<p>Friday night footy is back in the Harbour City as the Swans host Carlton for their traditional ‘Marn Grook’ game.</p> <p>It feels like this is becoming a regular fixture with how often the Swans have hosted the Blues during the Indigenous Rounds. Maybe it has something to do with the fact it has been an almost guaranteed four points for the home side every year.</p> <p>However, there’s a sense that this time around it’s not all that simple. The Swans have found the start to life under Dean Cox difficult. They sit 14th on the ladder at 3-6, and after last week's loss to the Bombers at Marvel, it’s bordering on a last-chance saloon for last year's vanquished Grand Finalists.</p> <p>Yes, there is an excuse due to key pieces being missing and injured, but the Swans haven’t looked like the team that has had the same presence as they have had for much of the last two decades.&nbsp;</p> <p>This means Friday night is now, if it wasn’t already, a ‘must-win’ for the Swans as they look to keep their season alive.</p> <p>On the flip side, Carlton secured an important win against the Saints at the MCG last Friday night and took another step towards squaring the ledger after their dismal start to the season. Jack Silvagni proved just how much of a vital cog he has become in a short space of time in the Carlton defence, while forward Harry McKay, in the spirit of the night, dobbed the sealer from the boundary line in another commanding display from the key forward.&nbsp;</p> <p>Now sitting at 4-5, the Blues have won four of their last five matches, and this Friday presents the start of a run of extremely winnable games for Carlton.</p> <p>To begin with, they will have to confront a venue where they have not had great success since the turn of the century. However, the Blues have been all about breaking hoodoos under Michael Voss, so this would be another significant one to tick off.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Blues were the walking wounded on Friday night with several players nursing injuries throughout the game and will be subjected to fitness tests ahead of the trip north to Sydney. Mitch McGovern and Blake Acres will be tested, while it’s likely that defender Lachie Cowan will miss a few weeks after re-aggravating a hamstring injury.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Swans will monitor Nick Blakey through the week after he went off late in the game against Essendon for a HIA. He was cleared of concussion, but he will be tested later in the week as the Swans assess his fitness.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Swans might pull the trigger on veteran midfielder Taylor Adams this week after he made a successful return from a hamstring injury in the VFL last week, albeit off limited game time. However, it might be a move Dean Cox looks to make as he searches for a timely W.</p> <p>&nbsp;For the latest team news, analysis, odds, and betting tips, check out our Swans vs Blues prediction and preview below.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney vs Carlton Predicted Teams</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Sydney Predicted Team List</h3> <p>B: Riley Bice, Tom McCartin, Matt Roberts</p> <p>HB: Sam Wicks, Dane Rampe, Nick Blakey</p> <p>C: Ollie Florent, Isaac Heeney, Jake Lloyd</p> <p>HF: Will Hayward, Hayden McLean, James Jordon</p> <p>F: Braeden Campbell, Aaron Francis, Corey Warner</p> <p>Foll: Brodie Grundy, Chad Warner, James Rowbottom</p> <p>Int: Justin McInerney, Taylor Adams, Angus Sheldrick, Joel Hamling, Caiden Cleary</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Carlton Predicted Team List</h3> <p>B: Matt Carroll, Jacob Weitering, Nick Haynes</p> <p>HB: Adam Saad, Jack Silvagni, Lewis Young</p> <p>C: Jaxon Binns, Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh</p> <p>HF: Elijah Hollands, Charlie Curnow, Will White</p> <p>F: Corey Durdin, Harry McKay, Jesse Motlop&nbsp;</p> <p>Foll: Tom De Koning, Adam Cerra, George Hewett</p> <p>Int: Cooper Lord, Blake Acres, Francis Evans, Ollie Hollands, Jordan Boyd&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney vs Carlton Prediction &amp; Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Head-to-Head Prediction</h3> <p>The Swans hold sway in the recent head-to-head fixtures, winning three of the past five matches between the two sides. This includes a 52-point thumping in the corresponding Round last year.</p> <p>Crucially, The Blues have not won at the SCG since 2019 and have only won twice at the venue since the turn of the century. Their record in New South Wales as a whole is only slightly better just four wins at all grounds since 2000.</p> <p>It shapes as a battle between the midfield groups. The Blues fired last week when they didn’t against Adelaide. They excel when they can go head-to-head with a group and match them at the contest. A lot of focus will be on the big two Swans in there, Chad Warner and Issac Heeney. If they get going with their dynamism and dash, they will trouble the Blues greatly and throw the rest of their game off-kilter.&nbsp;</p> <p>It’s going to need to be a strong performance from the Swans forward mix against the Blues’ defence which was back to its best against the Saints. Hayden McLean, Aaron Francis, Joel Hamling and Will Hayward will need to put in a big shift if they are to put up a winning score.&nbsp;</p> <p>At the other end, Tom McCartin will have his hands full with the twin towers McKay and Curnow and there’s little to no doubt that James Jordon will go to one of Paddy Cripps or Sam Walsh.&nbsp;</p> <p>It’s an old-fashioned eight-point game here. History says the Swans beat the Blues at the SCG so that’s where we are looking here too.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/sydney-swans-v-carlton-9186704">Sydney Swans</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Goal Prediction</h3> <p>Swans forward seems to remember his extra accurate kicking boots when he plays the Blues. Opposition-wise, he’s only kicked more goals against the Giants (23 goals), but he’s regularly dined out on the Blues, kicking 17 goals, five behinds against them in 11 matches.</p> <p>He’s hit the scoreboard early against the Blues before, we’re looking at him to find the board early again.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/sydney-swans-v-carlton-9186704">Will Hayward</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Most Disposals Prediction</h3> <p>Captain Carlton Patrick Cripps has started cooking again in recent weeks. A lone-handed effort against the Crows before properly imposing himself on the Saints game, getting back to his ball-winning best.</p> <p>While he’ll likely get some attention, he’ll be at the forefront of everything Carlton wants to do from the middle if they are to win.</p> <p><strong>Betting Tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/sydney-swans-v-carlton-9186704">Patrick Cripps 25+ disposals</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney Swans vs Carlton Blues Match Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date: </strong>Friday, May 16th</p> <p><strong>First Bounce: </strong>7:40 PM, AEST</p> <p><strong>Location: </strong>SCG, Sydney</p> <p><strong>How to watch: </strong>Channel 7, Fox Footy/ Kayo Sports</p>