THE SYDNEY Swans have shown all their courage to pull off one of their best wins of the season, outlasting Carlton by just two points in one of the most entertaining matches of the season at Telstra Dome on Sunday.
The Swans, down two men for the entire last quarter, downed the Blues 18.13 (121) to 18.11 (119) to tighten their grip on fourth position with six matches remaining in the AFL season.
With the gritty win, the Swans move more than a game clear of Collingwood and are a step closer to an all-important double chance.
However Paul Roos’ side had to work extra hard for the four points, overcoming a five-point deficit at the final change as well as the loss of star forward Michael O’Loughlin and co-captain Leo Barry.
But led by a superb individual effort by Ryan O’Keefe, the Swans zipped to the front and then held off the Blues to score what might be their most crucial win of 2008.
Others to play key roles in the win were Jarrad McVeigh (four goals), Jude Bolton, Darren Jolly and Paul Bevan.
Carlton was well served by young gun Bryce Gibbs who kept Adam Goodes’ impact to a minimum, while Brendan Fevola (five goals) and Heath Scotland were also great for the home side.
In a thrilling finale, the Swans booted the first four goals of the final term to lead by 20 points and looked home and hosed before the Blues rekindled hope.
Eddie Betts got the ball rolling 18 minutes into the last quarter, although late in the game the Swans still led by more than two kicks.
However when Fevola booted his fifth with three minutes left it was back to just seven points.
The Blues never gave in, and when Betts roved one off the pack, it was just two points the margin and Carlton had 20 seconds to push for the win.
However in the final moments Bolton, who had shown his ruggedness throughout the four quarters, threw himself at the contest with reckless abandon to win a free kick and kill off any hope Brett Ratten’s side had of stealing the win in the dying minutes.
O’Keefe and McVeigh were instrumental all day and they were there when the match needed to be won.
O’Keefe also battled an ankle injury during the day and left the field during the third term.
In the time he was off the ground, the Blues booted five goals to two and regained the ascendancy after the Swans star had helped his team surge to the front shortly after the main change.
The Swans burst out of the half-time change rooms and looked a different side to the one from the first two quarters.
Jarred Moore put the visitors ahead however O’Keefe and Michael O’Loughlin left the field shortly after with ankle injuries.
During that time the Blues pounced and again kicked clear to a 17-point lead before steadying goals to Adam Goodes – who was having a shocker – and Lewis Roberts-Thomson, who capatalised on some good work from O’Keefe who returned to the field late in the term.
Carlton looked the much better side in the first half and it was more a case of the Swans having to hang tough to stick with the Blues.
While Brett Kirk and Goodes had been prolific against Hawthorn a week earlier, they struggled to get their hands on the footy early.
Kirk was doing a good job running with Blues skipper Chris Judd however Goodes couldn’t get near it opposed to the emerging Gibbs.
Instead, much of the slack fell to the likes of the underrated Bevan and McVeigh.
Carlton blew several chances in the first quarter but still led by 22 points.
That lead increased to almost five goals on two occasions in the second term before the Swans, showing their usual character and grit, fought back to stay in the game.
Despite seemingly being outplayed for much of the first half, they had cut the deficit at the main break and it was back to 16 points.
That fight would again show itself in the second half, and ultimately get the visitors across the line.
The Swans return to the SCG next week for a home clash with the Adelaide Crows, while Carlton meets the Western Bulldogs at Telstra Dome.
GOALS
Sydney: McVeigh 4, O'Keefe 3, Bevan 2, Moore 2, Jolly 2, Goodes 2, J. Bolton, Playfair, Roberts-Thomson
BEST
INJURIES
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, Chamberlain, Kamolins
Official crowd: 38,401 at Telstra Dome
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the clubs or the AFL.
