The Sydney Swans have relied on a consummate performance by midfield star Josh Kennedy to score an unconvincing six-point win over a feisty Carlton at a wind-swept SCG on Saturday.
Kennedy was a pillar of strength, gathering 35 touches – 23 contested – as well 12 clearances, six tackles and a goal to guide the Swans to a 10.14 (74) to 10.8 (68) victory.
Lance Franklin scored four goals for the Swans in another strong showing around half-forward, while Xavier Richards was a serviceable foil with two goals in his first game of the season.
The Swans were missing the vast experience of co-captain Jarrad McVeigh (groin), Zak Jones (ankle), Ben McGlynn (omitted) and Ted Richards (omitted), replaced by youngsters Isaac Heeney, Harry Cunningham, Xavier Richards and debutant Jordan Foote – and the lack of know-how became telling as the Blues, boosted by the return of Levi Casboult and Blaine Boekhorst, rose to an eight-point half-time lead, 7.3.45 to 5.7.37.
The Swans returned fire in the third term, significantly raising their intensity to get ahead by as many as 20 points, before two late Blues goals reduced the gap to seven at the final change.
Carlton refused to go away, maintaining superior pressure and run to challenge the Swans right until the end. A Carlton behind inside the final minute of the game left the difference at a just a goal, but the besieged Swans held on to sneak home for a win that keeps their top four aspirations on track.
Blues midfielders Patrick Cripps (32 possessions), Bryce Gibbs (31) and Kade Simpson (34) were sensational in the engine room, while Ed Curnow led the Blues' scoring with two goals, along with 28 touches and six tackles.
Carlton would feel disappointed with the result after showing up the favourites for vast swathes of the game.
The Blues held a narrow three-point lead at the first break after their defensive pressure across the ground and a busy effort by particularly Gibbs allowed the Blues to counter the Swans’ territorial advantage, which spawned a brace of first term goals to Richards.
Kieren Jack quelled the influence of Gibbs somewhat in the second, but Carlton's pressure was unrelenting. Dylan Buckley's smart snap put the Blues up by 10 points for the second time, before the sides scored a goal each to see out the half.
With an 11-tackle differential, goalkicking accuracy of 70 per cent compared to the Swans' 42 per cent, and Gibbs, Ed Curnow and young gun Cripps leading a consistent charge, the Blues had reason to feel confident heading into the second half.
However, the Swans had other ideas, lifting their intensity in the third quarter, particularly without the ball. They evened the scores at 45 apiece within five minutes through Jack and took the lead 90 seconds later with Franklin's third goal.
As Charlie Curnow left the game with a knee injury, the Swans extended their lead with goals to Parker and another to Franklin, the latter after some tough lead-up work by Gary Rohan, which left Sam Kerridge with a stung left shoulder and the home side ahead by a game-high 20 points.
The Blues rallied late in the term, however, with Jack Silvagni and Casboult reducing the deficit to seven points at the last break.
The Blues had more run in the final quarter but the Swans held on for their first narrow win of the season.
MEDICAL ROOM
Sydney Swans: Ruckman Callum Sinclair had strapping applied to his right knee at quarter-time. He returned 10 minutes in and ripped the strapping off. Midway through the term Sinclair had the strapping re-applied and he soon came back into the game. Kieren Jack had his neck checked by the doctor early in the second term after a clash, but was OK to continue. Aliir Aliir left the ground midway through the fourth quarter after receiving an accidental knee to the head from teammate Heath Grundy.
Carlton: Charlie Curnow twisted his right knee midway through the third term and went into the rooms for treatment and played no further part. Soon after Curnow departed, Sam Kerridge received a stinger on his left shoulder after a clash with Gary Rohan. Kerridge returned late in the quarter.
NEXT UP
The Blues travel to Tasmania to meet premiers Hawthorn next Saturday, after which they take on bottom half sides to see out their season. The Swans have eight days to prepare for their clash with Fremantle at Domain Stadium.
SYDNEY SWANS 4.4 5.7 9.11 10.14 (74)
CARLTON 5.1 7.3 9.4 10.8 (68)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Franklin 4, Parker 2, Richards 2, Kennedy, Jack
Carlton: E.Curnow 2, C.Curnow, Sumner, Armfield, Kreuzer, Buckley, Boekhorst, Silvagni, Casboult
BEST
Sydney Swans: Kennedy, Franklin, Parker, Lloyd, Mills, Rampe
Carlton: Cripps, Gibbs, E.Curnow, Simpson, Docherty, Graham
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Nil
Carlton: C.Curnow (knee)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Dalgleish, Deboy
