The Sydney Swans know Carlton’s ladder position doesn’t paint a clear picture of the threat the Blues pose ahead of Marn Grook at the SCG on Friday night.
The same was said about Brisbane ahead of Sydney’s trip to the Gabba last Saturday and the Lions remained in the hunt across all four quarters.
The Blues sit last on the ladder and have one won game and lost nine ahead of the Sir Doug Nicholls Round opener.
The Swans sit fourth and have won seven games and lost three.
But at their best this year the Blues have given a number of premiership-contenders a genuine shake.
They lost to the West Coast Eagles by just 10 points at the MCG in Round 5, who now sit first and are eyeing 10 straight wins.
Carlton topped disposals, contested possessions and tackles and matched West Coast in clearances.
In a clash with another likely 2018 finals-campaigner, Carlton last week pushed to the tape the Geelong Cats at GMHBA Stadium.
The final margin read 28 points but a tenacious Blues outfit edged the deficit to just eight during the last term to make a fist of the contest.
The Blues eclipsed the hosts in contested possessions, inside 50s, tackles, hit-outs and centre clearances.
One of the most exciting young stars in the AFL led the way in the two valiant defeats.
Patrick Cripps, who could find the attention of Swans tagger George Hewett on Friday, gathered 34 touches against West Coast and 31 against Geelong.
The 23-year-old leads the competition in most contested possessions per game (19.5), edging out ball magnets Nat Fyfe and Tom Mitchell who round out the podium.
The Curnow brothers – Ed and Charlie – are another of Carlton’s most dangerous weapons.
Ed, 28, is averaging 27 possessions per game this season and along with Cripps is always at the coalface of the contest.
Charlie is an excitement machine.
At 194 centimetres the 21-year-old offers his side a tall front-half target and has exceptional athleticism, a great contested grab and can kick a bag of goals.
Jack Silvagni will join Charlie in Carlton’s forward 50 on return, who has been named to replace Harry McKay (omitted).
Sydney secured an 81-point win when the two sides last met and from the last 10 games the Swans have won eight and the Blues two.
