Australian Football

Match Report

Hawthorn has recorded a come-from-behind win against Sydney at Stadium Australia to claim the minor premiership (and Doctor McClelland Trophy) for 2013. The Hawks finish the season with 19 wins and three losses, as it has done in three previous years - 1971, 1988 and 1989. As omens go, that is a very good one, as Hawthorn went on to win the flag in all three of those seasons.

In Friday night's match, the Swans got away to a fast start, kicking five goals to two in the first term to take an 18-point lead into the first break. From there Hawthorn gradually clawed its way back into the match, kicking five goals to four in the second quarter to narrow the margin to just nine points at half time.

An even third term saw each side kick four goals and the Hawks still trailed by 10 points at the last change of ends. When the last quarter began though, it was Hawthorn that burst out of the blocks, with a goal to substitute Jed Anderson and two to Jarryd Roughead giving Alastair Clarkson's team a nine-point lead, one which they would not surrender.

The Hawks went on to kick six goals for the final term, to the Swans' three, and they ran out winners by 12 points.

Roughead had a fine game for Hawthorn kicking 4.3 and collecting 19 touches, while Jordan Lewis (21 possessions and a goal) and Paul Puopolo (24 disposals and a goal) also played major roles in the win. For the Swans, the best players included Shane Mumford, who had 41 hitouts and kicked two goals, Josh Kennedy (33 disposals) and Jesse White (three goals).

The result of the match sees Hawthorn finish at the head of the ladder, with the Swans finishing in fourth position. That combination means the 2012 Grand Finalists will meet again next Friday night at the MCG. The Hawks have won both encounters so far in 2013 but next Friday's match will see Lance Franklin missing due to a one-match suspension sustained as a result of a bump on Nick Malceski, and the Swans regain the services of spearhead Kurt Tippett, who missed the round 23 match through injury.

GOALS
Sydney: White, Parker 3; Rohan 2; Bolton, K. Jack, Mitchell, McGlynn, Pyke, Mumford, Morton
Hawthorn: Roughead 4; Franklin, Breust, Gunston 2; Birchall, Lewis, Hale, Mitchell, Puopolo, Anderson, Lake

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Sydney: Mumford, White, McVeigh, O'Keefe, Parker, Kennedy
Hawthorn: Lewis, Sewell, Roughead, Birchall, Burgoyne, Puopolo

BEST - SPORTAL.COM.AU
Sydney: Kennedy, Mumford, White, Parker, K.Jack, O'Keefe
Hawthorn: Puopolo, Roughead, Lewis, Birchall, Sewell, Burgoyne

COACHES' COMMENTS
John Longmire (Syd): I thought we had a lot of positives come out of the game, even though we got beaten on the scoreboard. We were minus 30 in tackles last week. we were plus 14 tonight, I thought that was a really good start. I thought our first half in particular, our ability to be able to cause turnovers and score on those turnovers was goo

Alastair Clarkson (Haw): We're pleased with finishing on top, getting the double chance and a home final but it's a new season that commences now. It was an unusual game, in that we knew that if we won we'd be playing the same opponent next week. I think both teams had eyes to next week, in terms of the way they selected their side.

INJURIES
Sydney: Tippett (hamstring tightness) replaced in the selected side by Mitch Morton
Hawthorn: Max Bailey (general soreness) replaced in the selected side by Matthew Spangher

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Nick Malceski replaced by Mitch Morton in the final quarter
Hawthorn: Shane Savage replaced by Jed Anderson at three-quarter time

REPORTS: Lance Franklin (Hawthorn) reported for rough conduct against Nick Malceski (Sydney Swans) in the second quarter.

UMPIRES: Margetts, Rosebury, McInerney

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Bruce McAvaney, Dennis Cometti, Leigh Matthews, Tom Harley, Matthew Richardson