A MISSED opportunity.

Carlton has gone down by 16 points in a scrappy affair at the SCG, falling to Sydney 11.12 (78) to 9.8 (62).

The Blues led for the majority of the contest in a low-scoring scrap, but a five-goal-to-two last quarter saw the Blues come away empty-handed from a venue where they’ve struggled to get the job done.

As one of only four Carlton players to enjoy a win at the SCG prior to the game, it was captain Patrick Cripps who took charge with the opening goal in slippery conditions early.

Early match-ups became clear for both sides, with Francis Evans providing early attention to Nick Blakey, while James Jordon and Joel Hamling looked to have defensive roles on Sam Walsh and Jacob Weitering respectively.

It was goal for goal in the early going, with Harry McKay looming large in attack for the Blues, recording seven disposals, six contested possessions and a goal inside the opening term alone.

Cripps once again bobbed up with a second goal from a contested situation, before Charlie Curnow recorded his 300th career goal to provide the Blues with some spark.

Carlton largely dominated the forward territory early with 20 inside 50s to nine, but were unable to make their ascendancy count while the Swans looked potent on the counter attack with three goals from limited entries.

Cooper Lord started the game stationed on the wing and enjoyed a positive start as one of five Blues with seven disposals to his name, while Marc Pittonet - in his first game for the season - contributed five of the Blues’ eight clearances in the first term where the Blues led by one straight kick.

Unselfish play from Lewis Young at the start of the second term got Durdin and the Blues off to a hot start, and while the other small forwards struggled for impact with ball in hand, they were making their pressure felt with seven tackles inside 50 in the first half.

The Blues started to have some moments go against them, with the swans drawing level. In a high-pressure, physical term, the Swans started to get more forward territory after Carlton’s early advantage, as Adam Cerra stood up with 10 disposals and six contested possessions in the second term alone.

Carlton settled late and McKay stepped up once more, snapping his second goal for a seven-point half-time buffer.

The Blues were forced to go without Jack Silvagni in the second half, who was subbed out due to groin soreness as Jordan Boyd entered the contest as a forward, with Young swung down back.

Curnow bobbed up with his trademark goal from the junction of the 50-metre line and boundary, but there were to be no more goals in the third term for the Blues, with just one to the Swans for the entire third term.

Cripps led the way with some key defensive moments, contributing four tackles for the term alongside Cerra and Pittonet, but the Swans continued to get on top of the contested possession stakes after quarter time.

The Blues’ backline held up to only concede one goal from 13 entries, with Cerra (10 disposals) and Saad (eight disposals) working overtime as the Blues maintained a slender lead at the final change.

That was soon eradicated in the early going of the final term, with two running goals - and a flurry of behinds - giving the Swans their biggest lead of the match.

Moved down back for the final term, a brilliant assist from Boyd found Curnow for his third, but a trio of late goals meant the Blues wouldn’t come away from the SCG with the four points.

Match summary


SYDNEY         3.2     5.3     6.7      11.12 (78)
CARLTON      4.2     6.4     7.6       9.8 (62)

GOALS
Carlton: Curnow 3, Cripps 2, McKay 2, Durdin, Walsh