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

[Nico]

Initiating a melee and participating in a melee get the same financial penalty - $1,500.

Both "initiators" were from Carlton Walsh and Heywood.

Pleasing to me was that McInerney was not involved at in either, and avoided his tough-boy acts which have got him too many suspensions. Congratulations to the Swans who promoted him to a leadership position and hopefully to a more mature outlook.

Another classic game by "Where's Will". 11 possessions and 1.2 goals. Bang on his career average. No loss.

[UUaswan]

Another classic game by "Where's Will". 11 possessions and 1.2 goals. Bang on his career average. No loss.

Will is going to have the same issue as last year.
His advantage is he plays tall for his size so to exploit that he needs to play with talls so he can out mark a small.

When they don't have enough decent tall fwds he plays on a big and loses his advantage

[imuninformedtwo]

Wilbur’s biggest problem is going to be he’s playing in Carlton’s forward line.

[cubby]

Florent and Hayward are both excellent players, I was sad to see them go....

But they are mid range players, who rarely affect the outcome of a game...

Like every other team, we've got lot's of them.

[Kafka's Ghost]

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.

Deepest sympathies to you, TS.

[dejavoodoo44]

Coaches votes for the game.

10 Justin McInerney (SYD)
8 Errol Gulden (SYD)
5 Isaac Heeney (SYD)
3 Tom McCartin (SYD)
3 Sam Walsh (CARL)
1 Chad Warner (SYD)

[imuninformedtwo]

Coaches votes for the game.

10 Justin McInerney (SYD)
8 Errol Gulden (SYD)
5 Isaac Heeney (SYD)
3 Tom McCartin (SYD)
3 Sam Walsh (CARL)
1 Chad Warner (SYD)

Good on Juzzy. A nice way to start his era as a member of the leadership group. Particularly pleased to see McCartin get votes, as he was outstanding. Probably thought Chad was slightly better than Isaac, but that's like arguing over your favourite child.

[dejavoodoo44]

Good on Juzzy. A nice way to start his era as a member of the leadership group. Particularly pleased to see McCartin get votes, as he was outstanding. Probably thought Chad was slightly better than Isaac, but that's like arguing over your favourite child.

Yes, McInerney was probably consistently better throughout the game, even though Errol really got things going in the second half. And I say probably, because I haven't been able to bring myself to watch the first quarter again, to confirm that opinion.

And mentioning both Heeney and McCartin, I do wonder how McCartin felt, when after toiling hard to keep McKay goalless, Heeney inexplicably decided to handball it straight to McKay in the goal square, to gift him his only goal. Such a bizarre error from a quality player. Maybe McKay was moving too slowly to register as a threat?

[imuninformedtwo]

Yes, McInerney was probably consistently better throughout the game, even though Errol really got things going in the second half. And I say probably, because I haven't been able to bring myself to watch the first quarter again, to confirm that opinion.

And mentioning both Heeney and McCartin, I do wonder how McCartin felt, when after toiling hard to keep McKay goalless, Heeney inexplicably decided to handball it straight to McKay in the goal square, to gift him his only goal. Such a bizarre error from a quality player. Maybe McKay was moving too slowly to register as a threat?

Out of interest, does anyone have any more of the pieces of the puzzle that is our leadership group, now that the Swans no longer announce it?

We know Mills and Heeney, obviously. I’m certain Errol is in it. We gleaned from the commentary the other night Juzzy is in it. Who else? Paps has long been a regular so I’m assuming so, but there’s no confirmation I’ve seen.