The Sydney Swans are on the biggest winning streak this season, but will face the only team to beat them in the past 11 matches, the Hawthorn Hawks, this Friday night at the MCG. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEST).
The Swans are on a roll this year, remarkably after starting the season at 0-6. They have won seven matches in a row, and since Round 6 have only lost one game. But that game was to Hawthorn, who will be looking to make it two in a row against the Swans this season.
Sydney are in prime position for a run at the top four, with five games left in the year. They sit at sixth and will look to consolidate their position inside the eight. In a season full of unpredictability, the Swans have been the only team that you can consistently count on (since Round 7).
The Swans will come into this match making just the one change, with Will Hayward coming in for Daniel Robinson.
Hawthorn are an outside chance of making the eight this year, as they sit at 12th, but are two wins under the 11th placed St Kilda. Their run home is tricky – they only face two top eight teams out of the five remaining games, but need to keep winning in order to stay alive.
The Hawks will make no changes coming off their win against their demolition of Fremantle last Saturday night.
Players to Watch
Sydney: Josh Kennedy
The Swans will have some extra motivation for Friday night’s clash, with their captain raising the bat for his 200th game. Kennedy has had an inconsistent season so far, but will look to find his touch once more before finals. And what better way than to do it against his former club, and at the home of football?
Hawthorn: Tom Mitchell
The pick-up of the year, the former Swan has been absolutely outstanding since his move to the Hawks. He is averaging 36 disposals a game this season, with 22 of those contested. Against the club that let him go, Mitchell will want to have another big game.
Prediction
The Swans are a different side since they last faced Hawthorn. They have come into their own this season, and while the Hawks rid themselves of experience in Sam Mitchell, and Jordan Lewis, the Swans have kept on their experienced players. The Swans know how to keep winning, and the experience will play factor in knowing how to keep momentum on your side. Swans by at least three goals.
Can Sydney continue their winning ways, and make a push for the top four in Josh P Kennedy’s 200th? Or will the Hawks spoil the party and try to make a claim for the top eight? Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEST).
steveng
Roar Rookie
The jinx of the Hawks has hit the Swans again and again and again!!! The Swans don't seem to beat the Hawks and what crucial games have the Swans lost to the Hawks e.g. that GF beating and embarrassment seems to come to mind, straight away lol
Cat
Roar Guru
How about Langford's 'goal kicking' if you can even call it that? Haven't seen anyone kick for goal as badly since Lindsay Thomas's 14 behinds in a row.
Mattician6x6
Guest
Personally I don't but as it is the clubs desire I'm prepared to fall into line ;) though I can't believe simmo isn't reading my opinion and instigating it as club policy.
jacques of Liliydale
Guest
Looked a goal to me. The pathetic review was impossible to interpret, the goal umpire was right there on the spot, I was at the ground and it looked a goal off the boot to me.
jacques of Liliydale
Guest
You'd have to put Sicily in that three surely? Intercepted numerous times, never shirked an issue, was his usual angry ant and repelled Sydney attacks time and again. to me he was BOG.
Nineteen
Guest
Sicily over the last three weeks is really starting to play some great footy. I was up on level four tonight but moved down to the second level and I really felt that Sydney run, tackle and apply far greater pressure than Geelong. Sydney will bat deep into September.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
No worries mate! Very good win for the Hawks, finals hopes are still there and with a few (hopefully) returning guns, you boys could make a run for the eight! I think the reason for lack of getting the ball inside 50 is due to the Swans pressure. They still played very well and are good at defending and manning up inside defensive 50. The fact you guys were able to beat them at their own game is hugely positive.
Birdman
Guest
Sicily 3, McEvoy 2, Roughead 1. Honourable mention to Shiels and Brand
Chancho
Roar Rookie
Thanks for blogging the game Dylan much appreciated! That's a good win for the Hawks, I had the feeling that the Swans were going to steamroll Hawthorn, but the Hawks contained them well. There were moments in the game where the momentum was firmly with the Swans but Hawks managed to wrest it back which must be a positive for this group that is coming together. The one thing that was a bit of a bother was getting the ball into the forward 50, but too wide and not themselves the chance to get a lot of goals. Not sure what's the cause for that? Overall a good win for Hawthorn against what is possibly the only form side in the competition at the moment
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
As long as we get to play the Cats
Chancho
Roar Rookie
I think the biggest talking point will be Langford kissing McVeigh... twice!
Cat
Roar Guru
Thought you didn't want to make the 8?
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
Match Report: Hawthorn have kept their slim finals hopes alive by defeating Sydney by six points in a thrilling contest at the MCG on Friday night. The Hawks were immense early, as their pressure and willingness to throw themselves at the ball paid dividends, going into the halftime break with a 21 points lead. The contest was fiery at times, with friends turned foes Lance Franklin and Luke Hodge exchanging pleasantries after an accidental eye poke and a high tackle was given by the Sydney star. Sydney were able to overturn the pressure in the third quarter, however, by keeping the Hawks goaless, and bringing the Hawthorn lead down to 10 points going into the final term. In a tough last quarter, the Swans hit the front halfway through via a Tom Papley bomb from 45 meters out, before the Hawks wrestled back the lead to 13 with Liam Shiels and Jarryd Roughead kicking majors. In another incredible finish, however, Tom Papley kicked a goal with a minute left on the clock to put the Swans down by only a goal. However, unlike the Essendon miracle, there would be no fairytale ending for the Swans, as Jack Gunston took an incredible contested mark in the center square with 30 seconds left to seal the deal for the Hawks. The best for the Hawks were Liam Shiels, with two goals and 28 disposals and Jarryd Roughead with two goals and 24 disposals, whilst Tom Mitchell collected 26 possesions, and Shaun Burgoyne finished with two goals. Sydney were left without Gary Rohan and Jake Lloyd as late outs, but Nic Newman stepped up with 29 disposals, whilst Tom Papley booted three majors. For the Hawks, it keeps their slim finals hopes alive, but they still need to maintain their winning ways. They will face Richmond next Sunday at the MCG in what promises to be an enthralling encounter. As for Sydney, this loss is their first since Round 10, which was also the Hawks. While they aren’t out of finals contention, they will hope to quickly bounce back next week against Geelong at Simonds Stadium, to consolidate their place inside the top eight. There were no reports, but injury concerns for Sam Naismith, Josh Kennedy and Callum Sinclair will all be worries for the Swans throughout this week. For Hawthorn, Blake Hardwick was the only casualty with concussion. Final Score: Hawthorn 10.12.72 Sydney 9.12.66 Goals: Hawthorn: Burgoyne 2, Roughead 2, Schoenmakers 2, Shiels 2, Duryea, O’Brien Sydney: Papley 3, Hewitt 2, Franklin, Sinclair, Hayward, McVeigh Best: Hawthorn: Shiels, Burgoyne, Mitchell, Sicily, Roughead Sydney: Newman, Papley, Heeney, Parker, McVeigh
Mattician6x6
Guest
Absolutely
Jarijari
Guest
Last three clashes -- Hawks by six, Hawks by six, Hawks by five.
Wayne
Guest
Good spill in the goal square Rampe Cost ur team the the game And once again vs Hawthorn shot disposal by the Heenmeister cost Sydney PS Well done Dean Towers
me too
Roar Rookie
Another great game between these two. The Hawks controlled the vast majority of the game but somehow the Swans hung in there. Very well deserved win to the Hawks in the end. 1/2 game out of the 8. Is it possible? Swans now have Geelong and Adelaide away and probably need to win one.
Boo Yourselves
Guest
He hasn't got any cash left to bribe the VFL umpires
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
So a Bulldogs win by not a lot would also suit?
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
END OF THE FOURTH Hawthorn 10.12.72 defeat Sydney 9.12.66 by six points. What a game. Another classic between these two sides, but it is Hawthorn who have come out on top against the Swans for the second time this season! They're the only team to have beaten them since Round 7, and keep their slim finals hopes alive with that victory. Nic Newman was great for the Swans with 29 disposals and Tom Papley had three goals, and Tom Mitchell had 26 of his own, but the true star was Liam Shiels, who had 28 disposals and 2 goals to his name. Predictive Brownlow: 3 votes: Liam Shiels 2 votes: Tom Papley 1 vote: Shaun Burgoyne Tough to give Brownlow votes that game, who would you have given the votes to? Once again, great match, and thanks for joining me, been a blast! The match report will be out soon.