The Swans trailed by 24 points during the second quarter and despite kicking inaccurately in the second half, ran out victors 12.19.91 to 12.9.81.
Carlton have not won at the SCG since 1993 and after losing 300 gamer Stephen Silvagni before the game and star forward Lance Whitnall to a knee injury in the opening quarter the signs looked ominous for the Blues.
Darren Hulme opened the scoring with the first two goals for the Blues before the Swans employed some fierce tackling and harassing to pressure Carlton into uncharacteristic errors.
Hulme’s first goal came as a result of an errant Wayne Schwass’ pass that allowed him to stroll into an open goal. The mistake saw Schwass dragged and replaced, much to the crowd’s pleasure, by 20-year-old debutant Tadgh Kennelly of Ireland.
Kennelly had little impact on the stats sheet but his enthusiasm and desperation lifted the Swans to string together a series of goals.
When Swans youngster Jude Bolton goaled on the 22-minute mark the Swans had turned around their poor start to lead by 13 points.
However, the Blues kicked 3 goals in as many minutes, including an inspirational snap on the boundary from captain Craig Bradley, to finish the term six points in front.
Carlton opened the second term in similar destructive fashion kicking the first three goals whilst also restricting Sydney to just 4 points to lead by 24 at the 25 minute mark.
However, late goals to Sydney’s Matthews and O’Loughlin as well as a missed shot on the siren from Craig Bradley saw the scoreboard and the game’s momentum swing back in favour of the Swans who trailed by just 12 points at the long break.
Carlton dominated out of the centre with 13 centre clearances to Sydney’s 3 however inaccurate passing in their attacking 50 meant their forwards were not given enough opportunity to score.
Inaccuracy and missed opportunity seemed to be the order of the day as Sydney threw away the perfect opportunity to bury the Blues in the third quarter. The Swans had the opening four scoring shots but missed every one, hitting the post on two occasions.
They ended up kicking 3.9 to Carlton’s 2.0 and led by three points at the final change.
The early stages of the final quarter saw the lead change numerously before two goals in five minutes to Sydney forward Jarryd Crouch had the Swans leading by 8 at the half way mark.
Carlton’s Adrian Hickmott kicked a goal within a minute to draw within 2 points. Sydney missed on two more goal scoring opportunities however a Greg Stafford mark and goal from 45 metres out as the siren sounded gave Sydney a 10 point margin.
Scoreboard:
SYDNEY 4.1 6.5 9.14 12.19 (91)
CARLTON 5.1 8.5 10.5 12.9 (81)
Goals:
Sydney: M.O'Loughlin 3, J.Crouch 2, A.Goodes 2, B.Mathews 1, M.Nicks 1, L.Barry 1, J.Bolton 1, G.Stafford 1
Carlton: A.Koutoufides 2, M.Lappin 2, D.Hulme 2, T.Hotton 2, C.Bradley 2, R.Houlihan 1, A.Hickmott 1
Best:
Sydney: S Maxfield J Ball A Dunkley W Schwass A Goodes J Crouch.
Carlton: S Fletcher D Hulme C Bradley J Plunkett A Koutifides M Lappin.
Umpires: M McKenzie C Rowe M James.
Crowd: 30,488 at SCG.
