Hawthorn have snagged a big upset win on Friday night, knocking off their fierce rivals Sydney thanks to a late winner from captain Jarryd Roughead.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Sydney Swans 11.9.75
Hawthorn Hawks 12.9.81
The Sydney Swans will look to make it four wins in a row when they host the Hawthorn Hawks on Friday night at the SCG. Join The Roar for score updates and a blog of the match, live from the SCG, starting from 7:50pm AEST.
Just three years ago Sydney and Hawthorn played off in the 2014 AFL grand final, one of four grand finals in a row for the Hawks that included three premierships, and one of three grand finals in five years for the Swans that also yielded a flag, in 2012.
However it’s 2017 now, and this is a very different state of affairs to state the least. Hawthorn lost their first four games of the year. Sydney lost their first six.
Hawthorn got smacked around by more than 80 points by Gold Coast. Sydney lost to Carlton – Carlton! What a time it was to be alive.
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Sadly for those of us who snidely enjoyed those brief days of Sydney not being very good, they appear to be over – they’ve clicked back into gear over the last few weeks and their win over St Kilda in Round 9 made it clear that despite the slow start, they are a finals threat.
On the plus side, at least Hawthorn are still only average – case in point, despite dominating Collingwood early last week they switched off and were well beaten in the end. They’ve been hit with the injury stick and it’s looking like it’ll be a long year for them.
The uncompetitive performance has prompted them to bring in two debutants this week, Dallas Willsmore and James Cousins, and they’ve also recalled Kaiden Brand. Billy Hartung, Will Langford and Kurt Heatherley have all been dropped.
Sydney have only a single change, with Oliver Florent replacing an injured Harry Cunningham, emblematic of how their lineup has settled and clicked into form.
Prediction
Swans by plenty – let’s say eight goals.
Join The Roar for score updates and a blog of the match, live from the SCG, starting from 7:50pm AEST.
Jok
Guest
Go Hawks!!!
me too
Roar Rookie
Good game. Well done Hawks - just love playing the Swans, especially in Sydney. And a great finish with Roughie kicking a true captain's goal to win it. I reckon that's it for both teams - already counted the Hawks out of finals but they dragged a special game out of themselves for this one, back to mediocre next week. As for Sydney - very impressive last week, but too far back now to challenge.
Penster
Roar Guru
Was sitting close to where Rough took this shot. He practiced from this pocket during warm up and missed them. Great winning goal from the captain.
Freo As
Guest
Silly that Buddy wouldn't get bog.
Josh
Expert
Whoops. Fixed now.
Birdman
Guest
get some new material AS
Birdman
Guest
Hawthorn prevail over old boy Buddy who needs some team mates to give him a hand. Go Hawks.
Wayne
Guest
Poor Buddy - being saddled with Tippett - and what a ridiculous free to Burgoyne - yep Swans are gone now - and deservedly so - hang heads in shame - can't even beat Hawthorn at home
Alex L
Roar Rookie
You have to be capable of actually winning games to tank.
Josh
Expert
What a game, what an upset, what an effort from two great indigenous players on either side in Lance Franklin and Shaun Burgoyne. Click here to read the full match report. That's all from me tonight, you stay classy, Roarers!
AB
Guest
Great, hard-fought game of footy between two proud clubs, both going through a tough patch at the moment.
Freo As
Guest
Teeheeheee.
Cat
Roar Guru
hahahahaha
Cat
Roar Guru
ughhh what?
Mark
Guest
So many opportunities for the Swans to win it in the 4th quarter. Season over. Time to tank it.
Cat
Roar Guru
Swans are GONE!!!! (though the Cats will still lose to them).
Alicesprings
Guest
#freekickhawthorn
Josh
Expert
FULL TIME SYDNEY 11.9.75 HAWTHORN 12.9.81
Josh
Expert
SIREN GONE! HAWTHORN WIN!
Josh
Expert
Hawks going forward. This game is theirs!