On one of Sydney’s wettest and most miserable nights, the Swans produced an inspired effort to defeat Carlton by 22 points in an important victory.
After Mitch Morton was a late withdrawal from the side, the home side headed into the match with nine premiership players missing and had five 2013 debutants on show.
One of the new players was Xavier Richards who was only called up to the senior team at the last minute after Morton injured his quad in the pre-game warm-up.
While the Blues had the better start, the Swans’ young side stepped up to the challenge and raced out to a 34 point lead just before half-time, before the Blues stormed home.
The Swans responded again with late goals to Ben McGlynn and Tom Mitchell sealing the result.
Given the appalling conditions, Kurt Tippett put his hand up for a goal of the year nomination after gathering a wet, loose ball and snapping truly on the turn from 45 metres out.
Sydney Swans 4.6 5.9 6.11 8.17 (65)
Carlton 0.3 1.5 4.10 5.13 (43)
GOALS: Tippett 2, McGlynn 2, Bolton, Pyke, Parker, Mitchell
CLUB CHAMPION VOTES: Craig Bird 40, Ryan O’Keefe 37, Ted Richards 32
CROWD: 25,349 at the SCG
LADDER POSITION: Fourth
Round 15 v Melbourne
The Sydney Swans travelled south to take on a struggling Melbourne outfit at the MCG in round 15.
After a strong opening quarter where the Swans kicked four of the first five goals, the game ended with the visitors recording a 31-point win and four goals beside Jack’s name.
But it wasn’t four goals to co-captain Kieren, it was younger brother Brandon who produced his best game to date and in the process surpassed his brother’s tally of three goals in a game.
Inaccurate kicking by the Swans – including 4.10 in the second quarter – saw the game in dispute until midway through the last quarter, as the Demons, under new coach Neil Craig, upped their intensity and tackling pressure from recent weeks.
Jarrad McVeigh continued his stellar season collecting 33 touches, the same number as Josh Kennedy in his 100th AFL game, while Kieren Jack wasn’t far behind collecting 31 for the afternoon.
The only sour note for the match was the recurrence of Sam Reid’s quad injury just minutes into his return. He would ultimately play no further part in the 2013 campaign.
Sydney Swans 5.3 9.13 13.18 16.20 (116)
Melbourne 3.1 5.2 8.5 13.7 (85)
GOALS: B. Jack 4, Tippett 2, Bird 2, Everitt, Pyke, Parker, Mitchell, K. Jack, O'Keefe, McVeigh, Lamb
CLUB CHAMPION VOTES: Jarrad McVeigh 41, Kieren Jack 41, Josh Kennedy 41
CROWD: 26,216 at the MCG
LADDER POSITION: Fourth
