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In a nutshell: Swans versus Blues
By Danny Russell
Snapshot: Sydney at home are always a formidable opponent. Tonight does not look any different. While they disappointed in 2025, three factors point towards them scooting up the ladder this year: Errol Gulden returning from injury, the recruitment of Charlie Curnow and a fit-and-firing Tom Papley. That’s an impressive trio. The Blues are also a fascinating watch. True, they have lost Curnow, Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni, but thanks to a healthy list (touch wood, Cartlon fans), they appear to have considerable depth, highlighted by a backline that boasts rebounders Adam Saad, Zac Williams and Oliver Florent. Their biggest concern is a shortage of A-grade talent outside Cripps, Sam Walsh and Jacob Weitering.
The main event: All eyes will be on Curnow and Weitering. Will the big Blue defender go straight to his former teammate? Has Weitering recovered enough from a heavy knock in Perth during the State Of Origin game to stand the damaging Swans recruit? We are about to find out, and we can’t wait. Expect Blues skipper Cripps to serve it up to Curnow as well.
Jagga Smith (left) and Will Hayward will play their first game for Carlton tonight. Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Recent history: The Swans have won their past two clashes, both at home – 11.12 (78) to 9.8 (62) in May last year, and 17.15 (117) to 9.11 (65) in May 2024. Sydney also lead their head-to-head clashes 3-2 across the past five encounters.
Selection table: There’s a lot to keep Carlton fans excited. Top draft picks Jagga Smith and Harry Dean will make their debuts, while the Blues are bringing in new faces Oliver Florent (Swans), Will Hayward (Swans), Ben Ainsworth (Suns), Campbell Chesser (Eagles) and Liam Reidy (Dockers) for their first games in the navy blue.
The Swans have three new faces in gun forward Curnow (Blues), small forward Malcolm Rosas (Suns) and key defender Jai Serong (Hawks).
What the coaches say:
Carlton’s Michael Voss: “I think everyone else is Charlie-focused, we don’t make it about him. We’ve got a job to do, and we’re pretty determined to get it done.”
Sydney’s Dean Cox: “This time last year there were injuries, I think it was over a dozen. Probably a few selection headaches in terms of leaving guys out this time around.”
What the experts say: It’s a Sydney whitewash. All 16 of our AFL tipsters have forecast a Swans victory. Chief footy writer Jake Niall has them finishing 20 points in front by the final siren.
For our panel’s tips for the entire Opening Round, click HERE.
How they’ll line up – Curnow v Weitering, look out!
Sydney v Carlton, SCG, 7.30pm
SYDNEY
B: L.Melican, T.McCartin, D.Rampe
HB: C.Mills, N.Blakey, S.Wicks
C: J.Jordon, I.Heeney, M.Roberts
HF: M.Rosas, J.Rowbottom, T.Papley
F: J.Amartey, C.Curnow, L.McDonald
R: B.Grundy, E.Gulden, Ch.Warner
I/C: R.Bice, J.McInerney, J.Serong, J.Lloyd, A.Sheldrick
EMG: P.Ladhams, Co.Warner, H.McLean
CARLTON
B: O.Florent, J.Weitering, L.Young
HB: H.Dean, M.McGovern, A.Saad
C: O.Hollands, P.Cripps, W.Hayward
HF: L.Fogarty, H.McKay, B.Ainsworth
F: J.Smith, B.Kemp, A.Moir
R: M.Pittonet, G.Hewett, S.Walsh
I/C: Z.Williams, L.Reidy, E.Hollands, C.Chesser, C.Lord
EMG: T.Byrne, H.O’Keeffe, J.Boyd
Flag continues to elude Cripps
Patrick Dangerfield knows full well the yearn for a premiership that all greats of the game possess. He had completed all there was to conquer individually before belatedly, in his 15th season, experiencing the ultimate glory in 2022.
Another Patrick, of the Cripps variety, is heading into his 13th season. Like Dangerfield, he has been the best player in the game and has the trophy cabinet to prove it, but he is yet to taste the ultimate success.
Carlton’s Patrick Cripps is moving into the veteran category, and still without a grand final appearance. Credit: Getty Images
The respect these two Brownlow medallists have for each other is immense, and Dangerfield admits Cripps deserves a flag. But in the brutal AFL world, Dangerfield makes a salient point.
“He [Cripps] is a champion of the game… it’s a hard competition. [But] deserving counts for little – you need a lot of luck to go your way, you need so many things to align, and every team gets better,” Dangerfield said when asked by this masthead about Cripps.
“I think that’s the hardest part to predict – you don’t know what the future will hold. Every team wants to start well, but the competition only gets tougher. Everyone wants to get better – so does he, so do I. But to answer your question, yeah, he is a superstar of the game.”
Read Jon Pierik’s full story on the Carlton superstar HERE.
Welcome, and let the season begin
Hello, footy lovers. Welcome to the first game of the 2026 AFL season and the only place to follow the action – our live blog.
My name is Danny Russell, and I’ll be providing updates throughout this intriguing clash between Sydney and Carlton at the SCG, staring at 7.30pm.
We also have Peter Ryan, and our Sydney Morning Herald colleague Jonathan Drennan, at the ground to provide expert commentary and give their insights during the match. Enjoy.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
