The Swans had lost their tenuous grip on eighth place last night when Adelaide thrashed St Kilda but tonight finds itself still in finals contention after upsetting the Hawks 14.14 (98) to 11.11 (77) before a crowd of more than 34,000 at the MCG.
The Hawks were but a shadow of the team that thrashed Richmond by ten goals last week and with the exception of a brief burst in the third quarter never looked like being able to stem the dominance of the Swans.
After a dreadful opening quarter, in which it took more than 16 minutes for the first goal from either team to be scored, the Swans set up their win with a five goal to two second quarter to lead by 21 points at half-time.
Much of the reasoning behind such a terrible start was the persistent use of flooding by both teams. At some stages all 36 players were in the one half of the ground.
The architect of the Swans' second quarter dominance was ruckman Adam Goodes, who broke open the game and had amassed 14 kicks and three marks by half-time alone.
Sydney skipper Paul Kelly, in his fifth game back from a serious hamstring injury, finally showed signs of recapturing his best form as well.
Kelly had not kicked a goal this season prior to today but booted goals in each of the first three quarters to play a crucial role in the Swans' win.
The Swans were also able to get two goals each out of Greg Stafford and Gerard Bennett but in contrast Hawthorn's forward line, missing the injured Nick Holland, struggled badly.
With Nathan Thompson given the rucking duties in the absence of both Shaun Rehn and Brett O'Farrell, Trent Croad was given the spearhead role but struggled.
Not only did Croad only manage one goal for the day but he missed a simple shot from only 30 metres out at the 11 minute mark of the final term which would have put the Hawks within nine points.
The Swans then made Hawthorn pay for that wasted opportunity by sealing the game in the very next play with a goal to Matthew Nicks.
Scoreboard:
SYDNEY: 2.6 7.9 11.11 14.14 (98)
HAWTHORN: 2.5 4.6 8. 8 11.11 (77)
Goals:
Sydney: P Kelly 3 G Stafford 2 G Bennett 2 R O'Keefe D McPherson M O'Loughlin J Saddington M Nicks J Bolton J Crouch.
Hawthorn: B Nicholls 2 B Johnson 2 C Barlow 2 A Lord D Chick T Croad J Barker M Graham.
Best:
Sydney: A Goodes S Maxfield P Kelly M Nicks L Barry W Schwass M O'Loughlin.
Hawthorn: C Barlow B Johnson B Nicholls A Lekkas R Tallis.
