Australian Football

Match Report

At the beginning of the 2016, most football 'experts' were predicting that the Sydney Swans would slide from the top-four position that they've occupied for much of the past decade while Hawthorn would continue to be the team to beat for some time yet. But as the season has worn on, evidence has mounted that the opposite is indeed true, and that was reinforced at the MCG on Friday night when the Swans held off all challenges from the Hawks to record an impressive 14-point win and maintain a stronghold on a top-four place.

Defences ruled early in proceedings as the two sides felt each other out, and neither side scored a major in the first 15 minutes. Swan Gary Rohan finally broke the drought midway through the first term after a good mark and pass from Lance Franklin, who would become more influential as the night wore on. That proved to be the only major of the quarter, and it was Sydney ahead by a goal, 1.2 to 0.2 at the first end-change. 

Sydney made the decisive break of the match in the second quarter, dominating the first 23 minutes. Goals to Kurt Tippett, ex-Hawk Ben McGlynn (two), Franklin and Rohan saw the Swans jump out to a six-goal lead before late majors to Luke Breust and Jack Gunston saw Hawthorn back within 25 points and in touch at the long break. 

The Hawks came out firing after the long break and Gunston's second and Paul Puopolo's first had them back with two goals after just six minutes. The two sides traded in behinds for a period after that but Rohan's third goal after a mark had the Swans back out to a 17-point lead at the 15-minute mark. There was to be only one further score for the quarter, a vital one for Hawthorn, a major to Cyril Rioli after he marked at the 24-minute mark to get the Hawks within two goals at the last break.

Hawthorn kept coming early in the final quarter, with a behind followed by a major to Jack Gunston cutting the margin to just four points after two minutes. But that was to be as close as the Hawks got. Tippett's second goal steadied the ship for the Swans at the five-minute mark and two decisive goals from Franklin over the next 15 minutes were enough to see Sydney's lead open up to 21 points as time-on began. Hawthorn scored one final goal through Gunston but it was too little, too late as Sydney held on to win by 14 points.

Dan Hannebery was an influential player for the victors, with 15 kicks and 18 bandpasses, while Gunston's 11 marks and four goals helped Hawthorn stay in touch throughout the night.

While the Hawks won't be panicking just yet, they are in seventh place and inside the eight only on percentage. They will look to boost that with a bid win over lowly Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday. Sydney is two games from top spot but could narrow that gap when it takes on ladder leader North Melbourne at the SCG this Friday night.

GOALS
Hawthorn: Gunston 4; Rioli, Puopolo, Breust
Sydney: Franklin, Rohan 3; McGlynn, Tippett 2

BEST - HERALD SUN
Hawthorn: Gunston, Smith, Shiels, Duryea, Hartung
Sydney: Hannebery, Franklin, Parker, Mitchell, Grundy, Tippett, Rohan, Rampe

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Hawthorn: Smith, Gunston, Hartung, Duryea, Shiels, Birchall
Sydney: Hannebery, Grundy, Parker, Rohan, Mitchell, Tippett, Franklin

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Sydney: Richards (concussion)

UMPIRES: Nicholls, Schmitt, Hay

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Bruce McAvaney, Dennis Cometti, Wayne Carey, Cameron Ling, Matthew Richardson