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HAWTHORN has received a huge pre-finals boost, surging to top spot on the ladder after beating the Sydney Swans in a pulsating, finals-like battle at the SCG on Saturday night.

In a match of dramatic ebbs and flows, the Swans flew out of the blocks with four unanswered goals in the first term, before the Hawks awoke from their slumber with a stunning seven goal second quarter.

The Hawks were 38 points down midway through the second term before emerging victorious 15.12 (102) to 14.11 (95).

The result moves Hawthorn to a 16-5 win-loss record and ahead of the Swans on percentage with one round to go.

The Hawks took a four-point advantage into the final term, but found themselves five points down at the 28-minute mark when Ryan O'Keefe slotted one through.

However, the visitors took the footy out of the centre and Shaun Burgoyne, who had a fantastic game, marked and kicked truly to give his side the lead.

There were six lead changes in a frantic final term worthy of a top-of-the-table contest.

Moments later a Brad Sewell goal sealed the four premiership points for the Hawks, capping a magnificent fightback.

The Swans started brightly thanks to an irresistible combination of fierce defensive pressure and swift ball movement into the forward line.

The home side extended its advantage to 38 points by the 14 minute mark of the second term, before the Hawks launched their extraordinary fightback.

Spurred by Burgoyne, who had been moved into the middle of the ground, and Sam Mitchell, the visitors slammed through six unanswered goals in a 10-minute burst to draw level.

Lance Franklin, playing his first game after six rounds on the sidelines, was rusty early before becoming more prominent as the game wore on. He would finish with four vital goals.

SYDNEY SWANS  4.3   8.5   10.7     14.11 (95)
HAWTHORN        0.1   7.6   10.11   15.12 (102)

GOALS
Sydney Swans: Goodes, Mumford, O'Keefe, Reid 2, Jack, Kennedy,
Malceski, McGlynn, McVeigh, Roberts-Thomson
Hawthorn: Franklin 4, Burgoyne 3, Suckling, Puopolo 2, Gunston,
Sewell, Shiels, Smith

BEST
Sydney Swans: O'Keefe, Goodes, Richards, Kennedy, Hannebery, Grundy
Hawthorn: Burgoyne, Lewis, Birchall Franklin, Hodge, Young, Sewell

INJURIES
Sydney Swans: TBC
Hawthorn: TBC

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney Swans: Lewis Roberts-Thomson replaced by Mitch Morton at
three-quarter time
Hawthorn: Brendan Whitecross replaced by Xavier Ellis in the fourth quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, McBurney, Margetts

Official crowd: 31,167 at SCG

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL