Preview: Can a new coach help farcical Blues

Carlton

Sydney vs Carlton, Friday Night 7:50pm, SCG 

For what feels like the umpteenth week in a row, Carlton are thrust again into the Fright Night spotlight, having their woes magnified. The coaching situation (regardless of if Mick is there or not) has reached farcical proportions, projecting a giant question of competence on not only the board, but the entire club. 

For anyone who has watched Carlton this season, it’s not only that this playing group isn’t very good, you can tell this lack of confidence in the club overall has seen many players go backwards or not bother in showing up on game day. They’re sluggish, not doing the basics and getting beaten up to the point where it’s surprising the scoreboard damage isn’t worse. 

Injuries or not (as Malthouse thought was a big factor in the club’s slide), a winners mentality is long gone from Carlton, and for some it’s just about basic survival week to week. 

The Swans on the other hand should be riding high after edging off the Hawks, hopefully exorcising some of the hurt from last year’s painful grand final loss. They charged out of the blocks early to really jump their rivals and stamp their authority on the contest. 

What coach John Longmire should be real pleased about, is the manner in which they absorbed the pressure of the Hawks, who came at them and tried to do everything in their power to unsettle them and throw them off their game. Considering they weathered storm, Longmire can take some confidence in knowing there’s a psychological win for the group he’s coaching. 

If they can take that message on through this week and the rest of the season, it goes a long way to chasing down another flag. 


Key Match Ups

Kurt Tippett vs Sam Rowe 

Another spectacular challenge for key man Rowe, Tippett’s bound to be a handful with Franklin likely to run havoc elsewhere in the Swans forward half. 

Levi Casboult vs Ted Richards 

Casboult despite working on his kicking the last few weeks, will have his mind elsewhere. Richards is great at rebounding and will likely need to be contained from starting chains of possession. 


Result 

Very likely to be a whitewash this match considering the week the Blues have had. The Swans are starting to roll into form and will be looking to consolidate a top two spot. 

Swans by 71. 

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