AFL LIVE: Bontempelli’s eye-catching plea as he tries to lift Dogs, but Curnow and Grundy have the Swans soaring

All the talk about Charlie Curnow not kicking goals will go quiet this week as the new Swan has reached five goals midway through the third term.

He looks set to kick even more goals while the Swans lead has now passed five goals.

Swans 72, Dogs 40 with eight mins to go in Q3.

Grundy read a throw-in that curved towards the Swans goal, grabbing the footy and snapping his second goal in a matter of minutes.

It’s big boys only when it comes to goals tonight for the Swans with Curnow, Amartey and now Grundy the goal-kickers.

Swans 66, Dogs 40 with 10 mins to go in Q3.

Both sides sprayed early chances in the third term but Brodie Grundy lost his opponent and marked a Tom Papley kick on the 50m arc.

He went back and booted the goal.

The Swans lead is now 21 points - danger signs yet again for the Dogs.

Swans 60, Dogs 39 with 12 mins to go in Q3.

It’s been 10 years since the Bulldogs’ stunning 2016 premiership and the players are celebrating at a reunion during tonight’s match.

Andrew Wu wrote a super piece about the premiership earlier this week and the players posed for a photo at half-time.

Bontempelli is the only Bulldog playing tonight who was in that side, although Tom Liberatore would have been with him, if fit.

I should note, the reunion also includes the VFL side, who also won the premiership that year.

Some of the familiar figures in Bulldogs scarves tonight include Jake Stringer (now playing for GWS) and Josh Dunkley (the Brisbane Lions).

Marcus Bontempelli was very animated on the half-time siren.

He had a robust discussion with Matthew Kennedy, at times pointing to his head as if telling his teammate to use his brain.

I’m not sure what it’s about, though Kennedy had a few minutes earlier been caught holding the ball running inside 50.

The players left the field to a sea of boos from the Dogs fans after Joel Amartey was awarded a mark on the siren. Just moments before that, Chad Warner looked to have run out of bounds but play on was called.

Amartey’s kick after the siren missed to the right.

The Dogs are battling hard and trying to keep the game on their terms, but the Swans were the better side in that second quarter with Curnow with four goals to his name and Amartey three. It’s clear where the Dogs need improvement in the second half.

Charlie Curnow hasn’t cracked a smile yet tonight, despite kicking four goals in the first half.

He’s locked in and out to make a statement for his own injury-hit side.

So far, he’s been too much for Buku Khamis when they are in their one-on-one battles.

Swans 50, Dogs 39 with three mins to go in Q2.

Nick Blakey is a risk taker and will look to send the ball through the corridor when he can.

But he was found out on the last play as his kick into the middle was intercepted by the Dogs at centre half-forward, leading to Cooper Hynes kicking a running goal.

If the Swans’ match-winning advantage is their size up forward, their weakness will be turnovers in the middle.

Swans 44, Dogs 39 with four mins to go in Q2.

Riley Bice is having some bad moments for the Swans. His turnover in the first quarter gave away a goal, and his dropped mark ended up in another shot for goal.

Fortunately for the Swans, Bailey Williams missed his set shot from 30 metres out.

The Dogs’ defence is under immense pressure now.