Swans clear out on top as Blues suffer another injury blow

SWANS 17.15 117 d BLUES 9.11 65

KEY POINTS

SWANS ARE THE REAL DEAL: Sydney were caught on the hop early on Friday night at the SCG as the Blues kicked the first four goals of the game and led the quarter-time break by nine points.

But from then on, it was all red and white. They ran out 52-point winners.

They led the half-time break by 14 points and then piled on seven goals in the third term to stretch the margin to 45 points. They move the ball with precision and pace through the middle of the ground. They are well-balanced, fast and efficient.

They are comfortable ladder leaders, having just dropped one game for the year – incredibly to the now battling Richmond. This is their best start to a season since 1945.

As good as they are, the Swans can get even stronger in 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.

HORROR RUN WITH INJURIES CONTINUES: Carlton have suffered a huge injury blow after subbing out key defender Jacob Weitering at half-time.

The defender copped a knock at the end of the first term, and had his right thigh heavily strapped by the trainers. The commentators called it a corky.

Weitering returned to the field for the second quarter but looked to have limited mobility.

At half-time, the Carlton medics made the call to pull him out of the game. The Blues have had a horrific run with injuries, losing Jack Martin (calf), Adam Cerra (hamstring) and Matthew Cotterell (navicular 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 kept him to 20 possessions, while Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay could manage only three goals between them for the game.

Carlton have lost four of their psix and they are clinging on to eighth spot, but they will almost certainly drop out once the round is completed.

WILL WARNER INCIDENT COP ANY HEAT? Chad Warner might find himself being looked at by the MRO tomorrow after a fend-off that went wrong.

The gun midfielder, who won the Goodes-O’Loughlin Medal for best on ground, had the ball in his hand and looked to push off Marc Pittonet with his forearm, but he caught the Carlton ruckman in the face with his elbow.

While it wasn’t forceful contact, he did connect with an opponent’s head, and that can be a worry. The umpire paid a free-kick against Warner for the action.

Warner had a massive night, kicking three goals, amassing 28 disposals and having 14 score involvements. He is part of a dynamic midfield, alongside Brownlow Medal favourite Isaac Heeney who also kicked three and had 24 possessions, and Errol Gulden who racked up 28 possessions.

They epitomise the Swans efficiency. The Swans barely headed the disposal count, 354 to 341, but headed the inside 50 count 60 to 49, and won by 52 points.

Carlton had the game’s biggest possession winner in Nic Newman with 32, and Patrick Cripps had 24 possessions, but they were comprehensively outplayed.

That’s a wrap. The Swans by 52 points over the Blues at the SCG. They are now two games clear at the top of the ladder.

Sydney has quashed an early last-quarter fight back from the Blues.

With six minutes remaining, they lead Carlton by 51 points.

Their last goal, and 17th for the game, was scored by Hayden McLean.

Chad Warner might find himself being looked at by the MRO tomorrow after a fend off went wrong.

The gun midfielder had the ball and looked to push off Marc Pittonet with his forearm, but he caught the Carlton ruckman in the face with his elbow.

While it wasn’t forceful contact, he did connect with an opponent’s head, and that can be a worry.

The Blues have kicked two goals in the last quarter, one from Zac Williams and the other through George Hewett. But the Swans have answered back.

Isaac Heeney kicked his third for the match, while James Rowbottom kicked the second.

The Swans are leading by 38 points.

The Swans have subbed out Robbie Fox after he injured his shoulder. The Swans are saying it is an AC joint and not a dislocated shoulder.

The unfortunate injury happened late in the third term.

Sydney activated sub Braeden Campbell.

3QT: It is a small consolation, but Matthew Kennedy has kicked a goal for the Blues just before three-quarter time.

The Swans absolutely dominated the third term, kicking 7.4 to the Blues 2.3

Not only were Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner able to control the midfield but they both pushed forward to kick two goals apiece for the term. Warner has three for the match.

The Blues are not in the same class, and this looming loss will see them slip from the eight.

Sydney, however, are showing why they deserve to be top of the table.

It is ending up an ugly night for Carlton at the SCG.

The Swans have stretched their lead to 52 points with two minutes remaining in the third term.

Sydney have piled on seven three-quarter goals – two to Isaac Heeney, two to Chad Warner and singles to Sam Wicks, Harry Cunningham and Hayden McLean. They are dynamic out of the centre square, leading that stat 7-0, and are dominating Carlton’s midfield.

The Blues threw Charlie Curnow behind the ball to try and stop the rot, and Harry McKay is looking for kicks up at the half-back line.

How can they kick a winning score with that set-up?

The Swans have extended their lead to 34 points in the third term.

Carlton kicked the opening goal of the term through Charlie Curnow, closing the lead to nine points and giving the Blues fans hope.

But the Swans answered back almost immediately with two goals to Isaac Heeney, one to Chad Warner and another to Sam Wicks.

It is raining goals, and the Swans are looking every bit the top side in the competition.