Carlton Blues vs Sydney Swans Prediction: A competitive contest ahead, with the Blues expected to move to next round

The match between the Carlton Blues and the Sydney Swans will take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the first round of the playoffs for the 2023 season of the Australian Football League. In spite of an impressive winning streak leading up to that championship game, both teams had finished their regular seasons with losses before coming into this matchup.

The Carlton Blues finished the regular season in fifth place on the ladder as the best of the teams that finished outside of the top four. Their record of 13 wins, nine losses, and one tie places them as the best of the remainder outside of the top four. Despite this, they are putting all of their efforts into the first round of the playoffs, so their accomplishments from the regular season do not count for anything as they try to avoid being eliminated. The team's nine-game winning streak came to an end in August when they were defeated by the GWS Giants by a score of 105-73, but this setback will not bother them as they aim to build on the momentum of a fantastic finish to the regular season. After sitting out round 24, Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty are expected to return for the Carlton Blues. Blake Acres may also play if he passes his fitness test and is cleared to play.

The Sydney Swans concluded the regular season in eighth place on the ladder, and they managed to squeak into the finals by finishing only two points above the GWS Giants, who finished in ninth place. It was a loss that brought an end to their six-match winning run, coming against the Melbourne Demons by a score of 77-56. However, it will be a worry for the team that this could snowball into the end of their season. Despite this, the Sydney Swans will have more confidence in their ability to win this game if they are able to defeat the Carlton Blues in their previous match, but they will have their work cut out for them against a Carlton Blues team that is highly formidable. It is anticipated that Tom Papley and Justin McInerney will be available to play for the Sydney Swans in this crucial contest.

The previous time these two teams competed, the Sydney Swans emerged victorious with a score of 77-51, extending their current winning streak against the Carlton Blues to two contests. The Sydney Swans have won six of their last 10 matches against the Carlton Blues, while the Blues have won four of those matches.

Because the Carlton Blues finished the regular season with a superior overall record to the Sydney Swans, it is not surprising that the former team is the favorite to win this matchup. Having said that, taking into consideration the outcomes of their previous contests against one another, we are confident and certain that we are in for a difficult competition. In spite of the fact that the Sydney Swans have won three of their previous five matches, it would not be shocking if they were to achieve the same feat here. In the meantime, despite the fact that I think this could be a challenging contest, I anticipate the Sydney Swans covering the spread in this game. In addition, when looking at how their prior matches against one another have concluded, we can be sure to anticipate a low number of points from this encounter, as I anticipate a greater emphasis on defensive play here.