Tom Papley has sparked Sydney to a seven-point victory over Hawthorn in a wet and wintry clash at the SCG on Saturday.
The League's joint-leading goalkicker going into round eight, Papley kicked four goals as the Swans kept the Hawks goalless for most of the second half to win 9.6 (60) to 7.11 (53).
The small forward boosted his Coleman Medal chances with two clever crumbing goals, and another after a blistering 55m run and simple dribble kick from the goal square.
But it was after his first goal, a kick off the ground after the ball spilled from a throw-in, that Papley outsmarted his opponents and turned the game.
Papley directed his typically enthusiastic celebration toward his former teammate, Hawthorn's 2018 Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell, before Hawk James Frawley ran in to knock Papley over and give away a free kick next to the goal square.
Papley snapped truly just before half-time to make it two goals in 20 seconds that sapped the momentum the Hawks had built up over the first two quarters.
Jake Lloyd (34 disposals), James Rowbottom (18 touches, 11 contested) and Luke Parker (22 possessions) were also influential for the Swans.
The win was the first for a young Swans side after four consecutive defeats.
Hawthorn's first-choice on-ball brigade was made to look second-rate last week against Melbourne and has struggled at other times this year, with Alastair Clarkson's side losing the contested-possession count by an average of 19 this season.
But against the less mature bodies of the Swans' young midfield, Jaeger O'Meara (25 touches, nine clearances, Tom Mitchell (18), James Worpel (16) and Liam Shiels (24), controlled the contested ball early, but the Swans had too much run in the second half.
The Swans will be on the road over the coming weeks, with their next two games at the Gabba, starting with St Kilda on Saturday. They will then move into a hub in WA for their next block of matches.
Hawthorn has had a nightmare in NSW, losing their past four games played in Sydney. The Hawks will head straight to Perth for what they'll hope is a happier hub, starting with a clash against Carlton at Optus Stadium on Friday evening.
SYDNEY 2.1 5.1 8.2 9.6 (60)
HAWTHORN 3.3 5.3 6.6 7.11 (53)
GOALS
Sydney: Papley 4, Reid, Parker, Taylor, McCartin, Blakey
Hawthorn: O'Meara, Shiels, Gunston, Wingard, Burgoyne, Mitchell, Sicily
BEST
Sydney: Papley, Lloyd, Rowbottom, Rampe, Parker, Mills
Hawthorn: O'Meara, Sicily, Shiels, Mitchell, Frawley
INJURIES
Sydney: TBC
Hawthorn: TBC
