No longer a rising star, Errol Gulden is ready to become a genuine star of the competition.
That was the key takeaway from Friday night’s practice match in a stormy Blacktown as Sydney defeated Carlton by 43 points.
The Swans, kicking with a strong wind early, got off to a 37-point first quarter lead, with the game largely back and forth from there.
Gulden was the star of the show, finishing with three goals, 45 disposals, six marks, nine score involvements, nine clearances and seven inside 50s – as complete a game as you can get.
Coming off their Grand Final loss, the Swans’ young core looks to have improved again with Gulden chief amongst them.
Braeden Campbell, Logan McDonald, Chad Warner, James Rowbottom and Nick Blakey all impressed – Campbell and McDonald look like the two players who would ideally elevate the Swans to another level in 2023.
Lance Franklin got through the game unscathed, kicking a nice dribbling goal and getting some miles into his legs.
The Swans looked crisp across the night. They controlled the clearances and stoppages and moved the ball consistently from their back half into attack.
Carlton weren’t quite as clean and didn’t adjust as well to the wet and windy conditions. They struggled greatly to move the ball at times, opting for long kicks down the line.
Obviously, their depth was tested without Patrick Cripps, Harry McKay, Sam Walsh, Mitch McGovern, Nic Newman, Corey Durdin, Zac Williams, Jack Martin, Caleb Marchbank, David Cuningham, Matt Cottrell and Jordan Boyd. To name a few.
This gave many the opportunity to plant their flag for a Round 1 berth. Two that did just that were draftees Oliver Hollands and Lachie Cowan.
Hollands covered the ground superbly all night on the wing and had seven first-quarter possessions, while Cowan showed toughness and heart in defence, wearing big hits and looking composed.
Given their injuries, both are red-hot chances to debut in Round 1.
Sam Docherty led the way across half back and then through the middle in the second half, finishing with 34 touches and 11 marks.
Blake Acres impressed in his first official hit-out as a Blue, making the most of his opportunities from the wing.
The Blues seem no closer to solving their ruck headache, however. Marc Pittonet looked rusty coming off a knee injury, while Tom De Koning was comfortably beaten by Ladhams across the night.
Does Carlton play both in Round 1 against Richmond? Do they lean on Jack Silvagni to back one of them up? Michael Voss has a tough call to make.
The Swans controlled the game and looked the better side, though of course, it’s hard to fully judge how much to take out of a practice game.
Best of all – no injuries (seemingly) for either team.
BESTS
Sydney: Gulden, Ladhams, Parker, Blakey, Campbell, Warner
Carlton: Docherty, Hewett, Weitering, C. Curnow, Acres
