Donning their specific Kokoda guernsey, Hawthorn took an unchanged line-up into their Round 10 clash with the seventh-placed Swans at the MCG.
With just three wins to their name after a slow start to the season, the Hawks were eager to notch another victory as they faced a Swans outfit missing a pair of key players in spearhead Daniel Bradshaw and halfback Tadhg Kennelly.
QT: It took until midway through the opening term for either side to register a goal, with Lance Franklin pouncing on an errant Swans kick and handing the ball off to Rhan Hooper, who sent through the side’s first.
The Swans hit back via key tall Jesse White, before two goals in two minutes to an ominous Franklin had the Hawks well and truly on top.
However a miraculous late goal to Dan Hannebery cut the Hawks’ margin to nine points, with the young Swan bombing the ball forward from 70 metres out before it bounced over the top of the waiting pack of players and through for a goal.
HT: While the Hawks managed to claim the ascendency, they were unable to convert it on to the scoreboard.
Cyril Rioli found the big sticks after being rewarded for an excellent tackle on defender Nick Malceski, but from there the Hawks added only six more behinds.
The Swans meanwhile were able to close the gap to five points with key tall Henry Playfair and the versatile Jarrad McVeigh kicking truly.
In the midfield, Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis were proving a handful, while it was second-year midfielder Hannebery who was running rampant for Sydney.
3QT: An excellent passage of play by Hawk Shaun Burgoyne to start the second term saw Luke Hodge run into an open goal and slot a much-needed major.
Goals to Mitchell and defender Grant Birchall, who slotted one from outside 50, pushed the Hawks’ advantage out to 22 points as they looked to have complete control of the contest.
But two late goals to the Swans through White and Hannebery had the Swans right back in it, sitting only 10 points behind.
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FT: The man known as ‘Buddy’ put his stamp further on the game as he marked and goaled from close range to start the final quarter.
Kieren Jack meanwhile soccered through an important major for the Swans, before teammates Hannebery and White brought the side within two points as the Hawks’ grip on the game began to look shaky.
Livewire forward Carl Peterson saved his best work for when the Hawks needed him most, launching himself across the front of a pack to take an unbelievable mark close to goal, before going back and kicking truly.
The Hawks appeared primed to hang on as Michael Osbourne slotted another goal from right on 50, putting the side 13 points up, but the Swans continued to charge home.
A dribbling goal from Playfair reduced the margin to just seven points before Adam Goodes marked and goaled to make it a point the difference with two minutes left.
Defender Rhyce Shaw let the Hawks off the hook as he missed an opportunity to put the Swans in front and instead levelled the scores, putting all 36,003 fans at the MCG on the edge of their seats.
Desperate for the final goal, Rioli found young Hawk Brendan Whitecross in space inside 50 with just over 90 seconds remaining.
Unable to convert, Whitecross secured the Hawks a handy point, while a long kick from Peterson moments later also ran through for a behind handing the Swans the ball with 20 seconds left.
The Hawks however managed to hold on for a gritty two-point win, with Mitchell and Rioli combining through the middle of the ground to repel Sydney’s final forward foray.
The Hawks skipper finished with 22 disposals and seven clearances while Jordan Lewis (23 disposals, four clearances) and Brad Sewell (17 disposals, five clearances) were also important.
