Sydney Swans vs Carlton Blues: AFL live scores, blog

The Sydney Swans face a danger game of vital importance if they wish to keep their finals hopes alive, as they host the improving Carlton Blues. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 1:45pm (AEST).

This game could go either way you feel, but with the way the ladder is shaping up, the Swans can ill-afford to make another mistake after they found a way to fall at the hands of Essendon last weekend.

Poor finishing in front of goal and a lack of execution on plenty of the basic skills cost John Longmire’s side big time late in the game, as they wound up to fall by ten points.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Swans, and while the last of those was against the lowly Gold Coast, they had beaten Hawthorn and the West Coast Eagles in preceding weeks, showing exactly where they can be at their absolute best.

The loss last weekend to Essendon leaves the Swans sitting down in 14th spot, but not without hope, given they are only two wins out of the eight. In saying that, this is a crucial game, and they will need to be better in front of goal as they aim to get some confidence back ahead of a difficult couple of weeks against some of the big-hitters in the competition.

It’s been another tumultuous season at Punt Road, but the Blues are starting to respond in the last month since David Teague took over as care-taker coach.

They have won two of their last four, and while not playing at their absolute best, the results have given Blues supporters more to smile about than they have had in years.

The club are still very much in danger of picking up the spoon though, level on points with the struggling Gold Coast at the foot of the ladder.

They will be out to put on a show in Sydney, with Patrick Cripps needing to lead the way as he roves around the ground. The other key for the Blues will be to shut down Lance Franklin up front, who could have a field day.

Sydney, on the other hand, must find a way to get the basics right. Do that, and they are a better footy side.

Prediction
The Swans are at home and should be up for this following confirmation John Longmire will stay on as coach. It’s hardly going to be a blowout, but it’d be a horrific loss for the Swans if they were to fall.

Swans by 31.

Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this Round 17 AFL match from 1:45pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.

Game information

First bounce: 1:45pm (AEST)
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
TV: Live, Fox Footy, Channel 7 (Sydney only)
Online: Live, Foxtel App, Foxtel Now, Kayo Sports, Plus7 (Sydney only)
Betting: Swans $1.45, Blues $3.05
Overall record: Played 60, Swans 36, Blues 24 (Since Swans moved to Sydney in 1982)
Last meeting: Round 3, 2019 – Blues 10.14 (74) defeated by Swans 14.9 (93) at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Last five: Swans 4, Blues 1
Record at venue: Played 28, Swans 18, Blues 10
Umpires: Mathew Nicholls, Brendan Hosking, John Howorth

Sydney Swans
B 38. Colin O’Riordan, 24. Dane Rampe, 43. Lewis Melican
HB 44. Jake Lloyd, 30. Tom McCartin, 14. Callum Mills
C 15. Kieren Jack, 12. Josh P. Kennedy, 5. Isaac Heeney
HF 9. Will Hayward, 20. Sam Reid, 34. Jordan Dawson
F 11. Tom Papley, 22. Nick Blakey, 26. Luke Parker
FOL 36. Aliir Aliir, 8. James Rowbottom, 10. Zak Jones
I/C 29. George Hewett, 7. Harry Cunningham, 13. Oliver Florent, 25. Ben Ronke
EMG 1. James Rose, 42. Robbie Fox, 33. Ryley Stoddart, 46. Joel Amartey

Carlton Blues
B 39. Dale Thomas, 14. Liam Jones, 6. Kade Simpson
HB 20. Lachie Plowman, 41. Levi Casboult, 45. Hugh Goddard
C 4. Lochie O’Brien, 5. Sam Petrevski-Seton, 43. Will Setterfield
HF 25. Zac Fisher, 10. Harry McKay, 1. Jack Silvagni
F 40. Michael Gibbons, 7. Matthew Kennedy, 16. Darcy Lang
FOL 8. Matthew Kreuzer, 9. Patrick Cripps, 18. Sam Walsh
I/C 35. Ed Curnow, 3. Marc Murphy, 24. Nic Newman, 2. Paddy Dow
EMG 44. Matthew Owies, 27. Matthew Lobbe, 32. Alex Fasolo, 47. Josh Deluca