Match day guide and preview for the 2022 round 10 game between the Sydney Swans and Carlton Blues.
Match details
Who: Carlton Blues vs Sydney Swans
When: Friday 20 May, 7.50pm
Where: Marvel Stadium, VIC
Weather: Should be fine under the roof
Head-to-head record since 1980: Played 68. Swans 38 wins. Blues 30 wins.
Teams
Swans
IN: Colin O’Riordan
OUT: James Rowbottom (suspended), Ryan Clarke (medi-sub)
MILESTONE: Dane Rampe – 200 games
Rowbottom will miss through suspension after the Swans failed to overturn his ban at the tribunal, with O’Riordan coming in for his first game of the year.
Blues
IN: Lewis Young, Liam Stocker
OUT: Brodie Kemp (omitted), Jack Newnes (managed), Zac Williams (injured)
Williams goes out after picking up a serious injury last week, while Young and Stocker come back in.
Click here for complete team line-ups.
Season so far
Sydney Swans 5th – 125.7% | 850 points for | 676 points against | 6 wins 3 losses | WLLWW
After consecutive losses at home against Brisbane and Gold Coast, the Swans got back on track with a dominant win over the Bombers.
It’s hard to read too much into the victory given how badly Essendon played, but the Swans were able to get the game on their terms early and never looked troubled.
There are still some unknowns about how good the Swans actually are given their relatively soft draw so far. Their wins have come against the teams ranked 7th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th, while the losses were against the teams sitting 2nd, 9th and 12th on the ladder.
We’ll find out plenty more about Sydney’s premiership credentials over the next three matches as they take on Carlton, Richmond and then Melbourne.
Carlton Blues 4th – 114.3% | 830 points for | 726 points against | 7 wins 2 losses | WWWLW
Carlton are playing a much better brand of footy under Michael Voss this season and it was on show in their 30-point win over the Giants last week.
Their midfield group is starting to emerge as one of the best in the AFL, and despite not having a genuine number one ruckman at the moment, they obliterated GWS in the middle of the field.
A bit like Sydney, the Blues have also had a somewhat soft draw so far having beaten just one team inside the top 8 (Richmond 8th – round one), so this is a great opportunity to announce themselves as a genuine top 4 hope.
Last 5 meetings and Marvel Stadium history
- 2021 round 11 – Swans 15.10 (100) defeat Blues 11.12 (78) at SCG
- 2020 round 16 – Blues 8.9 (57) defeat Swans 8.4 (52) at Metricon Stadium
- 2019 round 17 – Swans 8.14 (62) lost to Blues 9.15 (69) at SCG
- 2019 round 3 – Blues 10.14 (74) lost to Swans 14.9 (93) at Marvel Stadium
- 2018 round 11 – Swans 13.13 (91) lost to Blues 9.7 (61) at SCG
The last five meetings have been reasonably competitive with the Swans holding a 3-2 edge.
They met last year in Sir Doug Nicholls Round with Sydney just edging away from the Blues late in the game to seal a 22-point victory.
Since 2005, the sides have met nine times at Marvel Stadium with the Swans holding a commanding 7-2 record, including the last three straight.
Key matchup
Patrick Cripps vs Callum Mills
Both of these club captains have had incredible starts to the season, with Cripps in particular one of the fancies for the Brownlow Medal.
The Blues skipper was below his best over the last couple of seasons as he battled injuries, but his form this year has been exceptional.
The 27-year-old is arguably the best player in the AFL right now, averaging 28.9 disposals, 14.8 contested possessions and 7.8 clearances this year.
Cripps isn’t just a inside bull racking up disposals, he is also getting forward and having an impact. He has kicked 13 goals already this season with last week’s win over the Giants the first time he has failed to kick a goal so far.
Carlton have become a much better side now that they have a solid number of midfielders in good form, but there’s no doubt Cripps is still the top dog.
While he hasn’t received the recognition that Cripps has this year, Mills is going about his business beautifully and would have to be in All-Australian contention.
The co-captain picked up 10 coaches votes last week against the Bombers as he collected 29 touches and had a massive 13 tackles.
He is one of the best two-way players in the competition with his elite ball-winning ability matched by his defensive efforts.
There’s no doubt these two will spend some time matched on each other and it promises to be a great contest.
Pre match predictions
Marvel-lous Mills: Callum Mills to have 30 disposals, 8 tackles and a goal at Marvel.
Old Swans on song: Former Swans Nic Newman and George Hewett to combine for 60 touches and a goal.
Other match details
This match is part of the Sir Doug Nicholls round where the game celebrated Indigenous culture and players in Australian Rules Football.
Both teams will be wearing special Indigenous jerseys as seen below.
Have any pre match predictions of your own? Let us know in the comments below.
