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Not only was it the grudge match of the year, it was also the match that could have served as a preview to this year’s grand final.
It was more than just two premiership contenders going at each other, the match also saw Lance “Buddy” Franklin face his old side in Melbourne for the first time.
He had already faced his old side all the way back in Round 8, but the rematch at the MCG was always going to be the more anticipated match of the season given he would be facing the Hawks in front of their fans.
Many feared for his demise when he packed his bags and headed north after he won the second of his two premierships with the Hawks last year. He was slow to get going, missing the Swans’ win over the Brisbane Lions in Round 7 after suffering a knee injury against Melbourne in the ANZAC Day round.
But the turning point to his first season with the Swans came when he faced his old side for the first time in Round 8, which was given the Friday night stage when the draw was released last year.
The first time around, he was cheered on by his new and adoring fans in the Harbour City, as he kicked two final quarter majors (after a string of seven straight behinds) to inflict the last laugh on his old club.
On Saturday night, however, it was a different story as he was on the receiving end of numerous boos by the pro-Hawthorn crowd.
Although the Hawks fans had to wait that long, it was worth it. They heckled Buddy into as many clangers as possible. He kicked three goals, but it wasn’t enough as his old side claimed revenge with a 10-point victory, thus putting an end to the Swans’ winning streak, their longest in eight decades, at 12.
The match swung like a pendulum, with both sides claiming periods of momentum throughout the entire match.
Had another ex-Hawk, Ben McGlynn, not kicked a goal in the final 30 seconds, then the Hawks would have overtaken the Swans in top spot on the ladder on percentage.
It’s small things like these that could determine the final outcome of the ladder, as was the case in the final match of the 2009 regular season when Brad Johnson kicked a late goal for the Western Bulldogs against Collingwood to see his side claim third place on the ladder ahead of the Pies.
That said, the Swans still lead the ladder at the end of the split Round 18, but with the Hawks and Cats, who defeated the GWS Giants by seven points in the first half of the round, having joined them at the top end of the ladder.
As John Longmire said in his post-match presser, it could be the reality check the Swans need as they gear up for their 16th finals appearance in almost the last two decades.
It sets up what should be a blockbuster final five rounds of the season, especially with the Cats, Hawks and Fremantle, who could have joined the trio of teams at the top of the ladder had they defeated St Kilda last week, set to meet each other in Rounds 20-22.
Thus, what’s for certain is that not only is the battle for the minor premiership starting to heat up, you cannot predict an outright premiership favourite with any real confidence.
The Swans had been the favourites on the back of their recently-ended winning streak, but reigning premiers Hawthorn should not be counted out, and neither should the Cats, who just continue to defy their critics who have repeatedly said time and time again that their era is about to come to an end.
And if Saturday night’s match is anything to go by, then these two teams could meet on the final Saturday of this September. It would be the first time since 2011 that the grand final has featured the two most recent premiers, when Geelong (2009) defeated the reigning premiers Collingwood by 38 points.
The Hawks still have Brian Lake and Cyril Rioli to come back from suspension and injury respectively while the Swans are missing only Dan Hannebery and Rhyce Shaw from their best possible line-up.
When these names come back, and if these two teams do meet in September, then a classic showdown will be highly expected.
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