Hawks stop Swans winning run
The Swans came into this game having won 10 out of their last 11, and seven on the trot. In fact, the last time they lost was to Hawthorn at the SCG in round 10. It's no secret the Hawks love playing Sydney, and once again on Friday night at the MCG,it was a famously tight battle. The Hawks led brilliantly in the final term by skipper Jarryd Roughead (12 disposals and a goal) managed to hold off the Swans to keep their faint finals hopes alive and lift the Beyond Blue Cup. The loss was a huge blow to Sydney's top four hopes, leaving them sixth on the ladder with the potential to slide down to seventh by the end of the round.
Lance v Luke, parts I and II
It was a night to forget for Swans superstar Lance Franklin against his former side. The Coleman Medal leader was restricted to just 13 touches, five marks and one goal by Hawthorn defender Kaiden Brand. To make matters worse, Franklin had tongues wagging and Hawks fans booing in the opening quarter after two incidents involving his former skipper Luke Hodge. Words were exchanged on the boundary line between the ex-teammates and a push and shove ensued. But one of Franklin's shoves was to the face of Hodge, and while it was an open hand and unlikely to end in suspension, it will likely be scrutinised by the Match Review Panel come Monday. Franklin should also escape sanction for the second incident, in which he clipped Hodge high and late with a swinging arm as the retiring Hawk took a kick. The force was low and despite the contact being high, it's unlikely he'll miss any matches with a fine a more probable sanction.
Sicily fires up again
There's no doubt Hawthorn swingman James Sicily wears his heart on his sleeve, but in recent weeks his frustration has boiled over, raising more questions about his on-field attitude. Last Saturday night against Fremantle, his verbal tirade aimed at teammate Taylor Duryea raised eyebrows, despite the pair making light of it later on social media. On Friday night, he conceded a 50m penalty for failing to return to the ball to Lance Franklin after the Swans superstar received a free kick. But that didn't stop Sicily firing up, he continued to back chat the umpire, with Hodge trying to calm him down, twice. Either way, the incident sparked something in the young Hawk, who turned it on in the second half to finish up as one of Hawthorn's best players in the victory.
Swans' injury woes
The Swans were dropping like flies before the first bounce with Jake Lloyd (hip tightness) a late withdrawal. Gary Rohan was the next to fall during the warm-up with the speedster complaining of back spasms. To make matters worse ruckman Sam Naismith appeared to injure his knee and spent most of the third quarter on the bench, as did skipper Josh Kennedy, who in his 200th game received treatment on his left thigh. He returned with a bandage, but he was clearly hampered, finishing the game with just 14 disposals. Swans big man Callum Sinclair also injured his ankle in the final quarter, capping off a forgettable night for the Swans.
