Saturday’s only AFL Finals Week 2 match is between Sydney Swans and Carlton Blues. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:45pm local time with the game to be played at ANZ Stadium. The home team Sydney Swans are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Sydney Swans and Carlton Blues.

Round: Semi-Finals 7:45 PM September 14, 2013
Stadium: ANZ Stadium
Weather: 20° Possible shower.

Featured Bookmakers:

Sydney Swans $1.36 vs Carlton Blues $3.15 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match

Sydney Swans $1.35 vs Carlton Blues $3.20 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by AFL Odds:

Sydney Swans	1.36	1.30	1.35	1.30	1.36	1.33
Carlton Blues	3.15	3.50	3.20	3.50	3.15	3.20

Preview:

The Swans were at their determined best in the first half last week but 3.2 for the final half of the game, was no match for the premiership favourites Hawthorn who went further in front the longer the game went.

In the end, Hawthorn ran out comfortably 54 point winners.

After a good performance in the final round of the home and away season, again against Hawthorn, last week’s effort would have been deflating.

Worryingly, it was Sydney’s fourth loss in five weeks

The good news for Sydney this week, as they put last week’s loss behind them, is that Adam Goodes completed a strong training session on Tuesday and looks set to return for the Swans in this must win match.

Carlton – somehow – are still alive in season 2013.

A remarkable combination of Essendon’s dramas, a one point win over Port in the final round of the season and last week, coming from 32 points down early in the third quarter to claim a 20 point win over Richmond, sees the Blues still swinging!

Although not at their best in the middles stages of last week’s game, Carlton never gave up and in the end worried Richmond out of the win.

Judd was back from injury and would expect last week’s run will serve him will for here.

Carlton has won three of their last four to stay and are battle ready whereas, Sydney need to re-group after last week’s poor second half but, are capable of turning that effort around.

Last time these two sides met at ANZ Stadium it was under very similar conditions. A must win finals match back in 2010.

Sydney prevailed on that occasion 99 – 94.

They’ve only met once this year back in round 14 with that result also going to Sydney 65 – 43.

This will be another tight contest and 21.5 on offer about Carlton appears to be generous.

Teams:

Sydney Swans:
B: Dane Rampe, Ted Richards, Nick Malceski
HB: Andrejs Everitt, Heath Grundy, Nick Smith
C: Tom Mitchell, Kieren Jack, Jarrad McVeigh
HF: Daniel Hannebery, Kurt Tippett, Craig Bird
F: Jude Bolton, Mike Pyke, Jesse White
FOLL: Shane Mumford, Josh Kennedy, Ryan O’Keefe
I/C: Shane Biggs, Luke Parker, Lewis Jetta, Harry Cunningham
EMG: Jed Lamb, Brandon Jack, Dean Towers
IN: Shane Biggs, Harry Cunningham
OUT: Ben McGlynn (Calf), Gary Rohan (Omitted)

Carlton Blues:
B: Heath Scotland, Michael Jamison, Lachie Henderson
HB: Zach Tuohy, Jarrad Waite, Bryce Gibbs
C: Chris Yarran, Mitch Robinson, Kade Simpson
HF: Ed Curnow, Andrew Walker, Andrew McInnes
F: Jeff Garlett, Matthew Kreuzer, Chris Judd
FOLL: Robert Warnock, Eddie Betts, Marc Murphy
I/C: Nick Duigan, Troy Menzel, Tom Bell, Dennis Armfield
EMG: David Ellard, Brock McLean, Levi Casboult
No changes   

Gary Rohan’s AFL fairytale on hold

The fairytale AFL comeback of Sydney midfielder Gary Rohan is on hold, with the speedster now in search of form and fitness in the reserves.

Rohan played four AFL games after making an earlier-than-expected return from a horrific leg break he suffered in round four last year.

But having struggled to train this week due to a calf issue, Swans coach John Longmire opted not to risk him in Saturday night’s sudden-death semi-final against Carlton at ANZ Stadium.

Longmire still expected the 22-year-old to be fit for Sunday’s NEAFL eastern conference grand final in Canberra.

“Gary Rohan we will still look to play in our reserves and we’re hopeful he’s able to play in that and run around and enjoy that and get a bit of good game time under his belt,” Longmire said on Thursday.

“He’s a little bit sore today in his calf but he should be right by Sunday and hopefully he’ll have a good run around in our twos.”

Rohan didn’t train on Tuesday and was then unable to reach his trademark pace while attempting some sprints at the SCG on Thursday under the supervision of club medical staff.

In better news for the reigning premiers, who will be without inspirational veteran Adam Goodes for the rest of the season, co-captain Jarrad McVeigh looks set to take on the Blues.

McVeigh carried a calf injury into last Friday night’s qualifying final against Hawthorn and then injured his knee in the final stages of the 54-point loss.

But Longmire had no doubts McVeigh would be right to take his place in the selected side at ANZ Stadium.

“He pulled up sore from the game immediately afterwards, but he felt OK yesterday and he felt even better today when I spoke to him,” he said.

“That’s the reality of playing at this time of the year. There’s very few players that are going into games at 100 per cent.

“That’s the same at every team. We were the same last year – it’s just what it is at this time of year.”

The forgotten man of the Swans’ well-stocked injury stocks Lewis Roberts-Thomson (knee) is set to play his first game in the reserves since injuring his knee in round four.

“He’s actually trained pretty well in the last couple of weeks,” Longmire said.