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 at the quarter-time break by nine points.
But from then on, it was all red and white. They ran out 52-point winners.
Sydney players are all smiles after producing a dominant display.Credit: Getty Images
They led at 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 Brodie 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.
Carlton star Jacob Weitering suffered a game-ending corky.Credit: Getty Images
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 past six 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.
Chad Warner celebrates one of his three goals.Credit: Getty Images
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.
