A BUDDY Franklin brain explosion has taken the gloss off a stirring Hawthorn comeback victory over the Sydney Swans on Friday night that guarantees the Hawks top spot on the AFL ladder.

Franklin was reported for a high shot on Nick Malceski in the second quarter that will have the superstar forward and the Hawks sweating on the Match Review Panel's assessment on the eve of the finals.

The Swans led at every change and set the pace all night, but the Hawks kicked six goals to three in the final term for a 17.10 (112) to 16.4 (100) victory in an absorbing game of finals-like football.

The result also means the two teams will meet again next week in a qualifying final at the MCG, when the Hawks could be without Franklin.

Speaking on Triple M radio during the game, AFL.com.au reporter Damian Barrett felt the superstar Hawk was facing a one-week suspension.

"I believe it will be a two-week down to one with an early plea," he said.

"It's either reckless or negligent. I would go with reckless. I don't know how you could say it's negligent as Malceski had disposed of the football.

"I'm going to say low impact and it has to be high contact.

"That gets to a level two offence, early plea gets it down to one match.

"He had a choice not to do it."

Jarryd Roughead kicked four goals for the Hawks, including two in the opening six minutes of the final term, to stretch his lead over Travis Cloke in the Coleman Medal race to seven.

Jordan Lewis, Brad Sewell, Paul Puopolo and Grant Birchall were all influential on a night when Sam Mitchell and Luke Hodge were well contained.

In the absence of Kurt Tippett (hamstring tightness), who was a late withdrawal, Shane Mumford (41 hitouts, two goals) and Jesse White (three goals) were immense for the home side.

Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker and Ryan O'Keefe led the way in the Swans' midfield, but it was the Hawks left with the bragging rights following another fierce tussle between these two modern-day rivals.

Seemingly intent on making a statement from the opening bounce, the Swans made a blistering start, kicking four of the game's first five goals.

Owning the Hawks with their ferocity and intent, it was a one-sided quarter capped by Kieren Jack's running goal from a tight angle just before the siren that gave the home side an 18-point lead.

As you would expect of a side that has lost just three games all season, Hawthorn hit back to start the second term, but not before Franklin's moment of madness just two minutes into the quarter.

It failed to rattle the premiership favourites, however, who kicked four goals to two through a 16-minute period to close the gap to just five points.

But the Swans were right up for the challenge, with Gary Rohan kicking consecutive goals to give the home side back the momentum.

Yet despite all the Swans' dominance, a late David Hale mark and goal meant the visitors were only nine points down at the main break.

Four goals apiece in the third quarter then set up a grandstand final term, with the Hawks kicking away early to lock up the minor premiership.

Sydney Swans: Mumford, White, McVeigh, O'Keefe, Parker, Kennedy

Hawthorn: Lewis, Sewell, Roughead, Birchall, Burgoyne, Puopolo

Sydney Swans: Tippett (hamstring tightness) replaced in the selected side by Mitch Morton

Hawthorn: Max Bailey (general soreness) replaced in the selected side by Matthew Spangher

Reports: Lance Franklin (Hawthorn) reported for rough conduct against Nick Malceski (Sydney Swans) in the second quarter.

Umpires: Margetts, Rosebury, McInerney

Official crowd: 37,980 at ANZ Stadium