HAWTHORN has emerged from the bye in top shape accounting for the fourth-placed Sydney Swans by 31 points at the MCG.

The Hawks led at every change and never really looked in danger in their 15.16 (106) to 10.15 (75) victory.

But the margin could have been far bigger if not for a case of the kicking yips from Lance Franklin.

Franklin had 14 shots at goal but finished with 4.7, two out on the full and one shank that didn’t make the distance from inside 50.

The Swans were unable to stifle the Hawks running game for much of the day and the Sydney Swans defence had their hands full with the dangerous trio of Franklin, Mark Williams and Jarryd Roughead.

Williams booted four goals and Roughead three but they were superbly complemented by the feisty performance of Michael Osborne across half forward.

Fellow small forward Cyril Rioli was the early star in the opening quarter, zipping around the city end forward 50m arc and creating chances.

Rioli set up the first goal of the day to Williams and should have added another himself soon after but hit the post from 20m on the run.

Simon Taylor and Franklin got the Hawks’ other two goals of the opening term, Buddy’s effort to shrug off two Swans and snap truly from the pocket was a beauty.

It left the Hawks leading by a goal at the first change but they didn’t have it all their own way in the opening term with Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge and Brad Sewell lowering their colours to the Swans’ feisty band of midfielders.

Brett Kirk had the better of Mitchell in the early going and was a key for the visitors all afternoon.

But the Hawks took almost complete control of the match in the second quarter.

Franklin got well on top of his man, Lewis Roberts-Thomson although inaccuracy prevented him from maybe icing the match.

Franklin booted 1.3 for the term and sprayed another shot out on the full as his amazing talent and athleticism proved too much for the Swans. Craig Bolton was moved on to him before half time but by then the Hawks were on top all over the field.

Williams kicked two opportunist goals while Clinton Young and Luke Hodge nailed running shots on their trademark left feet.

Hodge was knocked senseless just before the half-time siren by Amon Buchanan but made his way to his feet to leave the field with his teammates at the long break.

A glance at the scoreboard showed that his side was 33 points up and the job was almost done.

But the Swans are nothing if not dogged and slowly clawed their way back into the match in the third term.

It wasn’t pretty or free flowing but the Swans managed to scrounge four goals for the quarter and hold the Hawks to just the single goal to Franklin.

Again, however, the big forward missed two set shots that could have provided more breathing space than the 16-point three-quarter-time margin.

The Swans had their own ‘error apparent’ in Buchanan who missed three set shots for the day, two of them straight in front.

The final term commenced in familiar fashion with Franklin missing two shots early in the term before Roughead got the first goal of the quarter in fortuitous fashion.

The big forward was paid a mark that replays showed had been plucked out of Swans defender Ted Richards’ hands.

Roughead nevertheless converted from close range to stretch the margin back out over 20 points.

Franklin, Roughead, Rioli and Williams added further majors as the Hawks ended up finishing far stronger.

GOALS
Hawthorn:  Williams 4, Franklin 4, Roughead 3, Hodge, Taylor, Young, Rioli
Sydney Swans: O’Loughlin 2, O’Keefe 2, Buchanan 2, Goodes, Playfair, McVeigh, Smith 

Umpires: McBurney, Rosebury, Sully

Official crowd: 49,529 at MCG