In a Tweet
What a thriller!!
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) July 14, 2016
Hawks win by 5!#AFLSwansHawks
The Rundown
The Swans jumped out of the blocks early as Swan speedster Gary Rohan kicked two opening term goals to facilitate a nine-point lead at the first break.
The Hawks responded strongly as their stingy defence allowed the Swans only a solitary point in the second term.
The third term continued in a similar vein as the see-sawing encounter saw the lead continuously change hands, with neither side able to hold sway long enough to gain a decisive advantage.
With everything on the line in the fourth, the Swans gained an early ascendancy before Shaun Burgoyne kicked a goal to set the stage for Cyril Rioli to launch an incredible match-winner.
The Star
As he is so renowned for, Shaun Burgoyne once again stood up when the whips were cracking in the final quarter. In the last quarter alone, he had a team-high eight possessions, five tackles, two inside 50s, four clearances and two goals to help carry the Hawks over the line in yet another nail-biter.
Read: Two Hawks set to play milestone matches in Round 10
The Moment
As he so often does, Cyril Rioli featured prominently in the highlight reel in this enthralling clash. With half time looming, Cyril launched himself in the air acrobatically to pluck yet another hanger to Hawks fans delight. But his best was yet to come, as the Hawks needed a hero down by a point with just over a minute to go. Rioli took a mark barely inside 50 and on a considerable angle. Despite doubts from commentators and surely fans, the superstar thumped home a kick that would prove to be the game-winner.
The Coach
"We didn't play our greatest footy tonight, but nor did we allow Sydney to play theirs. And that's why it was such a tight contest”.- Alastair Clarkson
SYDNEY SWANS 4.4 4.5 8.6 10.10 (70)
HAWTHORN 3.1 6.4 7.7 11.9 (75)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Rohan 4, Papley 2, Towers, Kennedy, Sinclair, Parker
Hawthorn: Rioli 2, Gunston 2, Burgoyne 2, Lewis, Hill, Puopolo, O'Rourke, Ceglar
BEST
Sydney Swans: Parker, Rohan, Kennedy, Grundy, Mills, Mitchell
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Burgoyne, Rioli, Lewis, Gibson, Hill
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Jones (ankle)
Hawthorn: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Farmer, Ryan
Official crowd: 42,314 at the SCG