TOM Papley has sparked Sydney to a seven-point victory over Hawthorn in a wet and wintry clash at the SCG on Saturday. 

SWANS v HAWKS Full match coverage and stats

The League's joint-leading goalkicker going into round eight, Papley kicked four goals as the Swans kept the Hawks goalless for most of the second half to win 9.6 (60) to 7.11 (53). 

>> WATCH ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

The small forward boosted his Coleman Medal chances with two clever crumbing goals, and another after a blistering 55m run and simple dribble kick from the goal square. 

But it was after his first goal, a kick off the ground after the ball spilled from a throw-in, that Papley outsmarted his opponents and turned the game.  

Papley directed his typically enthusiastic celebration toward his former teammate, Hawthorn's 2018 Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell, before Hawk James Frawley ran in to knock Papley over and give away a free kick next to the goal square. 

'HORSE' STUNNED Clarko says Papley 'milks free kicks as good as anyone'

Papley snapped truly just before half-time to make it two goals in 20 seconds that sapped the momentum the Hawks had built up over the first two quarters. 

Dane Rampe - who appeared to play the game out with a severe hand issue - was heroic, while Jake Lloyd (34 disposals), James Rowbottom (18 touches, 11 contested) and Luke Parker (22 possessions) were also influential for the Swans. 

The win was the first for a young Swans side after four consecutive defeats. 

Hawthorn's first-choice on-ball brigade was made to look second-rate last week against Melbourne and has struggled at other times this year, with Alastair Clarkson's side losing the contested-possession count by an average of 19 this season. 

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But against the less mature bodies of the Swans' young midfield, Jaeger O'Meara (25 touches, nine clearances, Tom Mitchell (18), James Worpel (16) and Liam Shiels (24), controlled the contested ball early, but the Swans had too much run in the second half. 

The Swans will be on the road over the coming weeks, with their next two games at the Gabba, starting with St Kilda on Saturday. They will then move into a hub in WA for their next block of matches. 

ROUNDS 8-12 Check out the full fixture

Hawthorn has had a nightmare in NSW, losing its past four games played in Sydney. The Hawks will head straight to Perth for what they'll hope is a happier hub, starting with a clash against Carlton at Optus Stadium on Friday evening. 

Elijah excites with first goal
Young Sydney forward Elijah Taylor comes with a reputation for exciting exploits near goal, and he went some way to living up to that with his first goal in his second game. With the ball sent high and deep into the Swans forward line, then bouncing over the back of the pack, Taylor showed some pace to get away from a chasing James Frawley, casually crumbed the ball, then snapped over his left shoulder for a special first goal. With more finishes like that, Taylor will do Adam Goodes’ famous No.37 guernsey proud. 

Silk slings again
For the second time this season, Shaun Burgoyne will have a nervous wait for the Match Review Officer’s verdict on his tackling technique, after the veteran Hawk heavily dumped James Rowbottom in the third quarter. On the day that Burgoyne moved to equal fifth on the list of the most games played, the 37-year-old took the young Sydney midfield to ground with a slinging motion that will be looked at closely. Rowbottom was able to play on, and whether his head hit the ground with significant force might determine whether 'Silk' has a case to answer.

Role reversal suits the Swans
Over the best part of the past decade, Sydney and Hawthorn contests have been a clash of game styles, as much as they've been matches between bitter rivals. We’re used to seeing Sydney, with the likes of Josh Kennedy, Kieren Jack and Jarrad McVeigh, winning plenty of contested ball, with Hawthorn relying on elite foot skills and pace to outrun the opposition. But on Saturday afternoon the Swans' youthful side looked to get the ball into open spaces more, while the Hawks won the contested possession and centre clearance stats. In the end, better ball movement and polish around the ground helped get Sydney over the line.

SYDNEY           2.1       5.1       8.2       9.6 (60)
HAWTHORN    3.3       5.3       6.6       7.11 (53) 

GOALS
Sydney: Papley 4, Reid, Parker, Taylor, McCartin, Blakey
Hawthorn: O'Meara, Shiels, Gunston, Wingard, Burgoyne, Mitchell, Sicily 

BEST
Sydney: Papley, Rampe, Lloyd, Rowbottom, Florent, Parker, Mills
Hawthorn: O'Meara, Sicily, Shiels, Mitchell, Frawley 

INJURIES
Sydney: Rampe (hand)
Hawthorn: Nil