HAWTHORN has extended its lead on its rivals, holding off the Sydney Swans by five points in an epic tussle at the SCG on Thursday night to move two games clear on top of the ladder.
A 52m goal to Cyril Rioli with 77 seconds remaining put the Hawks ahead for the final time, hanging on for a desperate 11.9 (75) to 10.10 (70) win.
It followed a see-sawing encounter in which the lead changed nine times and neither side was able to hold sway long enough to gain a decisive lead.
The fourth quarter of the heavyweight contest continued that pattern, as the crowd of 42,314 sat enthralled by the titanic struggle.
The Swans led by five points at three-quarter-time, but Shaun Burgoyne’s 250th career goal, two minutes in, put Hawthorn up. The Swans’ midfield giant Luke Parker, who collected 35 possessions, then returned fire with a goal on the run from 50m to put the Swans back in front.
The Swans lost Zak Jones to a leg injury and then lost the lead again when Jonathon Ceglar converted a 50m penalty against Ben McGlynn. Small forward Tom Papley’s one-on-one win over Luke Hodge to score his second goal put the Swans ahead.
Two behinds to the Swans saw the home side to a seven-point lead, but Burgoyne’s second goal took the Hawks to within a point with three minutes remaining.
As the half-hour mark ticked over, Rioli took a mark and slotted home a 52m set shot from a tight angle to break Swans fans’ hearts.
In a game that lived up to its lofty expectations, Sam Mitchell stood tall with a game-high 37 touches, ahead of seven teammates who all registered more than 20. Burgoyne, Rioli and Jack Gunston each kicked two goals.
The Swans’ scoreboard pressure came primarily from speedster Gary Rohan, who kicked a career-high four goals, while Tom Papley scored two. Lance Franklin went goalless but had 19 touches in a lively display around half-forward.
Rohan put the Swans on the board first with his 50th career goal as his side took the opening term by nine points and led the inside 50 and contested possession counts by eight.
But the Hawks returned with a vengeance to keep their long-time rivals to zero goals and one point in a dominant second quarter.
Small forwards Rioli (two goals, 17 possessions) and Paul Puopolo (one goal, 18 possessions) fired up to give some of the Swans' younger backmen a schooling, as John Longmire's League-best defence struggled to get out of their half despite Franklin's best efforts.
However the 11-point half-time lead didn't hold as the Swans rediscovered their efficiency.
Papley booted the Swans' first goal since the opening quarter before Rohan brought the scores level and then kicked the Swans clear with his third and fourth majors.
With everything on the line in the fourth, Jonathon Ceglar put the Hawks in front by a point with less than nine minutes to run.
But within the blink of an eye Papley struck again, out-foxing Luke Hodge to bomb a long-range beauty.
When Shaun Burgoyne slotted his second to narrow Sydney's already-slim lead to a solitary point, the stage was set for Rioli to set sail his 55m winner.
The Hawks lost the inside 50 count 54 to 49 and contested possession by nearly 40, but made the most of their chances throughout a torrid encounter to ensure their 13th win of the season and continue their unbeaten run, which stretches back to round nine, when they lost to the Swans at the MCG.
Worringly for the Hawks, Hodge could attract the ire of the Match Review Panel for a sling tackle on Callum Sinclair.
The Swans will also have some concerns over Zak Jones, who was carried from the field with a leg injury in the final term.
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 (leg)
Hawthorn: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Farmer, Ryan
Official crowd: 42,314 at the SCG
