Blues v Swans - snippets

Star Man: Ryan O'Keefe (Sydney) - The Swans' star forward was magnificent all day on Sunday as he revelled in his extra responsibility in the absence of Barry Hall, While Jarrad McVeigh and Darren Jolly might have been the ones that kicked the crucial goals in the Swans' two point win, O'Keefe's all-round contribution was immense. He not only booted three goals but also had 29 disposals and took ten marks and well as taking the ball inside the Swans' forward 50 on a game high 12 occasions.

What a Goal! Carlton's Marc Murphy showed just why he is now regarded as one of the most exciting young players in the game with a piece of great skill, invention and class late in the third term. With the Blues leading by 11 points, the 2005 number one draft pick brilliantly roved the ball off a ball-up then cleverly tapped it in front of him to gather and without breaking stride bent back a superb goal across his body while running towards the boundary line to bring the Blues' hordes to their feet.

Classic Grab: Andrew Walker might have been playing his first game for the season for Carlton, following a serious shoulder injury sustained during the pre-season, but during his long lay-off he certainly did not lose his marking skills as evidenced by a fantastic one hander when off-balance in the third term. Walker's great mark led to Eddie Betts getting the ball to Brendan Fevola, who then handballed over the top for Adam Hartlett to run into an open goal to put the Blues back in front.

Turning Point: The Swans had been ordinary in the first half and should have trailed by far more than just 16 points at half-time. In fact at the 30 minute mark of the second term it looked like the Blues would go in with a deserved half-time lead of nearly five goals but two crucial goals to Jarrad McVeigh within three minutes late in the term cut the margin back to 16 points and gave the Swans some much-needed momentum to take into the second half. And that little burst just before half-time would prove crucial as the Swans came out revitalised after half-time to seize control of the game.

Absolute Shocker: With so little between the teams, this was always going to be the kind of game where a bit of luck either way could be crucial in the final outcome. And luck was certainly against the Blues in an exciting final term when a shot on the run from Murphy looked certain to bounce through - only to take a wicked off-break in the goalsquare and instead hit the post. So instead of being within three points at the 10 minute mark, the Blues were still eight points down and when Sydney got the next goal (see below), their task became extremely difficult.

Unsung Hero Bryce Gibbs (Carlton) - You just had to feel sorry for the Blues' talented 2006 number one draft pick on Sunday. The 19-year-old was absolutely magnificent in a tagging role on Sydney's dual Brownlow Medalist Adam Goodes - who did not gain a single possession in the first quarter and managed just two to half-time. And even though he managed a goal in the third term on Gibbs, Goodes had still only managed three touches to the final change. But then in the last term he cut loose at a crucial stage taking a fine mark - one on one against Gibbs - and then running into an open goal at the 11 minute mark to give the Blues a 14 point lead but even that should not detract from the quality of Gibbs' efforts on Sunday.