IT WASN’T pretty, it wasn't spectacular andit wasn't even that entertaining but it mattered little to the Swans after theyovercame an early deficit to grind their way to victory over Hawthorn in abruising MCG encounter.
After trailing by three goals at the firstchange the Swans changed the face of the game after quarter-time to record whatcould be season-defining win, 11.9 (75) to 9.12 (66).
In front of a healthy 48,398 fans, andinspired by skipper Brett Kirk, the Swans outscored the Hawks 10 goals to fiveafter the first break courtesy of its trademark uncompromising, ruggedone-on-one style. It was a win full of courage, grit and commitment to thecause.
That cause wasn't helped a minute into thegame when hard running defender Tadhg Kennelly was helped from the field bythree trainers with a knee injury. That was on the back of Luke Ablett'sabsence after he was replaced in the selected side by youngster Tim Schmidt.
Without Kennelly's run and carry from theback half the Swans struggled to mount any meaningful attack early on and spentmuch of the first term working the ball between the 50-metre arcs.
The Swans problems were compounded by thefact Hawk forward Lance Franklin was causing all sorts of problems for CraigBolton and Leo Barry.
With the Hawks dominating everywhere but onthe scoreboard
While it made for a less than attractivespectacle, it got his side back into the game.
With the opposition suffocated every timethey went forward, and a slow and measured build-up making for stop-startfootball, the young Hawks began to make errors with discipline and disposal.
With Kirk, Nic Fosdike, Adam Goodes, NickMalceski and Ryan O'Keefe getting their share of the ball, the Swans clawedtheir way back.
Barry got the scoreboard rolling with twogoals – both from 50-metre penalties - and when Nick Davis escaped the clutchesof Danny Jacobs to add two more, the Swans were back in business.
The game developed into an epic slog afterthe main break.
Both sides threw themselves at everycontest like it was their last. Kirk led the way for the Swans with hisrelentless approach on man and ball, while Nic Fosdike, Goodes and Malceskimaintained the rage through the middle of the ground.
Kirk was inspiring all day. His tackling,willingness to put his body on the line and will to win lifted his teammateswho were left with no option but to follow the skipper's lead.
Schmidt broke a 10-minute arm wrestle earlyin the third term when he goaled after marking an errant Trent Croad pass 10minutes in. Two minutes later Adam Schneider added another to give the Swans atwo-goal buffer.
Franklin, who continued to make life toughfor Craig Bolton, responded with his fourth and fifth goals in a freneticperiod of play.
Not long after the ever reliableO'Loughlin, who had struggled in his battle with Campbell Brown, rammed home aset shot after the three-quarter time siren to give the Swans a nine-pointbuffer heading into the final term.
With the lead, the momentum and the scentof victory in their the nostrils,
O'Keefe missed two chances to nail thecoffin early in the final term but it mattered little as Davis booted his thirdafter an errant Hawk kick-in. When Amon Buchanan sent one through at the14-minute mark it was a 23-point lead and game over.
Kirk was clearly the Swans' best, whileGoodes, Barry, Fosdike, Malceski and Peter Everitt, in his first match againsthis former side, battle manfully to provide a spark.
HAWTHORN 4.3 5.5 7.9 9.12 (66)
SYDNEY 1.3 5.3 9.6 11.9 (75)
GOALS
Hawthorn: L Franklin 6, R Ladson, C Bateman,R Campbell
Sydney: Davis 3, L Barry 2, S Dempster, T Schmidt, A Schneider, T Richards, M O'Loughlin,A Buchanan
BEST
Hawthorn: B Sewell, C Brown, S Mitchell,L Franklin, S Crawford
Sydney: B Kirk, N Fosdike, L Barry, N Malceski, J Bolton
INJURIES
Hawthorn: TBA
Sydney: L Ablett (back) out, replaced in selected side by T Schmidt, T Kennelly(knee), D Jolly (corked knee)
Reports: TBA
Umpires: McBurney, James, Rosebury
Official crowd: 48,398 at the MCG
