SWANS 17.15 117 d BLUES 9.11 65
KEY POINTS
THE SWANS ARE THE REALITY: Sydney were caught off guard on Friday night at the SCG as the Blues kicked the first four goals of the game and led at the quarter-time break by nine points.
But from then on everything was white and red. They won by 52 points.
The Sydney players are all smiles after producing a dominant display.Credit: Getty Images
They led at the halftime break by 14 points and then piled on seven goals in the third period to extend the margin to 45 points. They move the ball with precision and rhythm. They are well balanced, fast and efficient.
They are comfortable ladder leaders, having just lost one game on the year, incredibly for now struggling Richmond.
As good as they are, the Swans can get even stronger in the coming weeks with the expected return of Luke Parker, Callum Mills and Tom McCartin. They lost Robbie Fox on Friday night after he injured his AC joint.
To think the Swans filled a hole by bringing in ruckman Brody Grundy, who was unwanted at Collingwood and Melbourne.
THE HORROR RUN CONTINUES WITH INJURIES: Carlton have suffered a major injury blow after replacing key defender Jacob Weitering at half-time.
The defenseman took a hit late in the first period and had his right thigh heavily bandaged by trainers. Commentators called it a corker.
Carlton star Jacob Weitering suffered a late game.Credit: Getty Images
Weitering returned to the field for the second quarter but appeared to have limited mobility.
At half-time, Carlton's doctors made the call to withdraw him from the game. The Blues have had a horrific injury run, missing Jack Martin (shin), Adam Cerra (hamstring) and Matthew Cotterell (navigable bone) from last week's win against Melbourne.
His presence would have helped in the second half, but the Blues were outplayed. James Jordan tagged Sam Walsh and held him to 20 possessions, while Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay could manage just three goals between them for the game.
WARNER INCIDENT COP SOME HEAT? Chad Warner could find himself being looked at by the MRO tomorrow after a defense gone awry.
The armed midfielder, who won the Goodes-O'Loughlin Medal for best on ground, had the ball in hand and looked to nudge Marc Pittonet with his forearm but elbowed the Carlton ruckman in the face .
While it wasn't hard contact, it did connect with an opponent's head, and that can be a concern. The referee paid Pittonet a foul for Warner's action.
Chad Warner celebrates one of his three goals.Credit: Getty Images
Warner had a massive night, kicking three goals and racking up 28 disposals. He is part of a dynamic midfield, alongside Brownlow Medal favorite Isaac Heeney, who also kicked threes and had 24 possessions, and Errol Gulden, who racked up 28 possessions.
They personify the efficiency of Swans. The Swans barely topped the disposal count, 354 to 341, but topped the inside 50 count 60 to 49, winning by 52 points.
Carlton had the biggest possession winner of the game in Nic Newman with 32 but they were comprehensively outplayed.
