Game Review

Swans survive a scare from Blues
Sydney has overcome another sluggish performance at home to win a fourth straight game, with the Swans too good for a wasteful Carlton by 30 points at the SCG on Friday night. The Blues outpointed John Longmire's men around the footy and led at half-time, but blew plenty of opportunities in the third term, while giving up five unanswered goals. The visitors worked hard to win more clearances than the gun Sydney midfield and also shaded them in the contested possession count, but the home side's big names stood up in the 13.13 (91) to 9.7 (61) victory. Swans coach John Longmire was pleased with the way his side responded when the Blues challenged them in the third term. "The first part of that quarter we were getting beaten around the ball, then we turned that around in the last 10 minutes," he said. "The players noticed it at three-quarter time and spoke about it, that last 10 was important for us with our intensity." Ruckman Callum Sinclair had an intriguing battle with Matthew Kruezer but probably just got the better of his opposite number, while midfielders Luke Parker, Isaac Heeney and George Hewett were also good, with Heeney winning the Goodes O’Loughlin Trophy for best on ground.

Hewett had the job on Blues star Patrick Cripps for most of the night and was able to limit his influence, with the West Australian seemingly hampered by the corked right thigh he carried into the match. Lance Franklin had his hands full with Sam Rowe, plus a host of other Carlton defenders dropping in front of him for most of the game, but he finished with three goals. Veteran Kade Simpson and Sam Kerridge won plenty of the ball for the Blues, with Charlie Curnow and Jack Silvagni, who both looked dangerous at times, the best of the forwards with two goals apiece. After being thumped by 81 points the last time they visited the SCG in round 23 last year, Carlton started well thanks to goals from Patrick Kerr and Curnow, and while the Swans steadied and at times threatened to break the game open, they trailed by a single point at the main break. Goals to Sinclair and Franklin wrestled back the lead for Sydney early in the third quarter, and that’s when the Blues' wayward goalkicking let them down. Matthew Wright, Cripps, Kerridge and Kerr all missed gettable shots inside 50 to wreck any chance of an upset, and they were left to lament their misses when Parker, Will Hayward and Sinclair booted three in a row to take the margin out to 27 points. Carlton coach Brendon Bolton was in a positive mood after the match despite the loss. "I think we're on the right track, I've said that all along," he said. "We were right in the game, particularly even into the third quarter. "Some set shots really hurt us when the game was right on and at that point of the game we had enough inside 50s. "There's a little bit to learn from that but we were in the fight for most of the game." The teams kicked three goals apiece in an uninspiring last term and the Blues will limp into the bye with just one win for the season so far. - Adam Curley.

Team

AFLCA Votes

10 - Callum Sinclair (SYD)
8 - Isaac Heeney (SYD)
4 - George Hewett (SYD)
3 - Luke Parker (SYD)
2 - Jake Lloyd (SYD)
2 - Kade Simpson (CARL)
1 - Liam Jones (CARL)

Brownlow Votes

3 - C. Sinclair (SYD)
2 - I. Heeney (SYD)
1 - L. Parker (SYD)

Best & Fairest Votes

Kade Simpson 7, Liam Jones 6, Jack Silvagni 6, Charlie Curnow 5, Sam Kerridge 5, Sam Rowe 5, Ed Curnow 4, Zac Fisher 3, Jacob Weitering 2, Patrick Cripps 1, Paddy Dow 1, Patrick Kerr 1, Sam Petrevski-Seton 1.