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The Hawthorn Hawks have secured a top-four spot and qualifying final with a nine-point win over the Sydney Swans on Saturday night.
The SCG was slippery underfoot, but luckily there was no rain, as two of the most successful clubs over the past two decades battled it out once again.
It was an even first quarter, with both sides slow to score and eying each other off.
Then in the second, Sydney came out and kicked four goals straight, before a late Paul Puopolo goal kept Hawthorn in the hunt.
At halftime, the margin was 19, but the low-scoring affair made it seem tougher to claw back.
When the teams came out after half-time, there was a shift in momentum, as the Hawks took the game on and held possession of the ball.
A three-goal run to the Hawks nearly got the score-line all square, before Sydney kicked away again.
Sydney’s lead was brought back to just one goal at the final change, with a Jack Gunston goal and Tom Mitchell behind to end the scoring in the third term.
Half-way through the final term, Hawthorn took the lead for the first time since the two-minute mark of the second term and held on from there to take a nine-point victory.
Without Lance Franklin up forward, the Swans had to get creative. Isaac Heeney and Tom Papley kicked two goals each, while Jake Lloyd again racked up 31 disposals.
George Hewett managed 24 disposals and six tackles, and held Tom Mitchell brilliantly in the first half.
Liam Shiels was busy all day, collecting 26 disposals and laying four tackles, while Tom Mitchell – held early by George Hewett – began to find some space in the second half, finishing with 24 disposals and 11 tackles.
Paul Puopolo kicked three goals, Jack Gunston and Ricky Henderson chipped in with two goals each as well.
Lance Franklin and Luke Parker were withdrawn from the side when the final team list was submitted, Jordan Dawson and Robbie Fox replaced them in the final line up.
Both teams have qualified for finals; Hawthorn look likely to finish in fourth spot (assuming the Eagles don’t lose by a considerable margin to the Lions), while Sydney currently sit in fifth, but could be moved by Sunday’s results.
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