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

[neilfws]

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.

There was an article in The Age a few days ago, when the Swans were briefly flavour of the moment after the win over Carlton:

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/dean-cox-asked-his-players-for-feedback-this-is-what-they-told-him-20260306-p5o83r.html

The leadership group seems to have been a key area in the player feedback at the end of 2025.

Acknowledging that Heeney has stepped up as a leader over the past year or two, Cox said that the Swans had chosen to keep the remainder of their leadership group under wraps. But Dane Rampe moved back into a key role and the group was expanded to seven,

So not many more pieces of the puzzle I guess, but something.

[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.

[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]

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]

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)

[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.

[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.

[imuninformedtwo]

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

[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

[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.

[Mountain Man]

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.

[imuninformedtwo]

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.

Agreed. And Serong's positioning was fantastic.

Loved that play in the third quarter when we’d kicked three or four in a row but Cripps had a shot in general play from the pocket. It was going through on the bounce until Serong swooped in and smothered it on the goal line. A classic defensive winger play and stopped them grabbing any momentum back.

[dejavoodoo44]

I'm not sure if they mentioned it in the commentary, but Heeney's second goal was his 300th of his career. Not bad for someone who's spent plenty of time in the midfield. Some time this season, both he and Papley (305), should move past Capper (317) and Bedford (325) on the Swans all time goalkicking list.

[lwjoyner]

when did Chad get reported for tripping I dont remember it.

[BRS328]

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

Not so sure about that. It was a spiteful game and Carlton came to play. Carlton’s pressure in the first half caused the Swans players to make a few errors.
The defence led by McCartin, Melican, Blakey, Wicks, Bice and Mills etc absorbed the pressure very well by bringing the ball to ground in marking contests making it a scrappy game at times.
It was pretty obvious they are dirty on Curnow and used this as motivation.
Eventually they could not sustain it and the bigger bodied Swans took over.