Hawthorn has broken Sydney‘s 12-game winning streak with a memorable 10-point victory in front of more than 72,000 fans at the MCG on Saturday night.
Tipped by many pundits to be the match of the AFL season, the contest delivered on the hype, the Hawks coming from 23 points down in the third quarter to prevail 15.14 (104) to 13.16 (94).
Hawthorn forward Jarryd Roughead, who celebrated his 200th game with four goals, said he and his teammates didn’t panic when the Swans were on top. “We’re a pretty good last-quarter side and second-half side,” he said. “We hung in there and it was good that we finally got the win.”
The Swans led by seven points at the main break, but the match went up a gear in the third term. Sydney had a flyer, the inspirational Adam Goodes kicking two goals within three minutes of the restart.
The Hawks looked in trouble, but the reigning premiers steadied and hit back with successive goals to Luke Breust to narrow the margin to eight. All the momentum was with the home team. When Breust kicked his third on the trot and Isaac Smith also split the big sticks, the Hawks were suddenly in front.
Sydney had to respond, and it was superstar forward Lance Franklin making a statement, his snap putting the visitors ahead. Ben McGlynn also goaled for the Swans, but late six-pointers to Smith and Roughead (2) put the Hawks up by nine at three-quarter time.
With a spot in the top two at stake, Hawthorn enjoyed a dream start to the final term. Roughead and Paul Puopolo kicked the first goals of the quarter to stretch the lead to 21.
Led by the irrepressible Goodes, the Swans got the margin to under two kicks, but a late goal to Hawks captain Luke Hodge sealed victory for his team.
