Match thread: Sydney Swans v Carlton March 5 2026 07:30 PM AEST @ SCG

[BRS328]

There is no doubt our best attacking football is wildly good. Can we do it for enough time against good teams and defend well enough against good teams will be the questions to answer. I like what we are seeing from Serong - would not surprise me if he settles in the back 6 pretty quickly, and we find someone pushed out (probably Ramps).

I was at the game and can assure you Serong played on the wing for the majority of the game. Agree that he played very well and can easily play in defence if required.
There is a noticeable change with Roberts also playing on a wing and to great effect. I was always nervous was always nervous with Roberts on the backline because of turnovers, but this appears to be a great coaching move being a bigger body player and not easily brushed aside.

[KSAS]

I just managed to get the scores for the game after spending most of the last two days away from media. I watched the third quarter on replay.

On a personal note, I will be spending a few weeks away from the site. My brother died this morning after a brief illness. I will need some time to process this and spend some time with family.

Awful news. I also send my condolences during this difficult time for you and the family TS. Wish you all strength.

[Sandridge]

I think he actually should (or maybe even a week off) because from the boundary side angle replay you can clearly see him look at Isaac and not do anything to avoid his head. I believe it was malicious and as a result my opinion of Ollie has plummeted.
It's fine to be angry about being forced to leave the club but it wasn't Isaacs fault.....or any of his former teammates. It was a poor act IMO.

PS: Have just read that Ollie has 'escaped sanction' for 'accidently' kneeing Heeney in the head. FFS, they must be looking at different footage to conclude it was accidental.
It's seriously pathetic.

I certainly agree that he didn't seem to try to avoid contacting Isaac.

[Sandridge]

I just managed to get the scores for the game after spending most of the last two days away from media. I watched the third quarter on replay.

On a personal note, I will be spending a few weeks away from the site. My brother died this morning after a brief illness. I will need some time to process this and spend some time with family.

My condolences to you and your family, TS. We'll miss your contributions to RWO while you're away.

[dejavoodoo44]

I think he actually should (or maybe even a week off) because from the boundary side angle replay you can clearly see him look at Isaac and not do anything to avoid his head. I believe it was malicious and as a result my opinion of Ollie has plummeted.
It's fine to be angry about being forced to leave the club but it wasn't Isaacs fault.....or any of his former teammates. It was a poor act IMO.

PS: Have just read that Ollie has 'escaped sanction' for 'accidently' kneeing Heeney in the head. FFS, they must be looking at different footage to conclude it was accidental.
It's seriously pathetic.

Yes, elite athletes should have better processing ability and be better able to avoid collisions. Can't help thinking that if Isaac ended up being ruled out through concussion, then Florent's action would have been viewed as more malicious by the AFL and possibly would earn a few weeks off.

[dejavoodoo44]

I just managed to get the scores for the game after spending most of the last two days away from media. I watched the third quarter on replay.

On a personal note, I will be spending a few weeks away from the site. My brother died this morning after a brief illness. I will need some time to process this and spend some time with family.

Sorry to hear that. Hope your recovery goes well.

[stevoswan]

I just managed to get the scores for the game after spending most of the last two days away from media. I watched the third quarter on replay.

On a personal note, I will be spending a few weeks away from the site. My brother died this morning after a brief illness. I will need some time to process this and spend some time with family.

My condolences to you TS, not good news at all. Take care mate and return when ready. All the best.

[stevoswan]

Does Oli get fine for his knee on Heeney?

I think he actually should (or maybe even a week off) because from the boundary side angle replay you can clearly see him look at Isaac and not do anything to avoid his head. I believe it was malicious and as a result my opinion of Ollie has plummeted.
It's fine to be angry about being forced to leave the club but it wasn't Isaacs fault.....or any of his former teammates. It was a poor act IMO.

PS: Have just read that Ollie has 'escaped sanction' for 'accidently' kneeing Heeney in the head. FFS, they must be looking at different footage to conclude it was accidental.
It's seriously pathetic.

[Thunder Shaker]

I just managed to get the scores for the game after spending most of the last two days away from media. I watched the third quarter on replay.

On a personal note, I will be spending a few weeks away from the site. My brother died this morning after a brief illness. I will need some time to process this and spend some time with family.

[rickmat]

I posted before the game that I don't understand how Lloyd got a game. And I still can't reconcile why. He was very ordinary even when we were on fire. His 2 shots at goal abysmal. Doesn't deserve a spot in the best 23. Must be dropped as he will get found out next game against the Lions. The weakest link.last night!!!!!

[dejavoodoo44]

I thought Serong was good all game. One of the few who stood up during the first half. I was stunned by the ineptitude of our play in the first half. fumbling, dreadful disposal, players just stopping and not chasing. It's as if they just decided they didn't want to play. It was our ineptitude that made them look good. By that I mean, they were missing targets too but were not fumbling and missing them by metres. It's as though they looked at the movie Valentine's Day and decided 'We can play that badly'. We can't afford another half of footy as bad as that one, especially against a real team. more like the second half please

We possibly should put that first half abomination down to playing in the heat and humidity of early March and never talk of it again. I might even wipe the recording I made, without even watching it.

[Sandridge]

Finding the BS about Florent and Mills supposed 'terse' exchange very annoying. I saw footage of them hugging and chatting before they walked off the ground. I think photographer Michael Wilson is just a liar.

There's also a photo of them happy together in their civvies well after the game was over. A fabricated "story!"

[dejavoodoo44]

Carlton werent that good in the first half, and neither were we that bad. The conditions were super humid and slippery. Our footy improved with Errol obviously, but the conditions noticebly changed as the sun dropped. We didnt play the conditions very well and made lots of sloppy errors but the intent was there the whole way.

As we got moving Carlton started second guessing and hearing footsteps. Voss gets sacked mid season imo.

Does Oli get fine for his knee on Heeney?

I reckon Florent should get a week or two. He seemed to have a good look at Heeney on the ground and then continued on his path. Though of course, since Heeney wasn't properly concussed, the AFL will probably assess the incident as "meh".

[wolftone57]

Yes, to sum up our first half performance, I was very tempted to post the famous sequence from The Simpsons, of Sideshow Bob constantly stepping on upturned rakes. Our ball handling was totally inept. Then Errol cut loose early in the third quarter, then suddenly confidence and skill level lifted right through the team. After that onslaught, the game was essentially over well before three quarter time.

Though in one way, it might be the sort of performance that we don’t really need. That is, back in 2024, it seemed to me that the team got it into their heads, that they could finish teams off by playing a couple of ten or twenty minute bursts. Which may have led to increasingly undisciplined performances, where those quality bursts never really came. But of course, no team can be totally switched on right throughout the season. And at this stage, I'm not sure what I really want? Do I want to see grinding wins, where we win contested possessions, clearances and the tackle count, with the occasional flash of brilliance? Or am I happy with wins like tonight, where everything comes together in bursts that seem unstoppable, but which leave many of us fans wondering what the hell they were doing for much of the game? Who knows?

Anyway, the coaches votes will be interesting. Will they give Errol maximum votes for turning the game? Or will it be McInerney, who was possibly a bit better for most of the game? Serong might get a vote or two, as he was possibly our best when Carlton were on top in the first half. Warner was probably our best midfielder in the first half and did some classy things in the second. Mills had some steadying involvements. Curnow had a useful first game. I liked the way Amartey crashed a few packs. And apart from the Pittonet goals, Grundy generally had the better of the Carlton rucks. Actually, pretty much everyone played well in the second half.

I thought Serong was good all game. One of the few who stood up during the first half. I was stunned by the ineptitude of our play in the first half. fumbling, dreadful disposal, players just stopping and not chasing. It's as if they just decided they didn't want to play. It was our ineptitude that made them look good. By that I mean, they were missing targets too but were not fumbling and missing them by metres. It's as though they looked at the movie Valentine's Day and decided 'We can play that badly'. We can't afford another half of footy as bad as that one, especially against a real team. more like the second half please

[UUaswan]

Amazing 3rd quarter. Everyone was excellent. It was good to see we could get our game plan going despite the opposition inserting themselves.
hard to repeat that one against quality opposition.
The rules of statue at mark help with forward handball. Nevertheless we should take it for percentage. The current rules will cause havoc in terms of how many goals would be kicked this season. I think there are going to be massive blow outs.

It would be interesting to see how we go next week. But our midfield scoring goals makes it interesting and possible to beat up the lions but the space afforded to us won’t be there and the defensive structure would need to tighten up and paid attention to otherwise on turn over they will really bury us.

A few times we burst thru and had a hole at CHF.
Our fwds, or at least one of them, needs to run at the ball instead of toward goal.

Andrews will love that next week if we blaze

Curnow was good as well, playing on Weitering is no walk in the park