1. Lance Franklin keeps climbing the ladder of goalkicking greats
The superstar Swan kicked 814 goals from his first 256 games, and needed four against his old side Hawthorn to move into outright 10th spot on the VFL/AFL goalkickers list. Franklin was economic with two majors from his only two kicks in the opening term, and turned it on again when his team needed him in third. Opposed to his good mate Josh Gibson, Franklin booted his third goal from a set shot to equal the great Bernie Quinlan's tally of 817 goals, and added his fourth with a trademark bomb from outside 50 to climb into the top ten goalkickers of all time. A brilliant snap gave Franklin a handful and got the Swans within five points just before the three-quarter-time siren, but despite his efforts the home side couldn't quite hold on. Collingwood legend Peter McKenna's 874 goals is Franklin's next target.
2. Hawks continue their merry way at the SCG
Not many teams have enjoyed coming to Sydney to take on the Swans in recent years, but Hawthorn hold no fears of the challenge. The Hawks' nail biting six-point win was their fourth in a row at the ground and kept their finals hopes alive, while virtually ending the season of their opponents. With a host of senior players missing and two debutants in the side, it was a courageous performance from the visitors, who are now 4-6 after 10 rounds. The Swans have never missed the eight under John Longmire, who is in his seventh season as coach, but at 3-7 heading into next week's mid-season bye, that fantastic run looks as though it's come to an end, unless they can get on an epic winning streak and pull off what would be a miraculous comeback.
3. Tom Mitchell watch
It was always going to be tough to better his 50-possession effort against Collingwood last week, but the league's most prolific ball-winner did his very best. Facing his former team for the first time since he chose to leave the Swans for the Hawks at the end of last year, Mitchell had Luke Parker as his opponent for most of the night, and the pair of hard nuts had a fantastic duel. Mitchell racked up 16 touches, four tackles and four clearances in the first half, and finished with 31 for the night, 14 of those contested, to go with seven clearances and five tackles. He's not flashy, he's not quick, and he won't make many highlight reels, but the 23-year-old is one of Alastair Clarkson's most important players, and no doubt the Bloods fans, who booed him most of the game, would have loved to have seen Mitchell in red and white.
4. It was an early night for Sydney ball magnet Jake Lloyd
Heading into round 10 Lloyd had the 10th most disposals in the competition at 30.3 per game, and apart from round one when he had 23 touches he'd posted 28+ in every match this season. So when an accidental knee knocked out the small defender in the opening minutes and he was ruled out of the game after failing a concussion test, the Swans were dealt a massive blow. Lloyd has been one of Sydney's most consistent and durable players since he debuted in round five 2014, and has hardly missed a game since, switching his roles between the midfield and half back, where he's starred over the past 18 months. The Swans also lost key forward Sam Reid before half-time when he was concussed after hitting his head on the ground in a Shaun Burgoyne tackle, so it was a solid effort to get as close as they did with two on the bench in the second half.
5. Buddy and Burgoyne do the number 67 proud
Two of the greatest Indigenous players in the history of the game, Franklin and Burgoyne, donned the number 67 for Friday night's clash in honour of the 50-year anniversary of the 1967 referendum that saw Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders acknowledged in the nation’s census. The Swan starred for the home side and his old teammate was just as important for the Hawks, living up to his nickname of 'Silk' with a brilliant running goal from a tough angle in the second quarter. The 34-year-old then trumped that effort with a clutch set shot from outside 50 almost 23 minutes into the last term to get the Hawks within a point. It was a crucial moment in the match and helped the visitors to a famous win.
