Swans Soar Late as Blues Crumble Again in SCG Heartbreaker
It’s becoming a frustratingly familiar story for Carlton fans. Once again, the Blues found themselves in control for most of the game, only to watch it all slip away in the dying moments. On Friday night at the SCG, it was Sydney who capitalised on another late fadeout by Michael Voss’s men, snatching a 16-point win in a dramatic Round 10 clash.
The Blues led at every change. They looked composed, structured, and up for the fight. But then, like clockwork, the final quarter arrived—and with it, yet another collapse. The Swans pounced with two goals in the first three minutes of the last term and never looked back, sealing a win that left Voss visibly irate post-game.
“You’ve got to finish the job,” Voss said, clearly frustrated. “We had the game where we wanted it and couldn’t close it out. That’s what pisses you off. We weren’t good enough when it mattered most.”
Isaac Heeney was simply unstoppable. The Sydney midfielder delivered one of his finest performances, racking up a career-high 38 disposals and 18 contested possessions, along with two crucial goals—including the sealer. Chad Warner was also instrumental, helping the Swans stay in it early before Heeney took control.
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For Carlton, it was another painful reminder of their struggles to perform for four full quarters. Captain Patrick Cripps led by example early, but as the pressure rose late, the team’s composure fell away. It marks the fifth time this season the Blues have held a lead at half-time only to lose the match.
There was controversy too. A late hit from Joel Amartey on Carlton sub Jordan Boyd in the final minutes may earn the Swans forward a suspension. The bump left Boyd concussed and under protocols, and Voss didn’t mince his words: “I’m sure that’ll be looked at closely and treated accordingly.”
Swans coach Dean Cox acknowledged the incident but said it’s now up to the AFL. “We want our players to play hard but within the rules. That bump, I’ll have to look again, but we know there’s a line—and there are consequences for crossing it.”
Amartey wasn’t the only Swan who may be scrutinised, with Justin McInerney’s earlier bump on Jack Silvagni also catching attention. Fortunately for Sydney, Silvagni’s removal was due to a muscle strain, not a head knock, which may work in McInerney’s favour.
On the injury front, the Swans lost Aaron Francis to concussion after a freak collision with teammate Brodie Grundy. It’s a blow for a side already dealing with depleted key-position stocks, but the win breathes new life into their season, lifting them to 4-6 and back in touch with the top eight.
In contrast, for Carlton, it’s back to the drawing board. Again. The SCG hoodoo continues—they’ve now lost 17 of their last 19 games there dating back to 1994. More importantly, the psychological damage from yet another blown lead may prove harder to overcome than the final scoreline.
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