contest.
Matthew Boyd was prolific for the winners, with 33 possessions, while Dale Morris smothered dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes. Ryan Griffen was a livewire in the midfield and Murphy was always dangerous in attack.
For the Swans, Hall was a lone hand in attack with four goals. Craig Bolton did well in defence and Jarrad McVeigh, Brett Kirk and Tadhg Kennelly worked tirelessly.
The Bulldogs kicked 5.4 in the third term to the Swans' six behinds, setting up a match-winning 32-point lead at the last change. The so-called premiership quarter had proven critical in the outcome of a match yet again.
The Dogs grabbed the first goal of the second half through Josh Hill and he could have stretched the margin almost immediately when he was paid a free close to goal, but his kick was poor.
The Bulldogs had control of the game, dominating the inside 50s and out-tackling the Swans, but they were not translating that onto the scoreboard. That changed when Hill, having a big quarter, took an uncontested mark and goaled from 30m.
Then Brian Lake, who had struggled with Hall in the first half, ran off the Swans spearhead and goaled from 50m. Hall had given up the chase early, and he missed a chance to redeem himself when he had a set shot two minutes later.
The importance of his poor kick was amplified when the Dogs swept the ball forward and Griffen, who was having an excellent night, banged it through for a 29-point lead.
McVeigh hit the post from 25m out, and the Dogs rubbed it in when Will Minson marked and made it seven in a row.
The first half saw the Swans holding the narrowest of leads at quarter time, and the Bulldogs leading by just four points at the main break, a margin that could have been more substantial if not for an interchange infraction mid-way through the second term.
Higgins was lining up for his second goal in three minutes when Tim Callan entered the field incorrectly. Kennelly was given the ball and a 50m penalty from the centre, but he failed to take advantage of Callan's largesse and hit the post.
However the Swans grabbed the lead a minute later when Hall, who was giving Lake the runaround, won a free kick in the goal square.
Lewis Roberts-Thomson then goaled after a 50m penalty, giving the Swans a nine-point lead, but the Dogs fought back almost immediately when Mitch Hahn used his strength to win the ball and snap from close range.
Goodes soon renewed the Swans' margin, but then Scott Welsh bombed one from 55m and Murphy marked strongly for his second goal and a narrow lead for the Bulldogs.
Hall was looking sharp early in the match after Murphy opened the goal-scoring, and he grabbed the lead for the Swans 13 minutes in when he kicked truly from 35m after outmarking Lake. Darren Jolly stretched the margin five minutes later mark after an assist from Hall.
Late in the first term Welsh brought the Dogs to within a point when he goaled from close range.
Western Bulldogs 2.3 6.5 11.9 16.10 (106)
Sydney Swans 2.4 5.7 5.13 9.15 (69)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Murphy 3, Welsh 2, Hill 2, Eagleton 2, Johnson, Akermanis, Minson, Griffen, Lake, Hahn, Higgins
Sydney Swans: Hall 4, Bevan, Crouch, Goodes, Roberts-Thomson, Jolly
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Boyd, Morris, Griffen, Murphy, Gilbee, Minson
Sydney Swans: Hall, C Bolton, Kirk, Kennelly, McVeigh
Reports: Leo Barry (Sydney Swans) reported by umpire Ryan for striking Shaun Higgins in the fourth quarter.
Umpires: Vozzo, McBurney, Ryan
Official crowd: 42,731 at MCG
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
