Essendon Bombers v Sydney Swans scores, results, fixtures, teams, tips, games, how to watch

That was an ugly half, but if you’re of the red-and-black persuasion I reckon you’d take it.

Brad Scott has his men playing resolute and determined football against a Sydney team that still appears in a funk despite their final-quarter heroics last week.

The Bombers have controlled the game, owning the ball and territory but they cannot make it count on the scoreboard.

This is a combination of personnel and system, and the Swans’ grim defending.

The Bombers’ only goal that quarter came from a snap from Jake Stringer in traffic.

They had several other shots but were forced to kick from less threatening positions.

A seven-point lead is well short of the value they should have for an inside-50 count that reads 37-18, and a contested possession tally that is 18 in their favour.

The Swans look terrible, a shadow of the side that overran Collingwood last week and more in keeping with the faltering ladder leader of the past two months.

So heavily have they been required to invest in defence, their forward line has lost shape completely. On the few occasions the Swans have been able to exit their back half with any run, they have been kicking to either an empty forward line or to an outnumber.

The Dons are controlling the midfield, with Dylan Shiel (20 possessions), who was mocked by Luke Parker a few years back, Jye Caldwell (16) and Darcy Parish (15) among the leading ball-winners.

Shiel looks sharp, putting his teammates into space.

For Sydney, Isaac Heeney has had just five disposals, Errol Gulden has been quiet with 10, and with Chad Warner not playing their on-ball brigade has lacked bite.

I’m not game enough to make a definitive prediction, but if the Dons can maintain this standard they can scrounge an upset victory to keep their season alive.