The Sydney Swans and Carlton went in to their ANZ Stadium semi final in contrasting circumstances.
The Swans were still reeling after a disappointing loss to the Hawks, while the Blues, who finished the season in ninth spot before Essendon’s elimination from the finals, were full of confidence and emotion after defeating Richmond the week before.
With the winner to play Fremantle in the preliminary final at Patersons Stadium and the loser eliminated, everything was on the line for both teams.
Key forward Kurt Tippett went down with a knee injury five minutes into the game and was subbed out and was then quickly joined by Tom Mitchell on the sidelines with torn ligaments in his ankle just minutes later.
The Swans faced an uphill battle from that point, but as they had done all year, the team responded when they needed to, largely off the back of Jarrad McVeigh, who had 20 disposals in the second quarter and finished with 42 and two goals for the match.
With a four-goal lead at half-time, the Swans kept Carlton scoreless in the third quarter en route to an impressive 24-point victory in Jude Bolton’s last match in Sydney. Kieren Jack (30 possessions and 2 goals), Luke Parker (three goals) and Heath Grundy were all influential in the final result.
Sydney Swans 3.3 8.6 13.8 13.8 (86)
Carlton 2.3 4.8 4.8 8.14 (62)
GOALS: Parker 3, McVeigh, Jack, Cunningham 2, O'Keefe, Kennedy, Jetta, Bolton
CLUB CHAMPION VOTES: Jarrad McVeigh 50, Kieren Jack 44, Heath Grundy 44
CROWD: 37,980 at ANZ Stadium
