THE SYDNEY Swans have withstood a blistering Hawthorn comeback to win their fourth straight match, outlasting the Hawks by 19 points in a pulsating contest at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.
A wasteful Swans outfit blew a 26-point lead in the second quarter and trailed at three-quarter time, but kicked the first three goals of the final term to run out out 15.17 (107) to 13.10 (88) winners.
It was the Swans' first victory over Hawthorn since the 2012 Grand Final.
Lance Franklin was the centre of attention against his old side, but kicked seven straight behinds before coming to life with two final-term goals, the second a brilliant conversion while on the ground in the forward pocket.
Dan Hannebery was superb for the victors with 40 possessions and the match-sealing goal with two minutes to play, while Kurt Tippett booted four goals in his first game for 2014 as the Swans improved their record to 5-3.
Shaun Burgoyne was instrumental in Hawthorn's third-term comeback, finishing with 28 possessions for the Hawks, who dropped to 6-2 for the season.
The Hawks rallied in the third term despite losing Cyril Rioli with a left hamstring injury inside the first 90 seconds of the second half, the dynamic forward immediately subbed out of the contest.
Hawthorn took the lead for the first time midway through the third quarter when Taylor Duryea slotted a goal on the run, and Burgoyne's grunt in the middle gifted Jarryd Roughead his first goal of the night with four minutes remaining to give the Hawks an eight-point advantage.
Adam Goodes took the red substitutes' vest late in the term for the Swans, who drew to within three points with a quarter to play when Tippett marked and slotted his fourth goal.
Earlier, the Swans took a seven-point lead into half time after Hawthorn mounted a late comeback, kicking the final three goals of the second quarter.
The home side was dominant early, Tippett looking particularly imposing up forward in his first game of the season. The Swans enjoyed a 22-7 advantage in inside 50s in the first term but couldn't capitalise on their good work, Franklin the main offender with 0.4 for the quarter.
Tippett's third goal halfway through the second quarter gave the Swans what was a match-high 24-point lead, but Franklin and his teammates continued to squander opportunities, the ex-Hawk finishing the first half with 0.6.
David Hale's set shot from 40 metres after a strong mark with a minute to play reduced Hawthorn's deficit to single figures for the first time since the opening minutes, a remarkable statistic given the Swans had 14 more inside 50s to the main break.
Already without veteran midfield duo Sam Mitchell and Brad Sewell, the Hawks were dealt a late blow when Luke Hodge was ruled out before the bounce with hamstring tightness.
The Hawthorn skipper was replaced by Jonathan Simpkin, while the home side went in unchanged despite some pre-match speculation Franklin could also be a late withdrawal.
Full report and details to follow.
SYDNEY SWANS 4.8 6.12 9.16 15.17 (107)
HAWTHORN 2.2 6.5 11.7 13.10 (88)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Tippett 4, Franklin 2, Malceski 2, Parker 2, K. Jack, Bird, McVeigh, Hannebery, Jetta
Hawthorn: Breust 3, Roughead 3, Simpkin 2, Birchall, Puopolo, Hale, Suckling, Duryea
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney Swans: Adam Goodes replaced by Jake Lloyd in the third quarter
Hawthorn: Cyril Rioli replaced by Billy Hartung in the third quarter
