After their first win of the season, Hawthorn will be looking to make it two on the trot when they host the Sydney Swans at the MCG this Sunday afternoon.

The Hawks were impressive against North Melbourne, pulling away to win by 45 points with Dylan Moore booting 4 goals and Jai Newcombe and Conor Nash impressive in the midfield with 32 disposals apiece.

It was the second term where the Hawks flexed their muscles, booting nine goals in a row to pull out to a 45-point lead.

Hawthorn won all the key stats against the winless Kangaroos, leading the disposal count (372 to 319), inside 50’s (63 to 52), and tackles (66 to 57).

In the process, the Hawks scored 100 points for just the third time since the start of last season.

The last time the Swans tackled the Hawks was back in Round 2, 2023 at the SCG, when the home side was far too good, winning by 83 points. On that occasion Logan McDonald kicked five goals and Joel Amartey four, while Callum Mills and Errol Gulden had 28 disposals a piece.

After the Hawks maiden win for 2024, coach Sam Mitchell said its his midfield that are beginning to improve.

“I think the midfield is a really good work in progress. We struggled a couple of years ago, last year as a collective took big gains forward, but individually not every player played well every week,” Mitchell said.

“How we bond and gel that group together continues to be a work in progress, but obviously much better today.

Both team line ups will be confirmed at 5pm on Friday (April 26) before first bounce on Sunday afternoon at the MCG at 4.00pm.

SYDNEY has recorded another win on the road, thumping Hawthorn by 76 points on Sunday evening at the MCG.

Under the setting sun, the Swans enjoyed a six-goal opening quarter before surging toward the 18.10 (118) to 5.12 (42) victory as the artificial lights took over on a day where Lance Franklin, a legend of both clubs, said a final farewell to the MCG.

Isaac Heeney starred for Sydney once again, kicking three goals from his 21 disposals and impacting right across the ground, while Logan McDonald was impressive inside 50 with three goals of his own.

An arm wrestle over the opening 10 minutes was devastatingly broken by the Swans with seven unanswered goals either side of the first break.

The visitors were also able to stretch the Hawthorn defence, goalling via 12 different players, including each of their first seven goals coming from individual goalkickers.

Sydney was far cleaner with the footy, often requiring just one take to gather ground balls and regularly enjoying multiple handball outlets when put under the pump. This extended to the connection between midfield and forward line, with the Swans piercing the attacking 50 by foot and giving forwards genuine opportunities to score.

In his first game of the year after a foot injury, reining Hawthorn best and fairest winner Will Day (11 disposals, four clearances) added some class to the home side, spurring a strong patch from his side late in the third term.

Mabior Chol (10 disposals, one goal) was well covered by Tom McCartin (nine intercepts, three contested marks), and without Lewis it was left to Dylan Moore, Jack Ginnivan, and Jack Gunston to serve as Hawthorn's other marking targets.

Working hard in his role on the wing, acting Sydney captain Errol Gulden (25 disposals, 12 marks, one goal) offered defensive coverage, sliding into a goalkeeper role for extra security, while also adding his neat kicking when repelling back out.

The Swans now look ahead to a blockbuster derby against third-placed Greater Western Sydney on Saturday, with star veterans Luke Parker and Dame Rampe expected to return from injury.

HAWTHORN               2.2    3.6    4.9   5.12 (42)
SYDNEY                       6.3    10.6    15.8   18.10 (118)

GOALS

Hawthorn: Hardwick, Moore, Meek, Chol, Newcombe,
Sydney: McDonald 3, Heeney 3, Hayward 2, Wicks 2, Gulden, Florent, Amartey, Papley, Adams, Warner, Jordon, McLean

BEST

Hawthorn: Worpel, Moore, Mackenzie, Day

Sydney: McCartin, Heeney, Warner, McDonald, Rowbottom, Blakey, Gulden

INJURIES

Hawthorn: Nil
Sydney: Nil

SUBSTITUTES

Hawthorn: Max Ramsden (replaced Jai Serong at half time)
Sydney: Braeden Campbell (replaced Justin McInerney in the final term)

LATE CHANGES

Hawthorn: Max Ramsden replaced Mitch Lewis (knee soreness) in the selected side
Sydney: Nil

Crowd: 38,052 at the MCG