FOUR points went on offer at the Docklands yesterday, and while Sydney claimed the prize ahead of Carlton, it amounted to a win-win situation for the teams.

Sydney will earn plaudits for another gutsy win, secured with two key players going down with injury, two others hampered but still playing, and from a deficit of 29 points during the second quarter.

Carlton lost the match but won new respect for courage under the type of fire you encounter in a game against the attritional, battle-hardened warriors of the Swans.

It was a graduation of sorts for Brett Ratten's team, which has been routinely slaughtered by Sydney's ironmen over recent seasons. In the end, it could have gone either way.

Nineteen points down midway through the final term, the Blues conjured the last three goals of the match so that one more centre clearance and they might have pinched the game.

Ratten paid tribute to Sydney for resilience: "They just claw (back) and no margin, really, is too far for them to conquer."

But at the finish it was Carlton doing the chasing down, and Sydney flagging. Nineteen seconds remained when the ball went back to the centre after Eddie Betts ran in to an open goal in the 28th minute to reduce the margin to two points, but at the bounce, Sydney found one more player to dive on the grenade.

Jude Bolton took the high contact he knew was coming from Chris Judd, won the free kick, and the siren came.

For much of the game, Carlton did everything right. It was started by the wunderkind Bryce Gibbs, who was given the big job of running with Adam Goodes in the middle.

Gibbs was quickly on top and Sydney shifted Goodes forward trying to expose the teenager; Gibbs still would not wilt. In fact, he beat the Brownlow medallist a handful of times in one-on-one combat. "It just shows the kid can play just about anywhere," Ratten said.

With Brendan Fevola (five goals despite corking a thigh in the first quarter) on top of Leo Barry up forward, Carlton looked potent. Sydney, the competition's No. 1 defence all season, concedes just 10 goals a game.

The Blues had that many by half-time and the Swans had been unlocked, trailing 20-8 in the free-kick count and looking slow across the ground.

Inevitably, Sydney came in the third quarter. But then Barry twanged a hamstring and O'Loughlin rolled an ankle, both rendered useless.

Ryan O'Keefe, one of the Swans' best already, went up the race for treatment on an ankle injury. And Goodes, impotent with two disposals in the first half, was running at half-power because of a groin injury, and well-covered by Gibbs.

Sydney found a way. Jarrad McVeigh used his big engine to push forward and find four goals, continuing his exponential improvement.

Even Paul Bevan, used as a front-half tagger on Heath Scotland, found two unlikely majors. Ruckman Darren Jolly snared a couple, and O'Keefe, still running hard, finished with three.

O'Keefe was indefatigable after a poor game against Hawthorn the week before, and coach Paul Roos paid tribute to the ability of both him and Goodes to make a contribution despite injuries. "We wouldn't have won without those two blokes digging in."

In the middle where it would be decided, Sydney evened out the earlier discrepancy in contested ball. Jolly's dominance at the bounces and around the ground only grew, and Carlton's weakness in that area would prove crucial.

Brett Kirk clamped down upon Chris Judd (four disposals after half-time) and Luke Ablett kept a tight rein on Nick Stevens, who struggled. With Goodes beaten, the Swans sent Jude Bolton into the furnace to win the football in close.

Bolton had a game-high 16 contested possessions, seven critical clearances, and was judged as having done an "exceptional" job by Roos. "We had a few lockdown players, and we needed someone to get after the footy and win the footy for us," said Roos.

Ultimately Carlton won the contested ball count 125-114 and broke even in clearances against one of the best in the business in that caper despite the continuing problems with rucks.

Ratten said his players were dealing with an average 30-tapout discrepancy each weekend, roving to the hands of opponents. "Most of the time they're reactive not proactive," he said. "I think when we become proactive, we'll see a real boom effect in that midfield."

Sydney is six points clear in fourth spot, holding grimly to the double-chance. Carlton is two games out of the top eight and might miss the finals, but Ratten was content.

"Sometimes you go to battle and you can fight and fight and it's an arm wrestle and you just don't get over the line," he said.

SYDNEY 2.1 8.5 14.10 18.13 (121)
CARLTON 5.5 10.9 15.9 18.11 (119)

GOALS — Sydney: McVeigh 4, O'Keefe 3, Jolly 2, Moore 2, Goodes 2, Bevan 2, J Bolton, Playfair, Roberts-Thomson.

Carlton: Fevola 5, Betts 3, Judd 2, Walker, Russell, Murphy, Kreuzer, Fisher, Grigg, Hartlett, Waite.

BEST — Sydney: J Bolton, O'Keefe, Jolly, McVeigh, Bevan, Kirk, Richards, Moore. CARLTON: Gibbs, Murphy, Fevola, Waite, Carrazzo, Simpson, Judd, Betts.

INJURIES — Sydney: Malceski (calf) replaced in selected side by Grundy. O'Loughlin (ankle), Barry (hamstring), Goodes (groin).

Carlton: Walker (shoulder).

UMPIRES: Stevic, Chamberlain, Kamolins.

CROWD: 38,401 at Telstra Dome.

THE UPSHOT Sydney is six points clear in fourth place, a buffer that could prove telling as the Swans have a difficult run home, and injuries to Leo Barry and Michael O'Loughlin. Carlton's defeat leaves it two games out of the top eight with only six remaining and a tough one against the Western Bulldogs next.

TALKING POINT More debate to follow about extended interchange after Sydney lost Barry and O'Loughlin during the game, meaning that Ryan O'Keefe (ankle) and Adam Goodes (groin) had to continue under duress. Swans' coach Paul Roos said the the league needed to consider the issue again.

HOT AND COLD Dual Brownlow medallist Goodes, playing with a groin strain, endured a dirty day against emerging Blue Bryce Gibbs. Goodes did not have a single possession until well into the second quarter.