Saturday April 18, 2.10pm, SCG
Season to date
A season-opening shellacking of a hapless Richmond by 14 goals at the MCG confirmed that Brett Ratten’s men had seriously improved over summer. The following week’s victory against the resilient Brisbane Lions at Docklands merely confirmed that the Blues were a force to be reckoned with.
While last week’s narrow loss to Essendon at the MCG stole some of Carlton’s early-season momentum, there’s no doubt that the type of football that Ratten has his men playing will worry most teams.
Recent form
Round 1 – Carlton 23.12 (150) d Richmond 9.13 (67)
Round 2 – Carlton 18.11 (119) d Brisbane Lions 15.10 (100)
Round 3 – Carlton 16.16 (112) lost to Essendon 17.14 (116)
Last time they met
Sydney Swans 18.13 (121) d Carlton 18.11 (119), round 16, 2008 at Telstra Dome
This was the lone highlight in a tough five weeks for the Swans. Two losses either side of the narrow win at Telstra Dome sent the Swans tumbling from the top four and into a battle to simply qualify for the finals series.
Carlton shot to an early lead and still held a 16-point break at half time. But the Swans, led by an outstanding Ryan O’Keefe (29 touches, three goals), Jarrad McVeigh (four goals) and Darren Jolly, scraped home for a nail-biting win.
Brendan Fevola booted five goals for the Blues, while the Swans were missing Barry Hall and Michael O’Loughlin through injury.
The venue: SCG
If any team is susceptible to the effects of the home-ground advantage, it’s Carlton. The Blues haven’t won a game in Sydney for 16 years and the Swans will be keen to extend that losing streak on their home turf.
Saturday’s game also marks the first time that the new Trumper Stand will host football patrons and the ground’s capacity has been increased to about 47,000 as a result.
The coach: Brett Ratten
Having played 255 games for Carlton, including winning the Blues’ best and fairest in the premiership year of 1995, there are few more respected figures at the club. An intelligent player who excelled at bringing teammates into the game, Ratten was one of the best midfielders of his era.
Now in his second full season as senior coach after taking over from Denis Pagan late in 2007, Carlton is starting to show the fruits of Ratten’s labour. The Blues’ young list won a respectable 10 games in 2008, finishing 11th and serving notice that they would be a much improved outfit in 2009.
Strengths
It’s only taken two games, but there have already been suggestions that Carlton’s midfield of Chris Judd, Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs and Nick Stevens could be the next ‘fab four’ of the AFL.
Judd’s credentials are well known after his heroics with West Coast, Stevens is damaging by foot and Murphy continues to establish himself as an elite onballer.
But it’s Gibbs that has given the Blues a real lift this season, averaging 27 possessions this year. The No.1 NAB AFL Draft selection in 2006, the South Australian product boasts great vision and excellent marking ability.
Up forward, spearhead Brendan Fevola is always dangerous. Take no notice of his off night against Essendon when he booted 4.7 – he can kick them from anywhere when he’s firing.
Missing in action
Carlton is missing very few senior players at the moment. Defender Michael Jamison (shoulder), utility Andrew Walker (shoulder) and ruckman Robert Warnock (foot) are arguably the only three players who would be pushing for selection in the current team. Others Blues on the sidelines include Adam Bentick (knee), Jake Edwards (groin) and rookie Darren Pfeiffer.
The key: Midfield lockdown
Carlton’s onballers are a talented bunch, but apart from Judd and Stevens, they lack experience. On the confines of the SCG, the Swans should look to ramp up their one-on-one game around the stoppages and deny Gibbs and Murphy any room to move.
Keeping a tight rein on Fevola will also be important, but the Blues also have dangerous small forwards in the form of Eddie Betts (10 goals this season) and first-year tyro Mitch Robinson.
The young gun: Bryce Gibbs
It’s been mentioned already, but Gibbs is probably the hottest young player in the competition at the moment.
Unlike some top draft selections, the 20-year-old has taken a couple of seasons to find his feet at the top level. Gibbs has been played in defence and as a tagger – now he’s being given free rein to have his own impact on the game as an offensive midfielder.
At 188cm, Gibbs has the height to trouble smaller opponents, the pace to outrun bigger opponents and the skills to hurt both of them if they give him an inch.
The big questions
Can the Blues break their 16-year losing streak in Sydney? How will the Swans bounce back from last week’s thumping at the stoppages against the Lions? Will Adam Goodes get his wish to go head-to-head with fellow Brownlow medallist Chris Judd?
What they’re saying
"We need to be prepared for that constant combat [that is] one-on-one, ball-in-tight, win your own footy. That will be replayed over and over again. They seem to find a loophole every time, they're the best at it, and we'll get some really good practice around stoppages and set plays.”
– Carlton coach Brett Ratten
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club
