Franklin and Heeney run riot in Swans victory
CARLTON have made it three wins on the trot, defeating archrivals Collingwood by 15 points at the MCG yesterday afternoon.
Just seven games into a significant rebuild of last year’s wooden spooners, coach Brendon Bolton has his young side playing strong, contested football, which was the cornerstone of the 15.9 (99) to 12.12 (84) win in front of 60,222 fans.
The Pies trailed by as much as 30 points in the third quarter but came at the Blues in the final term, slicing the margin to 12 points.
However, with the game on the line, Levi Casboult — much-maligned for his errant goal kicking — stepped up and slotted a long-range goal that stalled Collingwood’s momentum. Casboult took 11 marks finished with three goals, as did Bryce Gibbs and Andrejs Everitt.
Gibbs was outstanding throughout, gathering 30 possessions, with Kade Simpson, Patrick Cripps and Marc Murphy all important.
Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom were the standouts for Collingwood but their onball brigade was well beaten on the day.
With Travis Cloke still trying to find form in the VFL, the Pies lacked marking targets inside attacking 50, small forward Alex Fasolo their most dangerous forward with four goals.
Carlton were simply harder at the ball in the first half — they had 23 more contested possessions and took 11 more contested marks — but they didn’t take full advantage of that dominance.
They led by two points at the first break and 11 at half-time but they kicked poorly for goal.
But Gibbs stepped up with all three of his goals in the third term as the Blues threatened to run away with the contest.
To their credit, the Pies didn’t go quietly but Carlton showed commendable composure under pressure to seal the victory.
Alarm bells are ringing for Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley, whose side slipped to a 2-5 record with the loss, while the Blues improve to 3-4. IT was the Lance Franklin and Isaac Heeney show at the SCG last night as the master and his apprentice put on a sparkling display, kicking six and five goals respectively in the Swans 81-point belting of Essendon.
In a week when debate of the academies dominated the news, the Swans’ pin-up boy was electric as he provided an avenue to goals and a marking target inside 50.
He is now the Swans’ best overhead mark pulling down nine for the night including 4 contested with most coming inside forward 50.
Franklin ( pictured) continued his love affair with playing against Essendon. His six goals brought his career tally to 64 against the red and blacks, his highest against any club. He averages 4.9 goals per game against the Bombers.
He had plenty of supply, with Josh Kennedy leading the way with 40 possessions, including 16 contested, with seven clearances. Tom Mitchell, Dan Hannebery and Luke Parker weren’t far behind him; Mitchell had 37 possessions while Hannebery had 31, including 17 contested, and Parker racked up 29 and 15 contested.
In his 50th game, Jake Lloyd continued his impressive season with 25 touches.
Callum Sinclair also provided a marking target up forward but failed to convert, kicking 1.4. Fellow big man Kurt Tippett was also strong in the ruck and went forward to kick two goals.
Jarrad McVeigh continues to improve after an injury interrupted pre-season. His 28 disposals regularly found a teammate as he led the Swans defence, who conceded just seven goals.
The win moves Sydney to 6-1 for the season and into second spot on the ladder behind Geelong with North Melbourne to play today.
Essendon looked like they were going to make a contest when they kicked four goals in a row at the end of the first quarter and the start of the second to lead by six. But the Bombers kicked just one goal in the second half as they ran out of puff.
David Zaharakis was Essendon’s best with 33 disposals and two goals. Running defenders Anthony McDonaldTipungwuti and Courtney Dempsey provided a plenty of run from the back half. BEST UMPIRES CROWD