Australian Football

Match Report

A slick Sydney Swans outfit has made short work of Carlton at Docklands on Sunday, winning by an even 10 goals. Prior to the season starting, the Swans were predicted by quite a few pundits to slide further down the ladder after they lost both finals to slip out if the top four in 2015, but their efforts against Collingwood and the Blues in the first two weeks of 2016 suggest they will be right in the thick of the September action again this year.

The young Blues got off to a very good start, with Levi Casboult and Sam Kerridge goaling in the first eight minutes. But the Swans then clicked into gear and majors to Callum Sinclair, Kurt Tippett and Sinclair again had them leading by eight points as the quarter entered time on. The two teams added a further goal each in added time and it was Sydney in front, 4.4 to 3.2, at quarter time.

Sydney attacked heavily early in the second term and could have blown the game open, but four shots at goal yielded just 1.3, the goal going to Harry Cunningham, and it was the Swans by 17 points after 10 minutes. The tide then turned slightly but Carlton wasted its chances, a Matthew Kreuzer goal followed by misses to Blaine Boekhorst and debutant Charlie Curnow. That put the Blues within nine points but the last 12 minutes of the term belonged entirely to Sydney as five different players slammed on five consecutive goals to open up a 37-point gap at the long break.

Carlton had a chance to make inroads in the third quarter but inaccuracy cost it any chance of working its way back into the match, The Blues has plenty of opportunities but could mange just 2.5 for the term. In contrast, Sydney scored four goals from its four scoring shots, and its lead was out to 45 points at 'orange time'.

Any thoughts of a last-quarter comeback were very quickly extinguished by the Swans, goals to Lance Franklin, Josh Kennedy and Tippett putting Sydney 64 points clear. To the Blues' credit, they fought on strongly after that, outscoring Sydney four goals to three in the last 20 minutes, the final margin being 60 points. 

The Swans best included Tom Mitchell (34 disposals, nine marks) and Luke Parker (29 possessions, six marks) were among the Swans best, while for Carlton Kade Simpson (nine marks, 25 touches) and Dale Thomas (25 disposals, eight marks) were among the best. 

With a 2-0 record, Sydney's next assignment is a home match against their crosstown rivals GWS on Saturday afternoon. The Blues (0-2) will take on Gold Coast (another side with a 2-0 record) at Carrara later that night.

GOALS
Carlton: Kerridge, Casboult 2; Murphy, Gibbs, Kreuzer, Boekhorst, Curnow, Everitt
Sydney: Franklin, Tippett 4; Sinclair 3; Papley, Kennedy 2; Heeney, Cunningham, Parker, Robinson, Hewett

BEST - THE AGE
Carlton: Wright, Weitering, Thomas, Gibbs, Docherty, Kerridge
Sydney: Mitchell, Hannebery, Sinclair, Papley, Kennedy, Franklin

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Carlton: Simpson, Kerridge, Gibbs, Docherty, Cripps, Thomas
Sydney: Parker, Hannebery, Mitchell, Papley, Tippett, Sinclair, Franklin

INJURIES
Carlton: Boekhorst (corkie)
Sydney: Nil

UMPIRES: Findlay, Jeffery, Mollison

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Eddie McGuire, Sandy Roberts, Brad Johnson, Gerard Healy, David King