Sydney side continues to impress after downing the Carlton Blues.
Sydney posted one of their most impressive wins of the AFL season on Friday night, scraping to a 22-point win over Carlton at a waterlogged SCG.
The Swans booted the opening five goals of the game, including two to star recruit Kurt Tippett, and held on for a 8.17 (65) to 5.13 (43) victory in driving rain.
The Blues were far more competitive after halftime and eroded the hosts’ lead to just 13 points at three-quarter time.
Zach Tuohy snapped the first goal of the final term and the Blues had all the momentum, but could not land a killer punch when the game was on the line.
Carlton’s Andrew Walker, with time and space and only 15 metres from the goal square, opted to dribble the ball along the ground instead of kicking a standard drop punt.
Sydney defender Dane Rampe came from nowhere to rush a behind with a desperate dive, and the margin was eight points.
It was a perfect snapshot of the game – reflective of the Swans’ never-say-die attitude and Carlton’s inability to manufacture goals in the wet.
More importantly, it was as close as the visitors would get.
Brandon Jack, Dan Hannebery and Luke Parker all snapped behinds before Ben McGlynn kicked truly after earning a holding-the-ball free kick with a crucial tackle on Lachie Henderson.
The Blues had 13 more inside-50s in the second half, but Henderson, Bryce Gibbs (26 disposals, eight tackles) and Chris Judd (23 possessions, nine tackles) could not drag them over the line.
The Swans, minus nine of their premiership side after the last-minute withdrawal of Mitch Morton, did their best work in the first term.
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