Game Review

Blues rue last quarter in Swans loss.

Carlton fall to Sydney at the SCG. - By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media

A missed opportunity. Carlton has gone down by 16 points in a scrappy affair at the SCG, falling to Sydney 11.12 (78) to 9.8 (62). The Blues led for the majority of the contest in a low-scoring scrap, but a five-goal-to-two last quarter saw the Blues come away empty-handed from a venue where they’ve struggled to get the job done. As one of only four Carlton players to enjoy a win at the SCG prior to the game, it was captain Patrick Cripps who took charge with the opening goal in slippery conditions early. Early match-ups became clear for both sides, with Francis Evans providing early attention to Nick Blakey, while James Jordon and Joel Hamling looked to have defensive roles on Sam Walsh and Jacob Weitering respectively. It was goal for goal in the early going, with Harry McKay looming large in attack for the Blues, recording seven disposals, six contested possessions and a goal inside the opening term alone. Cripps once again bobbed up with a second goal from a contested situation, before Charlie Curnow recorded his 300th career goal to provide the Blues with some spark. Carlton largely dominated the forward territory early with 20 inside 50s to nine, but were unable to make their ascendancy count while the Swans looked potent on the counter attack with three goals from limited entries. Cooper Lord started the game stationed on the wing and enjoyed a positive start as one of five Blues with seven disposals to his name, while Marc Pittonet - in his first game for the season - contributed five of the Blues’ eight clearances in the first term where the Blues led by one straight kick.

Unselfish play from Lewis Young at the start of the second term got Durdin and the Blues off to a hot start, and while the other small forwards struggled for impact with ball in hand, they were making their pressure felt with seven tackles inside 50 in the first half. The Blues started to have some moments go against them, with the swans drawing level. In a high-pressure, physical term, the Swans started to get more forward territory after Carlton’s early advantage, as Adam Cerra stood up with 10 disposals and six contested possessions in the second term alone. Carlton settled late and McKay stepped up once more, snapping his second goal for a seven-point half-time buffer. The Blues were forced to go without Jack Silvagni in the second half, who was subbed out due to groin soreness as Jordan Boyd entered the contest as a forward, with Young swung down back. Curnow bobbed up with his trademark goal from the junction of the 50-metre line and boundary, but there were to be no more goals in the third term for the Blues, with just one to the Swans for the entire third term. Cripps led the way with some key defensive moments, contributing four tackles for the term alongside Cerra and Pittonet, but the Swans continued to get on top of the contested possession stakes after quarter time. The Blues’ backline held up to only concede one goal from 13 entries, with Cerra (10 disposals) and Saad (eight disposals) working overtime as the Blues maintained a slender lead at the final change. That was soon eradicated in the early going of the final term, with two running goals - and a flurry of behinds - giving the Swans their biggest lead of the match. Moved down back for the final term, a brilliant assist from Boyd found Curnow for his third, but a trio of late goals meant the Blues wouldn’t come away from the SCG with the four points.

Swans fire late to edge Blues in Friday night scrap

A sensational final quarter from Sydney sees it topple Carlton by 16 points - By Martin Pegan at the SCG.

Sydney stars Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner have lit a spark in a dreary clash with Carlton to lift their side to a critical 16-point triumph on Friday night at the SCG. The Swans were hanging on for much of the match as the Blues failed to make the most of their early momentum before the home side surged a five-goal-to-two final term in a low-scoring contest to clinch the 11.12 (78) to 9.8 (62) win. It wasn't pretty as both sides found it hard to adapt to the slippery conditions after a day of downpours in Sydney, until the Swans' dynamic midfield duo took matters into their own hands. On a night where class shone through, Heeney finished with game-highs of 38 disposals and 10 clearances, as well as two goals including the sealer with three minutes remaining, although the gun midfielder might have settled the game much sooner if not for also booting five behinds. Heeney went on to be awarded the Goodes-O'Loughlin Medal as best afield in the annual Marn Grook match, but Warner was hardly outdone by his midfield partner as he gathered 30 disposals and booted two goals while ensuring the Swans stayed within reach of the Blues early.

Hard-running midfielder Justin McInerney was important for the Swans with 24 disposals and a goal, but will be sweating on the MRO's verdict on a high bump that sent Jack Silvagni crashing to the turf. Silvagni was cleared of concussion but was later subbed out due to a groin issue. The come-from-behind victory helps the Swans stay in touch with the top eight after slumping to a 3-6 record heading into the clash with the Blues. The Swans had their own issue with a player sustaining a head knock when Aaron Francis came off second best following a blow from leaping teammate Brodie Grundy's thigh in a marking contest. Play was stopped for more than a minute as Francis slowly made his way to the bench and underwent a head injury assessment before being ruled out at the main break. Angus Sheldrick was a useful addition to the Swans' engine room from the opening bounce with 21 disposals and four clearances after starting his past five matches as the sub. The Blues made a strong start with the opening goal and locked the ball forward to have 20-9 inside 50s but failed to make the most of their dominance with one major separating the teams at the first change. That set the tone for much of the match as the Blues peppered their forward 50 but were unable to put the Swans away as their horror record at the SCG has now stretched to 17 defeats from their past 19 visits to take on the hosts. Blues ruck Marc Pittonet hit the ground running in his first game of the season in the absence of Tom De Koning with five clearances in the opening term, before Swans big man Grundy fought back to come out on top with 19-12 disposals and 8-7 clearances. Captain Patrick Cripps led the way for the Blues after booting the opening goal of the game and went on to finish with 26 disposals and two majors, while Adam Cerra was also useful with 33 touches. Charlie Curnow booted three goals and Harry McKay added two majors but questions remain over how the Blues can take full advantage of their tall timber as they again floundered in the forward half.

Heeney stunner makes most of good fortune
Sydney rode their luck when awarded a free kick for out of bounds on the full after Mitch McGovern stretched a boot out to block a dribbled shot from Isaac Heeney. The Carlton defender got a bump ball off his boot that would be more familiar during summer at the SCG but was shocked to see Heeney handed a set shot even if it would be from the toughest of angles. Heeney made no mistake with an exquisite left foot snap that kept the Swans within reach during the second term while replays showed the ball had bounced once before going over the boundary line.

SCG horror streak returns to haunt the Blues
Carlton led Sydney for much of the night at the SCG without quite doing enough to put the home side away. But when the Swans finally surged in the final term, the Blues had few answers in scenes that are all too familiar on their visits to the venue. The Blues have now lost 17 of their past 19 matches against the Swans at the venue for a three-decades long hoodoo that started in 1994. This narrow loss would become one of the most gut-wrenching in the streak where the average margin of each defeat is now 42 points in favour of the Swans.

Best: P. Cripps, A. Cerra, G. Hewett, H. McKay, C. Curnow, C. Lord.

Voss irate after yet another Blues fadeout, Swan in strife

Carlton had the momentum for large parts of the match but couldn't put Sydney away, before the Swans pulled away in the final quarter. - By Martin Pegan at the SCG

Carlton coach Michael Voss was left "pissed off" as his side were overrun after holding a lead at the main break for a fifth time this season in a 16-point defeat to Sydney. The Blues were in front at every change but had few answers as the Swans snatched the lead with two goals in the opening three minutes of the final term then pulled away to their fourth win of the season on Friday night. The loss extends the Blues' hoodoo at the SCG, with only two victories from their past 19 matches against the Swans at the venue for a dire record that stretches back to 1994. "I guess it's stating the obvious, isn't it, they finished off the game better than us," Voss said. "I think that's what makes you pretty pissed off, to be honest. We had the game where we wanted it and we couldn't finish off the game. The Blues had the early momentum with captain Patrick Cripps leading the way, but Swans midfielder Chad Warner helped his side stay in the game before Isaac Heeney took command of the second half.

Heeney finished with a career-high 38 disposals and equal career-high 18 contested possessions, while booting two goals including the sealer. "Heeney and Warner, we put a heap of effort into them in our planning, and we couldn't get it done in the second half and they got off the chain," Voss said. "We were pretty determined to come here and do well at this venue. To have the game largely going in our favour, there was some really good method in the way we played in the early parts of the game … but you have got to close the deal, and we weren't good enough to close it." Voss was also frustrated over a late and high bump by Swans forward Joel Amartey on Blues substitute Jordan Boyd with less than two minutes remaining in the contest. "He's not doing so well in there at the moment, so I'm sure that'll get looked at and get looked at very closely, and should be treated accordingly," the Blues coach said.

Team

B:	4 Oliver Hollands	23 Jacob Weitering	42 Adam Saad
HB:	26 Nick Haynes	11 Mitch McGovern	1 Jack Silvagni
C:	25 Jaxon Binns	9 Patrick Cripps (c)	20 Elijah Hollands
HF:	36 Cooper Lord	10 Harry McKay	18 Sam Walsh
F:	3 Jesse Motlop	30 Charlie Curnow	33 Lewis Young
Ruck:	27 Marc Pittonet	5 Adam Cerra	29 George Hewett
Interchange:	19 Corey Durdin	32 Matt Carroll	38 Will White
	44 Francis Evans
Substitute:	37 Jordan Boyd
Coach:	Michael Voss
Emergencies:	21 Lucas Camporeale	15 Sam Docherty	40 Hudson O'Keeffe

In: Marc Pittonet, Jordan Boyd, Matthew Carrol
Out: Lachlan Cowan (hamstring), Blake Acres (shoulder), Tom De Koning (throat)

Substitiute: Jordan Boyd (replaced Jack Silvagni in the third quarter).

Free Kicks

Carton 22
Sydney Swans 22

Front Runners

Jaxon Binns 16.1km
Elijah Hollands 15.7km
Sam Walsh 15.1km

Milestones

50 Games: Jesse Motlop
50 Games (Carlton): Lewis Young
300 Goals: Charlie Curnow
Rising Star Nominees: Cooper Lord

Interesting Facts:

1. Charlie Curnow became the 14th Carlton player to kick 300 career goals.

AFLCA Votes

10 - Isaac Heeney (SYD)
8 - Chad Warner (SYD)
5 - Brodie Grundy (SYD)
3 - Adam Cerra (CARL)
2 - Justin McInerney (SYD)
1 - Patrick Cripps (CARL)
1 - James Jordon (SYD)

Brownlow Votes

3 - Isaac Heeney (SYD)
2 - Chad Warner (SYD)
1 - Adam Cerra (CARL)