Australian Football

Match Report

When these two sides met earlier this year, Carlton came from behind at half time to cause an upset win by 19 points over the highly fancied Swans. The result left the Blues only a game outside the eight and Sydney anchored to the bottom of the ladder with a 0-6 record. Anyone suggesting that their round 23 rematch at the SCG would see the Swans playing for a potential top-four spit would have been written off as talking nonsense.

As nonsensical as it may have sounded, it was indeed true. After that day in May, the Swans would lose only twice more before these sides met again (to Hawthorn both times) and a win over Carlton this time would propel them into the top four at least temporarily. This time around the Blues did well for a half, accuracy in front of goal helping them to be just just two goals adrift at the long break, but with 'Buddy' Franklin setting the Swans alight with a virtuoso 10-goal performance, Sydney careered away in the second half to win by 81 points.

Sydney started strongly and had two goals on the board in the first five minutes, one each to Kurt Tippett and Franklin, and the Swans extended their lead to 20 points when Sam Reid kicked their third at the 17-minute mark. To that point, the ball had barely been in Carlton's forward line but the Blues finally began to settle from there, and a late major to Blaine Boekhorst had them within 16 points at quarter time. 

Two beautiful set shot goals to Franklin from the forward pocket had the Swans out to a 29-point lead seven minutes into the second quarter and the home side looked to be winding up to record a big win. But a snap out of the ruck from Carlton's Matthew Kreuzer precipitated a sudden momentum shift, and the Blues added further goals through Charlie Curnow, Boekhorst and Levi Casboult to be back within five points. Carlton looked like heading into the long break full of confidence but a very late goal to Swan Will Hayward might have sapped that slightly, the margin 12 points at half time.

Neither side could find a goal in the first five minutes of the third term before Hayward broke the stalemate, kicking his second, and soon after Franklin kicked his fourth in comical fashion, accidentally back-heeling the ball through the goals after dropping a mark. Boekhorst's third goal cut the margin back to 19, and the Blues were still within 18 points early in time on after each side had added another goal. But that man 'Buddy' broke the game open with his fifth and sixth goals, and Sydney added another two goals to one to see out the quarter and take a 36-point lead into the final turn.

Once Josh Kennedy had scored the first goal of the final quarter inside the first minute, the result was academic. All that remained to be seen was what the final margin would be, given the Swans' quest for a top-four place, and how many goals 'Buddy' would finish with. Franklin lit up the SCG with four majors for the term to become the first player since the Eagles' Josh Kennedy in 2015, and Sydney finished 81 points clear. Ultimately the Swans were overtaken by Port Adelaide and Richmond to finish sixth.

Franklin's 10 goals and 10 marks made him the clear best-on-ground, while Luke Parker (28 possessions, eight tackles) and Kennedy (30 touches, six tackles) also played a big part in the Swans' win. The Blues were well served by Marc Murphy (32 disposals, 10 marks), Jacob Weitering (14 marks, 24 touches) and Kade Simpson (29 touches, nine marks). 

For the Blues, 2017 will be seen as one of progression by most, despite the fact that they won only six games, one fewer than last year. For Sydney, the season goes on as finals begin. The Swans are the form team of the competition, but their slow start to the season means that every match from here on is a cut-throat affair for them.

GOALS
Sydney: Franklin 10; Rohan, Hayward 3; Tippett, Reid, Kennedy, Newman, Heeney
Carlton: Boekhorst 3; Curnow 2; Pickett, Kreuzer, Casboult

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Sydney: Franklin, Kennedy, Grundy, Parker, Jones, Newman
Carlton: Murphy, Weitering, Gibbs, Simpson, Kreuzer

BEST - THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
Sydney: Franklin, Parker, Kennedy, Rohan, Rampe, Grundy
Carlton: Weitering, Kruezer, Simpson, Boakhorst, Gibbs

INJURIES
Sydney: Tippett (ankle), Sinclair (ankle)
Carlton: Byrne (knee)

UMPIRES: Chamberlain, Gavine, Mitchell

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Dwayne Russell, Jason Dunstall, Paul Roos, Cameron Mooney