Opening Round – Sydney v Carlton: Sleeping Swans awake and blow away the Blues
Like many footy fans, I sat down in front of the telly to watch the first Opening Round match between Sydney and Carlton to set AFL Season 2026 off to an eagerly awaited start.
Watching the game with eyes wide open I was able to consider fairly both teams without fear or favour with an open mind.
Sydney, with boom new recruit ex-Carlton star Charlie Curnow, I expected to jump out off of the starting blocks in front of a vocal and parochial crowd but it was not to be.
To be goaless at the end of the first quarter was something I was not expecting from Sydney. They were flatfooted, fumbled, and were led to the ball by an energetic and committed Carlton with first gamer Jagga Smith very impressive in that quarter.
Many of the Swans’ shakers and movers such as Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner were missing or struggling to get into the game and their drive forward was noticeably missing.
Carlton continued to control the ball in the second quarter but I thought Sydney was slowing awakening from their slumber and beginning to make their presence felt. Except for some missed shots on goal they could easily have been in front at half-time instead of 10 points down.
I don’t know what Dean Cox said to his players at the break but it was certainly a different team that came out to play in the third quarter. Errol Gulden had the ball on a string, Chad Warner was everywhere, and Heeney was damaging, and Carlton now the team looking flat-footed.
Charlie Curnow kicked his first goal in the red and white, their big boys were holding their marks, their ball handling skills much cleaner than earlier in the match, and suddenly the Swans were on fire. They kicked 12 goals for the quarter, 3 from an unlikely goal kicker in McInernery and quickly demoralised a shell-shocked Carlton. Carlton players who played well in the first half, particularly their new and younger players, were shoved aside and looked completely outclassed by a slick and professional team.
Sydney kicked 18 goals after half-time while Carlton could only manage 6 was the story of the game. Sydney’s drive out of the centre and forward forays were telling. Errol Gulden was back to his golden best and was sensational – definitely a 3 vote Brownlow game!
It was the demolition of a team expected to be improvers this year but coach Michael Voss must already feel under the pump by that easy capitulation by his team and the season ahead may be a long one for them.
On the other hand Sydney after waking from their early slumber suggests they will be right up there with the best of them in the premiership fight for 2026.
SYDNEY 0.3 2.6 14.9 20.12 (132)
CARLTON 2.2 4.4 8.6 10.9 (69)
GOALS
Sydney: Curnow 3, McInerney 3, Amartey 3, Roberts 2, Heeney 2, Warner, Sheldrick, Rowbottom, Rosas, Papley, McDonald, Grundy
Carlton: Pittonet 3, Ainsworth 2, Moir, McKay, Kemp, E.Hollands, Hayward
BEST
Sydney: Gulden, McInerney, Heeney, Warner, Serong, Roberts
Carlton: Walsh, Lord, Smith, Pittonet
INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
Carlton: Saad (hamstring tightness)
Crowd: 40,372 at the SCG
More from Col Ritchie can be read Here
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About Colin Ritchie
Retired teacher who enjoys following the Bombers, listening to music especially Bob Dylan, reading, and swimming.
Col, you have started the ball rolling for season 2026 in fine style. Well done.
It was an amazing turnaround by the Swans after half time. The Sherrin switched from slippery soap into sterling silver for the slick and speedy Sydney Swans.
Carlton had no answers to Sydney’s second half onslaught and will be in a dark mood when earlier in the game, things looked bright. Let’s hope they regroup and respond positively. Onwards and upwards for the Swans.
Col only saw part of the 1st half but once the swans got there hands on the ball in the clinches they hurt the blues on the outside with speed massively continuing the trend of -Carlton being in front at ht and then over run from last season thank you
A fair summary, Col.
What stood out for me was from the early stages of the third onwards; while the amount of clearances both sides managed seemed fairly even, the way the Swans used the ball out of the contest was streets ahead. It was like watching players with jetpacks in their soles line up on blokes in concrete clogs.
Swans should be a danger to the flag this year, I won’t count out the Blues entirely but there’s work to be done.
Michael Voss may have been happy with what he saw from the Blues over the pre-season, but watching the second half I kept thinking of the Mike Tyson quote “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”.
My only regret from that game is that I picked Carlton to finish as high as 12th this year. Voss will see out this season, ie autumn.