The Preview | Carlton v Sydney | AFL Round 11, 2023

Written by Luke Cornell

Happy to be here, highs and lows.

It’s a new, newy, new-ish week for the Carlton faithful, as we head up north to do battle against the Swans this Friday night at the SCG.

What lies ahead is anyones guess, but we’ll try and break it down, again…and again.

Marvellous, it’s the round 11 preview.

There will be blood(s).

The Swans are honestly a shadow of their former self.

Going against their usual mantra of free-flowing, no passenger approach, thanks in large part to the growth coming out of their illustrious academy, Sydney have lacked the due diligence to stick to their brand in a shocking mirror resemblance to their foes this week.

It goes to show, with the swans 2022 run of top rankings in disposal efficiency, clearances, and disposals, all dropping below 12th in the league come 2023.

That’s not to say they haven’t been performing where it counts.

Sydney not only like to put pressure on, but also allow pressure to come to them; ranking 3rd in pressure acts, 4th in tackles, but while also ranking 4th in clangers per game.

Instead, the swans effort this season has come off the back of some individualism, with a few, historically, finding their form in games against the Blues.

Errol Gulden can do no wrong, I should know, I’ve captained him the last few weeks in supercoach.

Ranking top 3 in kicks, i50s, metres gained, and ranking points, the 20 year old in his 3rd year is having some season amidst the absence of Callum Mills.

The move down back for other young star Nick Blakey has been sublime, stemming key forward influence in a one-two-punch hot with Jake Lloyd and new recruit Aaron Francis, who has slotted into the lineup quite nicely as a much needed key-defender down back.

Carlton fans know how much Buddy Franklin loves tearing up the Blues.

In 19 career games against Carlton, Buddy is 16-3 and has kicked a ridiculous 73 goals, the fourth-highest mark Franklin has against a team over his long and storied career.

Buddy also has bags of 10, 7, 6 and 4 (twice) against the Blues while playing for the Swans, while averaging that 3.8 goals a game against them across his career.

Combined with the likes of Isaac Heeney and Tom Papley, on paper, this forward line is primed week in, week out, to cause some serious damage.

But just how will the Swans capitalise on a poor run of form from the Blues on their home deck? Not to mention their ruck situation is in serious dis-array with the likes of Ladahms and Hickey being missing from the lineup, leading the Swans to rank 18th in hitouts.

It’s a story of two teams.

I said, there WILL be blood.

Last week…was an improvement.

That “connection” was there for more patches, with execution being the sad undertale of many disappointing performances this year.

Against the Pies, the Blues had the exact same number of i50s at 51, while failing to kick many majors in a frustrating entry-bonanza.

Now winning 1 of our last 6, it’s time to look towards selection as some lifted (Harry Mckay, George Hewett), while others continue to not play to standard.

If Voss ever thought to capitalise on undermanned opposition rucks, now is the time.

Tom DeKoning is not primed, but will do right in that forward/ruck rotation.

This likely selection does more wonders than otherwise thought, with Pittonett’s work around the ground posing no real issue with the inclusion of another proven ruck, while also incentivising real space and isolation deep down forward with the amount of tall bodies on paper.

Brodie Kemp’s re-inclusion is much needed, as the back half continues to play into forward trickery in lead-ups and spacing. With Sydney this week proving very mobile in their spacing, the Blues require a bolstering of intercepting keys who can match the pace and fire of the Swan’s forwards.

Zac Fisher will be hoping to get a nod on the extended bench this week; while not likely to make the final 23, he’s making good pace for a future inclusion to bring back his flare.

Selection aside, this is prime-time for our boys.

The narrative for this season is already written, we ARE our worst enemy. Whether supporters or analysts alike point towards club greats underperforming, reverting back to old tactics, or simply a lack of passion, all can wholeheartedly agree that this list, whether it’s next year, next week or tomorrow, they can turn it around.

And if any kind of form from this list, this great playing list, was bound to start, what better time than under Friday night lights?

Predictions.

…

…I said what I said.

Blood I tell ya.

Blues by 30 points.

Every fucking week.