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Hawthorn 5.3 8.6 8.6 10.9 (69)
Sydney 2.2 5.4 9.7 16.10 (106)

Goals: Hawthorn - Roughead 5, Hale 2, Lewis 2, Rioli
Sydney - Goodes 3, Kennedy 3, O’Keefe 2, Bird 2, Bolton 2, McVeigh, Jack, Jetta, Hannebery.

Best: Hawthorn - Roughead, Burgoyne, Lewis, Guerra, Schoenmakers. Sydney - Kennedy, Richards, Goodes, Bird, Hannebery, O’Keefe.

The Hawks suffered their third defeat of the season, succumbing to a rampant Sydney who denied the Hawks the ball in the second half.

Signs were positive for the Hawks heading into the quarter time break, making the most of their opportunities going forward. Jarryd Roughead proved a headache, booting three majors in the opening quarter. Pleasing for the Hawks, was their ability to win the contested ball, an aspect in which the Swans are particularly dominant - 43-34.

Despite the Swans having more inside 50s in the opening term, the Hawks defence, led by Josh Gibson were able to deny their Sydney opponents the ball, and set up a number of rebound opportunities through Shaun Burgoyne (11 disposals) Matt Suckling (10), Gibson (8) and Brent Guerra (7).

That rebound ability combined with slick and precise ball movement meant the Hawks were able to use their run and spread to great effect in the opening half, as Burgoyne, Guerra and Whitecross in particular, set up a number of scoring opportunities for the Hawks.

Impressive too, was the Hawks' ability to get their hands on the ball first at the stoppages, another area in which the Swans pride themselves. 21-17, and 82-69 contested possessions at half time illustrated that Alastair Clarkson’s side was implementing the game plan well, and restricting the Swans’ ability to play to their strengths.

The second half was the complete opposite for the Hawks, however, as the Swans emerged from the half time break with great intent and desire to win the football. Inspired by games-record breaker Adam Goodes, the Swans denied the Hawks the ball in the third quarter, and put the score on the board. Midway through the third, the Swans had a massive 60 possessions to just 23, and had 21 handball receives to just 8 early in the third.

That meant that the Swans were able to set up a teammate in space, not allowing the Hawks to lock down their run, particularly from the midfield. Quick ball movement and accurate foot skills was the recipe for the Swans' success as they first narrowed the margin, then opened a 17-point lead at three-quarter time.

At the end of the third quarter, the Swans, facing a disposal deficit of 69 at half time, reduced that to just one by the end of the third term. That meant, that while they were getting their hands on the ball and scoring, the Hawks were finding it impossible to set up any play going forward. The Swans’ contested ball went up too, winning 47 to 31 in the quarter as well as dominating the clearances, 11-5.

Signs were better for the Hawks in the opening minutes of the final term, as the midfielders were able to get their hands on the football and give the forwards a chance. The Hawks regained the lead early in the last, only to be overrun again by an uncompromising Sydney outfit led by their skipper, Goodes and former Hawk, Josh Kennedy. The Swans ended the match with 19 more disposals, five more contested possessions, out tackled the Hawks by 11 and a clearance rate of 41-33.

What Alastair Clarkson said: “We’re disappointed, and obviously we’ve got a loot of work to do as a football side. I have to put full credit onto Sydney, we tried a few different things but they just smashed us in the clearances, they smashed us in the hunt. They used the ball really well and we just couldn’t get our hands on the footy.”

What Jarryd Roughead said: “It starts from the middle and when they were getting it out as quick as they were in the third quarter, it made it hard for us to get on top. Full credit to Sydney, they’re a great side and in the end that’s the way they want to play at the stoppages and they proved it today."