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CARLTON'S wait for a win in Sydney will extend to a 17th year after the Blues fell to the Swans by 17 points at the SCG on Saturday afternoon.
After last week’s loss to the Bombers, the Blues were unable to bounce back, losing 12.12 (84) to 9.13 (67) in front of 30,834 fans.
After getting off to a flier in the first term, a goalless second quarter from a listless Carlton saw the Swans take a 14-point lead to the main break.
The Swans had a three-goal lead heading into the final term, and the home side held on for the four points despite an impressive effort from Eddie Betts up forward.
For a disappointing Carlton, Jarrad Waite was impressive, notching more than 30 possessions in defence, while Chris Judd, Nick Stevens, Marc Murphy and Betts battled all day.
The much-hyped showdown between spearheads Brendan Fevola and Barry Hall didn’t eventuate, with the big Swan a late withdrawal due to injury.
And an out-of-sorts Fevola, battling under an ankle injury cloud, saw a disappointing return of 1.4 after his 4.7 last weekend against Essendon.
The first term was all Carlton but inaccuracy in front of goal proved costly. Skipper Judd was influential early on the small ground, linking up intelligently with the forwards as the Blues dominated possession across the ground.
The Blues’ quick ball use left the Swans chasing the footy. And Carlton had plenty of runners across the ground with Jarrad Waite dominating (12 disposals for the quarter) and Bryce Gibbs and Murphy also in command.
If the Blues had been more accurate in front of goals it would have been more than a five-point quarter-time lead, with goals to Judd, Fevola and a clever piece of skill from Ryan Houlihan, whose snap from the tightest of angles tumbled through the big posts.
In the second term, the game swung the Swans' way. Carlton went goalless in the quarter as relentless pressure told.
Nick Malceski tagged danger man Waite and the move restricted the Blues' prime mover, while Judd was also less effective with Jarrad McVeigh paying closer attention to him.
The Blues were left to rue their lack of scoreboard pressure as the Swans booted the only four goals of the second quarter to hit the front by 14 points at the main break.
The Swans’ traditional tough footy returned in a completely dominant performance that saw the game’s momentum shift back to the home side.
The Swans could have cracked open the game in the third quarter had they converted their first four efforts on goal. They didn’t and Carlton was still in the match despite struggling to find targets inside 50m.
Murphy’s much-needed goal midway through the term - the first for Carlton in a quarter and a half - lifted the Blues, and majors to Betts and Cloke kept them in the contest with a three-goal deficit going into the final term.
The Blues needed a spark but Fevola was clearly struggling with the attentions of Craig Bolton and the lingering ankle problem. Betts’ clever crumbing from a spoil inside 50m saw the mobile forward boot home and the Blues had a sniff with just minutes left.
But in the end the Swans were able to snuff out any last resistance from the Blues despite Betts, who was superb in the final term kicking a couple of goals and providing a much needed spark to a side well down on confidence.
Carlton must now regroup ahead of its trip to Docklands next weekend against the Western Bulldogs.
Sydney Swans 3.0 7.2 10.7 12.12 (84)
Carlton 3.5 3.12 6.12 9.13 (67)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: McVeigh 3, Jolly, Mattner, Barlow, Moore, Thornton, White, Bird, J. Bolton, Ablett
Carlton: Betts 3, Fevola, Houlihan, Judd, Murphy, Cloke, Simpson
BEST
Sydney Swans: McVeigh, Shaw, Grundy, Roberts-Thomson, J. Bolton, C. Bolton
Carlton: Waite, Betts, Thornton, Murphy, Judd, Stevens.
Injuries: TBC
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: McBurney, Margetts, Stevic
Official crowd: 30,834 at the SCG
