Every player graded as Swans extend at top of the table, Blues fall apart

Sydney has extended its lead atop the AFL ladder, handing Carlton its most disastrous loss in some time in the process. 

It was all one-way traffic after quarter time favouring the men from the harbour city, with the Swans hammering on a remarkable 14 goals after quarter time in waltzing to a 52-point win.

Michael Voss’ Blues kicked the first four majors of the clash at the SCG, but managed just five more for the night as Sydney’s midfielders ran riot. 

Chad Warner put in a performance that won’t soon be forgotten, kicking three goals among 28 in the most dynamic midfield performance seen so far in 2024. 

He was well supported by the likes of Isaac Heaney, James Rowbottom and more, who handed a stacked Blues’ on-ball unit a humiliating defeat. 

Carlton’s injury woes also continued to get worse, with star defender and vice-captain Jacob Weitering subbed out at half-time after struggling with a corky. 

We graded every player from the Swans’ demolition job, putting particular weighting on the players who stood up when the game was on the line in what was the equal third biggest home and away crowd ever at the SCG. 

SYDNEY

Chad Warner: A+ 

You’ll be hard pressed to find a better midfielder performance this season, especially in terms of Warner’s impact on the contest. He stuffed the stats sheet, but even that doesn’t tell the full story. 

James Rowbottom: A+ 

Was going head-to-head with Cripps and took a while to wear him down, but Rowbottom took the chocolates well and truly. A whopping 15 tackles. 

James Jordon: A

Sharp and polished early when curtailing Sam Walsh’s game while also doing plenty the other way. 

Isaac Heaney: A 

A slower start, but he’s the Brownlow Medal favourite for a reason. Fought off plenty of attention from Matt Kennedy. 

Brodie Grundy: A

Worked his way on top of Marc Pittonet and Tom De Koning. 

Errol Gulden: B+ 

Did most of his work when the game was well over, but 721 metres gained has to be respected. 

Dane Rampe: B+

Gave Tom De Koning an absolute bath. 

Will Hayward: B 

Sam Wicks: B 

Did very little in the first half but everything he did do turned to gold.

Lewis Melican: B 

Took responsibility for Charlie Curnow and wore him like a glove throughout. 

Nick Blakey: B

Joel Amartey: B+ 

Tom Papley: B 

Didn’t do a heap late, but the game was already won by then. Looked a class above when Sydney needed him to be. 

Taylor Adams: B- 

Luke Parker is waiting in the wings, but there’s no reason Adams will be dropped on that performance. 

Aaron Francis: C+

Logan McDonald: C+ 

Had an impact but went goalless, which held him back. 

Hayden McLean: C+ 

Jake Lloyd: C 

21 disposals but a few kicks he would want back.

Harry Cunningham: C 

Justin McInerney: C- 

An unusually quiet night, despite the Swans able to move the ball with supreme freedom. 

Ollie Florent: C- 

See above. 

Robbie Fox: N/A 

Subbed out with an AC injury.

Braeden Campbell: N/A 

Came on as the sub. 

CARLTON

Blake Acres: B+ 

Didn’t stop trying and had a few magical moments. His brilliant season continues. 

Nic Newman: B+ 

You can’t have that much of the footy and look so composed in the first half and get anything less than a B+, even if Newman fell away after that. 

Brodie Kemp: B+ 

Had the better of Logan McDonald, did his job.

Marc Pittonet: B-

Clearly had the most clearances of any Blue in a good battle against Brodie Grundy. 

Jordan Boyd: B

Plenty of nice moments and was victim to his side’s failings up the ground. 

Charlie Curnow: C+

A bit fumbly and not at his best, yet Curnow still kicked 2.2.

Matt Owies: C+ 

Had an impact as a livewire forward when the game was hot early. 

Zac Williams: C+ 

Started forward and looked dangerous, but was moved back after Weitering's injury.

Alex Cincotta: C+ 

Papley kicked two outside of his control, but largely held the small forward quiet.

Elijah Hollands: C+  

Among a clump of Blues who had enough of the footy but didn’t really do anything with it. 

Sam Walsh: C 

Caught some early attention from James Jordon but fought his way through it, albeit still proving no match for the Swans midfield.

Patrick Cripps: C 

Harry McKay: C- 

Missed a couple he should have swallowed, one of which early really came back to hurt. 

Matt Kennedy: C- 

The most tackles of any Carlton player as the defensive midfielder but couldn’t contain the Swans. 

Caleb Marchbank: C- 

Orazio Fantasia: C- 

Had a better-than-usual start to the game, which says more about his previous output than what he did against Sydney.  

Ollie Hollands: C 

George Hewett: D+ 

Was going backwards in the first half. Got going after that when it was all over. too slow for Chad Warner.

Tom De Koning: D-

Proved more of a liability on Friday night. Is he a ruckman or a forward? He struggled with both.

Corey Durdin: D- 

A disastrous night for the small forward. His average of 7 disposals per game decreased tonight.

Jack Carroll: N/A 

Came on as the sub at half-time and wasn’t his side’s worst. 

Jacob Weitering: N/A 

Was clearly hampered by a knock he copped to the quad early on and Carlton made the call to sub him off at half-time.