Sydney v Carlton: Swans surge past Blues to solidify top-eight spot
David Teague says a Covid-enforced week away from Melbourne can work in Carlton’s favour after blowing another opportunity to move up the ladder against Sydney.
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Carlton coach David Teague says a Covid-enforced week away from Melbourne will provide a necessary bonding experience for the Blues after a poor final quarter fadeout against Sydney.
The Blues are almost certain to stay in Sydney and play West Coast at the SCG on Sunday rather than their scheduled MCG clash, and Teague said that could prove handy after they let another big opportunity slip against Sydney to sit in 13th place at 4-7 after 11 rounds.
“It’s a great chance for our boys to stick together. We need to bond. We’ll pick our lip up quick, we’re not going to sulk. We’re going to get back onto learning and we’ll be ready to go next week. We expect to come out here and beat West Coast,” Teague said.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty around it but hopefully everyone stays safe, does the right thing and we get it under control. We have the bye the week after that, so we should be able to get back to Melbourne after the West Coast game.”
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Sydney solidified its place inside the top-eight with a 22-point win.
With the game delicately poised at three-quarter time, the Swans surged ahead with a 4.4 to 1.3 final-term as they outworked the visitors late in the contest.
Isaac Heeney put on a matchwinning performance accumulating 21 disposals and booting three goals while Harry Cunningham (27 disposals, 10 marks) was superb in defence.
Patrick Cripps (27 disposals, three goals) had his best-performance of the season and was well-supported by Sam Walsh (33 disposals) – but it wasn’t enough for the Blues.
Teague said handing the medical sub role to two time best-and-fairest winner Marc Murphy was a tough message to deliver after the 33-year-old was dropped following the win over Hawthorn last week.
The 294-game veteran entered the clash in the third quarter after Michael Gibbons succumbed to a hamstring problem, and had five possessions.
“The call wasn’t so tough because we did what we think was right and we felt comfortable with that. Delivering the message was harder to someone who hasn’t experienced it,” Teague said.
“Was he disappointed? Absolutely, but the way he handled himself, there was real clarity around the messages. He knows what we’re looking for and he came on and gave us a little bit in the second half.”
Teague admitted he struggled to find a match-up for the Heeney but praised Liam Jones for his efforts on Buddy Franklin, who finished with three goals to move to 966 in his caree, four away from Jack Titus on the all-time list.
The eight time All-Australian may be looked at by the MRO for a head high bump on Nic Newman in the second quarter.
After the Swans shot ahead through a first-minute Will Hayward goal, Carlton responded with four majors, capped off by a spectacular Eddie Betts goal to give the Blues an 18-point lead.
Sydney would then hit-back with four goals of their own to swing the lead back into their advantage with Lance Franklin’s late goal giving the Swans a slender lead at the first-break.
The pendulum would again swing in the way of the visitors who began to gain ascendancy in the contested ball (83-60 at halftime) while making it count early in the second-term with three of the opening four goals.
However, the quarter would in almost mirroring circumstances to the first as Heeney and Franklin booted late goals, cutting the Blues’ margin to a point at halftime.
In another seesawing tight third-quarter, neither side could maintain firm control as both teams traded two-goal swings before Heeney booted his third just before three-quarter time to give Sydney a three-point lead.
Carlton’s effort would wane in the final-quarter as Sydney put the foot down with a barnstorming final-term as Tom Papley booted two of his three goals to seal the result.
Papley time ⌚ #AFLSwansBluespic.twitter.com/5vCdIyka24
— AFL (@AFL) May 30, 2021
SYDNEY LATE QUARTER SURGES
When the clock reached red time, the Swans found yet another gear.
In a game full of momentum swings, Carlton was finding their scores early in the first three quarters but would find themselves falling behind late as Sydney piled on the pressure during the final five minutes of each quarter.
Sydney kicked an accumulative total of 8.4 to 0.3 during red-time which ultimately played a telling role in the Swans running away with all four-points.
BUDDY VS MCKAY
It was the battle of the key forwards and it lived right up to the billing.
At one end, the ever-emerging Coleman Medal leader Harry McKay was matched shot-for-shot by someone who has done it all before in Lance Franklin as they traded blows at either end in a compelling subplot throughout the game.
Both players booted three on the afternoon, but McKay could’ve extended his lead on top of the Coleman had it not been for inaccuracy – kicking 3.5.
BETTS DELIVERS EARLY
Eddie Betts has done it again.
In an entertaining first-term, the crafty veteran did what he has done for his entire career pulling out yet another Sir Doug Nicholls Round special with a trademark miraculous goal.
After a deep ball inside 50, Betts gathered with one hand, took a few steps towards the boundary before snapping the ball back across his body from an almost impossible angle – giving the Blues an early lead.
SWANS 5.3, 8.4, 11.6, 15.10 (100)
BLUES 4.3, 8.5, 10.9, 11.12 (78)
D’URBANO’S BEST
SWANS: Heeney, Cunningham, Lloyd, Mills, Franklin, Kennedy
BLUES: Cripps, Walsh, McKay, Curnow, Docherty, Silvagni
GOALS
SWANS: Franklin 3, Heeney 3, Papley 3, Hayward 2, Kennedy 2, Parker, Wicks
BLUES: McKay 3, Cripps 3, Betts 2, Williams, Silvagni, De Koning
INJURIES
SWANS: nil
BLUES: Gibbons (hamstring)
VENUE: SCG
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
3: Isaac Heeney (SYD)
2: Patrick Cripps (CARL)
1: Harry Cunningham (SYD)
Originally published as Sydney v Carlton: Swans surge past Blues to solidify top-eight spot
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