Sydney’s stuttering season needs a boost and quickly, but the Swans will need to find their best when Carlton comes to town. The live blog below will keep you up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and make sure to tune in to our live radio coverage to catch all the action.
The Swans are facing a tough challenge as they take on Carlton, a team that has had its fair share of ups and downs this season. With Sydney struggling to find their form, a win against the Blues is crucial if they want to keep their finals hopes alive. The pressure is on, and it’s time for the Swans to step up and show what they’re made of.
Corey Durdin stretches the Carlton lead
The Blues’ small forwards just would not be denied. The pressure kept on coming and as some Swans defenders slipped and fell, Durdin kept his feet and found the space. The weight of these inside 50s has to tell for the Blues at some stage. They’ve picked up right where they left off in the first term. Patrick Cripps has limped to the bench Cripps seemed to have rolled his ankle in a contest with Chad Warner and has immediately headed to the bench for some attention. His boot is off and some fresh tape is going on. Let’s hope it was nothing major, it certainly doesn’t look like it.
QT: Carlton 4.2 (26) leads Sydney 3.2 (20)
Carlton had 20 inside 50s in that quarter to Sydney’s nine. And yet the lead at the first change is only six points. The Blues have certainly had control but haven’t exactly put it on the scoreboard yet. A familiar issue for them this season. Will Hayward sneaks one back for the Swans Chad Warner was involved again, with his little chipped kick from the pocket finding Hayward in a bit of space in front of goal. The set shot was a wobbler, but it snuck inside the upright. Sydney needed that. Charlie Curnow has his 300th career goal! Goal number one came back in 2016 against the Swans. Goal number 300 has come in 2025 against the Swans. Carlton’s command of the contest continues, and the spearing kick onto Curnow’s chest was wonderful too. His set shot from 50 was a fitting way to bring up the milestone.
Make it two for Patrick Cripps
Carlton is absolutely dominating field position in this quarter and is now starting to find some reward for its persistence. Pittonet’s tap was perfect, Cripps’s left-footed snap beautiful. Lovely stoppage work from the Blues. Joel Hamling responds for the Swans Very direct stuff from the Swans from a kick-in, going long and straight up the middle and finding some numbers out the back of the defence. Hamling was the deepest forward and snapped his goal uncontested from 15 metres out. The Blues are owning the territory, but the Swans are hitting hard on the rebound.
Harry McKay slots his set shot this time
From an almost identical spot on the ground moments ago, McKay shanked a set shot off the side of his boot out on the full. That one left no scars though, because his second attempt was perfect. Blues back in front. Chad Warner gets the Swans up and running The Blues have made a bright start but with one of their first meaningful attacks of the game, the Swans scrap the ball forward and into the hands of Warner. Chad steadied on his right foot for the snap from 40 out, and needed some good blocking work from Hamling on the line to see it through. Swans on the board. Patrick Cripps kicks the first goal of the night The Carlton skipper gets the Blues on the board. It probably should have been Jesse Motlop, who dropped a chest mark on the lead, but Cripps was at his feet to grab an easy crumb and snap a simple goal.
We are underway at the SCG
Could be a bit of a slippery one out there today as there has been plenty of rain throughout the week in Sydney. Not raining at the moment though as this one gets underway. A special Welcome to Country ceremony These will all be different throughout the weekend, each unique to the area and the grounds these games are being played on. The SCG also held a moment’s silence in memory of Robert Walls. The players from both sides are wearing black armbands tonight for Walls as well. A milestone night for Dean Cox The Sydney coach tonight brings up his 300th combined game in the AFL as a player and coach. Cox played 290 games for the West Coast Eagles, and tonight will be his 10th game in charge of Sydney as head coach. If his coaching career ends up anything like his playing career – for all the talk of Max Gawn at the moment, Cox was a revolutionary ruck 20 years ago – then the Swans will end up very successful indeed.