TonyK
CibbuanoRound four preview: Sydney v Carlton
April 17th 2009 17:30
VENUE and TIME: Sydney Cricket Ground, Saturday 18 April, 2.10pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 211, Sydney 81, Carlton 124, Drawn 6
LAST TIME: Sydney 18.13 (121) def Carlton 18.11 (119), Round 16 2008 at Etihad Stadium
RECENT HISTORY: Sydney has won its past 11 matches against Carlton.
FORM: Sydney bounced back from its loss to St Kilda in round one with a win over reigning premiers Hawthorn at ANZ Stadium before going down to Brisbane at the Gabba last Saturday night. Fourth-placed Carlton was denied the chance of starting the season with three straight wins for the first time since 1995 by an Essendon side that prevailed by four points in a classic contest at the MCG in round three.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Swans are still without Amon Buchanan (strained calf) while forward Michael O‘Loughlin (ankle) is at least another two weeks away from being considered for selection. Veteran defender Leo Barry (knee) is sidelined for another month while promising youngster Patrick Veszpremi will miss at least another five weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a finger tendon. For Carlton, defender Michael Jamison (shoulder) is a chance to return against the Bulldogs in round five while Jake Edwards (groin) and Adam Bentick (knee) are sidelined indefinitely. Utility Andrew Walker is expected to miss the remainder of the season following shoulder surgery while former Fremantle ruckman Robbie Warnock remains on the long-term injury list because of stress fractures in his feet.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Brett Kirk vs. Chris Judd
Judd was his side’s best in the loss to the Bombers with a game-high 33 possessions and six inside 50’s.
The Carlton skipper is damaging with his ability to win the contested football and break the lines - such players are even more influential on the small confines of the SCG.
The Swans will be keen to turn this contest into a dour struggle and to be able to do this they will need to limit Judd’s influence at the stoppages.
During the week Sydney coach Paul Roos forecasted a dream match-up between dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes and Judd but that is unlikely to eventuate.
Expect Kirk, who has restricted star midfielders Sam Mitchell and Simon Black to just 13 and 16 possessions respectively in the past fortnight, to go head-to-head with Judd in what will be a pivotal duel.
Bryce Gibbs vs. Adam Goodes
Goodes managed just 18 possessions in the loss to Lions and will be keen to bounce back with a big performance against the Blues on Saturday.
The 28-year-old is an integral part of the Sydney midfield with his ability to break the lines and pump the football inside 50.
The Blues will be keen to shut-down the drive he provides through the middle and will undoubtedly throw Gibbs the task of running with Goodes after the impressive job he did on the dual Brownlow medallist the last time these two sides met.
In the round 16 clash last year Gibbs racked up 26 possessions and restricted Goodes to just seven disposals and two goals in a performance that earned the impressive young Blue one Brownlow medal vote.
A similar performance on Saturday will go a long way towards securing a rare win for Carlton over the Swans.
Matthew Kreuzer vs. Darren Jolly
Jolly dominated the stoppages against the Lions with a season-high 46 hit-outs - taking his total for the year to 116 - first in the AFL.
The former Melbourne ruckman is the main man the Blues must negate if they are going to secure their first win over Sydney at the SCG since 1993.
Carlton will need Kreuzer to at least break even in the ruck and give Judd, Marc Murphy, Nick Stevens and co. a chance of winning the football at the stoppages otherwise the Swans will be able to dictate the tempo of the game.
Craig Bolton vs. Brendan Fevola
Fevola was dangerous against the Bombers but failed to make the most of his chances in front of goal, booting a wasteful 4.7 and one out on the full.
The Blues spearhead was matched up by Essendon youngster Darcy Daniher on that night but will find his job a lot tougher on Saturday afternoon with the more experienced and largely underrated Bolton to be his likely opponent.
Bolton is a no-frills defender who gets the job done more often than not.
If Fevola is going to be any chance of coming out on top in his duel with Bolton he will need his midfield to move the football quickly through the middle of the ground otherwise the Swans will be able to push back and clog up the space he will lead into.
VERDICT: Sydney may have an imposing record against Carlton but this Blues side is very different to the ones of the past so the Swans’ 11-match winning streak shouldn’t be taken into consideration. Brett Ratten’s men failed to apply pressure for four quarters against the Bombers with their tackle count down to just 43 after averaging 70.5 in the first two games. If the Blues play with the same level of intensity they showed in the first two rounds of the season they should prevail with their midfield stars in Murphy, Stevens, Judd and Gibbs set to be too much for a blue-collar Sydney outfit to contain. Blues by 19 points.
SYDNEY SWANS v CARLTON
SYDNEY SWANS
B: Craig Bolton, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Martin Mattner
HB: Rhyce Shaw, Ted Richards, Nick Malceski
C: Jarrad McVeigh, Brett Kirk, Craig Bird
HF: Ryan O’Keefe, Heath Grundy, Kieren Jack
F: Paul Bevan, Barry Hall, Jarred Moore
Foll: Darren Jolly, Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton
I/C: Ed Barlow, Brett Meredith, Kristin Thornton, Jesse White
Emg: Luke Ablett, Ryan Brabazon, Mike Pyke
In: Thornton (Peel Thunder)
Out: Jared Crouch
CARLTON
B: Chris Johnson, Bret Thornton, Kade Simpson
HB: Shaun Grigg, Paul Bower, Jordan Russell
C: Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs, Nick Stevens
HF: Simon Wiggins, Cameron Cloke, Jarrad Waite
F: Matthew Kreuzer, Brendan Fevola, Eddie Betts
Foll: Sam Jacobs, Richard Hadley, Chris Judd
I/C: Dennis Armfield, Ryan Houlihan, Aaron Joseph, Mitch Robinson
Emg: Steven Browne, Setanta O’hAilpin, Heath Scotland
In: Armfield
Out: Jeff Garlett
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 211, Sydney 81, Carlton 124, Drawn 6
LAST TIME: Sydney 18.13 (121) def Carlton 18.11 (119), Round 16 2008 at Etihad Stadium
RECENT HISTORY: Sydney has won its past 11 matches against Carlton.
FORM: Sydney bounced back from its loss to St Kilda in round one with a win over reigning premiers Hawthorn at ANZ Stadium before going down to Brisbane at the Gabba last Saturday night. Fourth-placed Carlton was denied the chance of starting the season with three straight wins for the first time since 1995 by an Essendon side that prevailed by four points in a classic contest at the MCG in round three.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Swans are still without Amon Buchanan (strained calf) while forward Michael O‘Loughlin (ankle) is at least another two weeks away from being considered for selection. Veteran defender Leo Barry (knee) is sidelined for another month while promising youngster Patrick Veszpremi will miss at least another five weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a finger tendon. For Carlton, defender Michael Jamison (shoulder) is a chance to return against the Bulldogs in round five while Jake Edwards (groin) and Adam Bentick (knee) are sidelined indefinitely. Utility Andrew Walker is expected to miss the remainder of the season following shoulder surgery while former Fremantle ruckman Robbie Warnock remains on the long-term injury list because of stress fractures in his feet.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Brett Kirk vs. Chris Judd
Judd was his side’s best in the loss to the Bombers with a game-high 33 possessions and six inside 50’s.
The Carlton skipper is damaging with his ability to win the contested football and break the lines - such players are even more influential on the small confines of the SCG.
The Swans will be keen to turn this contest into a dour struggle and to be able to do this they will need to limit Judd’s influence at the stoppages.
During the week Sydney coach Paul Roos forecasted a dream match-up between dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes and Judd but that is unlikely to eventuate.
Expect Kirk, who has restricted star midfielders Sam Mitchell and Simon Black to just 13 and 16 possessions respectively in the past fortnight, to go head-to-head with Judd in what will be a pivotal duel.
Bryce Gibbs vs. Adam Goodes
Goodes managed just 18 possessions in the loss to Lions and will be keen to bounce back with a big performance against the Blues on Saturday.
The 28-year-old is an integral part of the Sydney midfield with his ability to break the lines and pump the football inside 50.
The Blues will be keen to shut-down the drive he provides through the middle and will undoubtedly throw Gibbs the task of running with Goodes after the impressive job he did on the dual Brownlow medallist the last time these two sides met.
In the round 16 clash last year Gibbs racked up 26 possessions and restricted Goodes to just seven disposals and two goals in a performance that earned the impressive young Blue one Brownlow medal vote.
A similar performance on Saturday will go a long way towards securing a rare win for Carlton over the Swans.
Matthew Kreuzer vs. Darren Jolly
Jolly dominated the stoppages against the Lions with a season-high 46 hit-outs - taking his total for the year to 116 - first in the AFL.
The former Melbourne ruckman is the main man the Blues must negate if they are going to secure their first win over Sydney at the SCG since 1993.
Carlton will need Kreuzer to at least break even in the ruck and give Judd, Marc Murphy, Nick Stevens and co. a chance of winning the football at the stoppages otherwise the Swans will be able to dictate the tempo of the game.
Craig Bolton vs. Brendan Fevola
Fevola was dangerous against the Bombers but failed to make the most of his chances in front of goal, booting a wasteful 4.7 and one out on the full.
The Blues spearhead was matched up by Essendon youngster Darcy Daniher on that night but will find his job a lot tougher on Saturday afternoon with the more experienced and largely underrated Bolton to be his likely opponent.
Bolton is a no-frills defender who gets the job done more often than not.
If Fevola is going to be any chance of coming out on top in his duel with Bolton he will need his midfield to move the football quickly through the middle of the ground otherwise the Swans will be able to push back and clog up the space he will lead into.
VERDICT: Sydney may have an imposing record against Carlton but this Blues side is very different to the ones of the past so the Swans’ 11-match winning streak shouldn’t be taken into consideration. Brett Ratten’s men failed to apply pressure for four quarters against the Bombers with their tackle count down to just 43 after averaging 70.5 in the first two games. If the Blues play with the same level of intensity they showed in the first two rounds of the season they should prevail with their midfield stars in Murphy, Stevens, Judd and Gibbs set to be too much for a blue-collar Sydney outfit to contain. Blues by 19 points.
SYDNEY SWANS v CARLTON
SYDNEY SWANS
B: Craig Bolton, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Martin Mattner
HB: Rhyce Shaw, Ted Richards, Nick Malceski
C: Jarrad McVeigh, Brett Kirk, Craig Bird
HF: Ryan O’Keefe, Heath Grundy, Kieren Jack
F: Paul Bevan, Barry Hall, Jarred Moore
Foll: Darren Jolly, Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton
I/C: Ed Barlow, Brett Meredith, Kristin Thornton, Jesse White
Emg: Luke Ablett, Ryan Brabazon, Mike Pyke
In: Thornton (Peel Thunder)
Out: Jared Crouch
CARLTON
B: Chris Johnson, Bret Thornton, Kade Simpson
HB: Shaun Grigg, Paul Bower, Jordan Russell
C: Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs, Nick Stevens
HF: Simon Wiggins, Cameron Cloke, Jarrad Waite
F: Matthew Kreuzer, Brendan Fevola, Eddie Betts
Foll: Sam Jacobs, Richard Hadley, Chris Judd
I/C: Dennis Armfield, Ryan Houlihan, Aaron Joseph, Mitch Robinson
Emg: Steven Browne, Setanta O’hAilpin, Heath Scotland
In: Armfield
Out: Jeff Garlett
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