Sydney v Carlton
SCG
Friday night
Weather: Fresh
This will be the 233rd clash between these two teams. An opponent the Swans have faced the most since 1897.
Our fist clash ended in a Swans win in round 2 1897 (that included 2 scoreless quarters), some thing’s never change.
Moving through the history books we haven’t beaten the Blues at the MCG since 1909. Fortunately we are at the SCG where we hold an 18-10 record.
Our biggest comeback win after a half time deficit (we trailed by 45 points) was against Carlton back in 1990.
Our biggest upset win was round 8 1995 when we belted the Blues by 72 points. They would go on to win the premiership.
Moving into the 21st century and the Blues have stocked up their kitchen utensils.
Now to the present.
Blues
Forwards are led by two Coleman medalists. Curnow kicked 9 against an undersized Eagles line up, while Harry McKay looks better in Norths defence than as a Carlton forward.
Midfield is led by the very tall Patrick Cripps (Brownlow to boot), Sam Walsh, and a stack of players traded in.
Backs is probably their weakness, with some decent players but no stars. Adam Saad gives them run and dash but if you tag him they don’t have a lot else. Zak Williams ACL has hurt them this year.
Swans
You can see the correlation of our ever increasing injury list with our descent of the AFL ladder.
Forwards, Papley is leading the goal kicking charge but other than the Richmond game he’s been fairly quiet. McDonald is second but out for months. Hayward is third and could be leading the goal kicking if he could convert his a set shot. Heeney and Franklin wrap up the top 5 and they have been missing in action this year.
Midfield has been spared injuries other than our key rucks take turns in missing games. Gulden has had a good month and Parker never stops trying. Warner and Rowbottom not that influential this year.
Defence is missing too many to count.
Form guide.
Thanks to North tanking and failing to add up we pinched an unlikely win. This counters losses to Port and the Giants where we blew decent leads in the last.
The North game sums up our season. We kicked 2.5 before North registered a score. Last year that would have been 5.2. We don’t make the most of our opportunities.
Expectations on the Blues are high this year. After being in the top 8 until the last minute of the home and away season last year. They have beaten teams you would expect them to but looked flat against the Lions and Bulldogs. As o write this they look off the pace against the Pies.
Both teams have played Collingwood recently. The Swans led at halftime on the back of fast ball movement. It couldn’t be sustained and were overrun. Carlton get enough off the ball that they should be more than competitive. However, they are slow at moving the ball.
Changes
Outs : Ladhams ankle didn’t look crash hot. Sheldrick as the sub.
Ins: Hickey / T McCartin if either are fit.
Not a lot of options in the reserves.
Prediction
There will be a game where it all clicks together as the Swans play with the fluidity that helped them make last years final. This may be the week.
Swans by 6.
SCG
Friday night
Weather: Fresh
This will be the 233rd clash between these two teams. An opponent the Swans have faced the most since 1897.
Our fist clash ended in a Swans win in round 2 1897 (that included 2 scoreless quarters), some thing’s never change.
Moving through the history books we haven’t beaten the Blues at the MCG since 1909. Fortunately we are at the SCG where we hold an 18-10 record.
Our biggest comeback win after a half time deficit (we trailed by 45 points) was against Carlton back in 1990.
Our biggest upset win was round 8 1995 when we belted the Blues by 72 points. They would go on to win the premiership.
Moving into the 21st century and the Blues have stocked up their kitchen utensils.
Now to the present.
Blues
Forwards are led by two Coleman medalists. Curnow kicked 9 against an undersized Eagles line up, while Harry McKay looks better in Norths defence than as a Carlton forward.
Midfield is led by the very tall Patrick Cripps (Brownlow to boot), Sam Walsh, and a stack of players traded in.
Backs is probably their weakness, with some decent players but no stars. Adam Saad gives them run and dash but if you tag him they don’t have a lot else. Zak Williams ACL has hurt them this year.
Swans
You can see the correlation of our ever increasing injury list with our descent of the AFL ladder.
Forwards, Papley is leading the goal kicking charge but other than the Richmond game he’s been fairly quiet. McDonald is second but out for months. Hayward is third and could be leading the goal kicking if he could convert his a set shot. Heeney and Franklin wrap up the top 5 and they have been missing in action this year.
Midfield has been spared injuries other than our key rucks take turns in missing games. Gulden has had a good month and Parker never stops trying. Warner and Rowbottom not that influential this year.
Defence is missing too many to count.
Form guide.
Thanks to North tanking and failing to add up we pinched an unlikely win. This counters losses to Port and the Giants where we blew decent leads in the last.
The North game sums up our season. We kicked 2.5 before North registered a score. Last year that would have been 5.2. We don’t make the most of our opportunities.
Expectations on the Blues are high this year. After being in the top 8 until the last minute of the home and away season last year. They have beaten teams you would expect them to but looked flat against the Lions and Bulldogs. As o write this they look off the pace against the Pies.
Both teams have played Collingwood recently. The Swans led at halftime on the back of fast ball movement. It couldn’t be sustained and were overrun. Carlton get enough off the ball that they should be more than competitive. However, they are slow at moving the ball.
Changes
Outs : Ladhams ankle didn’t look crash hot. Sheldrick as the sub.
Ins: Hickey / T McCartin if either are fit.
Not a lot of options in the reserves.
Prediction
There will be a game where it all clicks together as the Swans play with the fluidity that helped them make last years final. This may be the week.
Swans by 6.
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