Five of the first six goals went the way of the Bulldogs, with the Swans caught flat-footed by an energetic Tatura outfit.
The Bulldogs’ effort was contagious, with all men donning the ‘Robodog’ guernsey crunching their way into the contest to extract the Sherrin and send it to a tall forward line.
Sean Johns and Ben Darrou found the middle of the sticks first, before young Swans star James Auld steadied his side, but there was no slowing the Bulldogs pack, as Ryan Butler, Tyler Carter and Will Russell flushed the football off the boot from inside 50.
A few behinds and a goal to Harrison Mazzella engaged the Princess Park tenants back into the contest, and at quarter-time Tatura led 5.1 (31) to 2.5 (17).
As tensions grew between clubs - the Swans venting frustration from an unexpected deficit - it would be the visitors that drew the game closer, Auld and Harper Simpson kicking truly.
Auld and Simpson would continue their dangerous liveliness inside 50, kicking another major each, but three goals in Tatura’s favour ensured a 10-point buffer at halftime - the Dogs’ first lead at the main break all season.
Tatura coach Andrew Ciavarella stated possession control was key to the Bulldogs’ rewarded start, as its hunt for the football paid dividends on the scoreboard.
“I think we were just controlling the game well, controlling the ball well, winning stoppage and getting it moving forward,” Ciavarella said.
“We had some good talls down there today who were able to control the airways, and the Swans aren’t the tallest team in the GV either, so it was good to utilise the height that we had to get on top - but ultimately we just couldn’t sustain it.”
After back and forth transitions from either side to begin the half, the Swans were the first to capitalise and eat their dinner, Simpson again earning reward.
The youth and fitness of the Swans began to shine through in the third term, and steadily, they piled on scoreboard pressure to the Bulldogs.
Restricted to just one behind for the third quarter, Tatura conceded five goals to lend Shepp Swans the lead back, a 19-point margin at the final change of ends.
A dog fight in the last saw it take 16 minutes before the first major was kicked - the Swans managed three behinds prior to Tatura’s Carter playing on after a high free kick to reduce the margin to 16.
But the Swans would insert a dagger in the heart of a hopeful Tatura comeback, Nathan Rachele pouncing on two loose balls late, before a goal after the siren from Simpson sealed a gritty Swans win, 10.7 (67) to 15.10 (100).
Auld (four goals) and Simpson (five) led the charge, while Carter (three) and Will Russell (two) were the multiple goalkickers for the Bulldogs.
Ciavarella said post-game that despite no result on the win column, the Bulldogs’ growth across the past month has been a positive, with gallant defeats to Benalla and Euroa recently.
“The boys have shown a fair bit of growth, we’re in games for longer, we just need to reduce our lapses that we’re having at the moment that are costing us probably too many easy goals,” he said.
“We were definitely in the hunt today, it’s disappointing to lose it, but still very proud of what the boys are doing and showing up each week.”
Tatura host Mansfield in round 10, while the Swans - who move to a seven-win, two-loss and one draw record - travel to play Echuca.
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