HAWTHORN escaped with an expected NAB Cup opening win after being made to work hard by an inexperienced Swans outfit at Aurora Stadium.
Just 12 goals were kicked despite cool and sunny conditions in Launceston, and Hawthorn’s three supergoals proved the difference between the two sides.
The Hawks managed just four behinds in the final term, but hung on to win by two points, 3.2.13 (52) to 0.7.8 (50).
The Swans rested half their senior list, including skippers Craig Bolton, Brett Kirk and Leo Barry, but their young squad played characteristically tight football. They hit back after falling behind in each of the first three quarters, and were within a point in the dying stages of the final term.
But Paul Roos’ side may have received a damaging blow, with improving half-back Nick Malceski suffering what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
Malceski went to ground after appearing to twist his knee in the third quarter, and went straight to the rooms.
The news was much better for the Hawks, who were heavily favoured for this game and started with players of the calibre of Lance Franklin, Sam Mitchell and Luke Hodge in the side.
Mark Williams led well on his return after missing most of last year with a knee injury, and might have been rewarded if not for a few errant passes.
Youngsters shone in a forward line missing Trent Croad and Jarryd Roughead.
Jarryd Morton kept the side’s nose in front with the opening nine-pointer and a goal in the third term. Cyril Rioli, 18, showed glimpses of quality, but let himself down with poor handling under pressure.
Grant Birchall and teenager Xavier Ellis caught the eye around the ground, with Thomas Murphy also doing a good job on Ryan O’Keefe.
Young midfielders Beau Muston and Travis Tuck also saw plenty of the ball.
Fourteen minutes had elapsed before Morton kicked through from outside 50 to put Hawthorn on the board in the first term.
Forced to the flanks, the Hawks struggled to hit their forward targets, managing just three further behinds before quarter time.
Garry Moss extended the lead with another supergoal in the second quarter after winning a free kick down the ground. A Shane Crawford goal put Hawthorn 10 points clear, but the Swans struck with the last two goals of the term to take a two-point lead into the long break.
The third term followed a similar pattern, with the Hawks leaping to the front thanks to Birchall’s supergoal, but the Swans answering, in part thanks to a terrible air-swing by Zac Dawson that let in rookie Matthew Beckmans.
Just five points ahead at the final change, the Hawks were pushed to within a point, but held on at the death despite not kicking a goal in the last quarter.
The Hawks will play Carlton in their NAB Cup quarter-final next Saturday at Telstra Dome.
Hawthorn 1.0.3 2.1.4 3.2.9 3.2.13 (52)
Sydney Swans 0.1.2 0.4.6 0.6.7 0.7.8 (50)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Nine-point goals:.Birchall, Morton, Moss. Goals: Crawford, Morton
Sydney Swans: Nine-point goals: Nil. Goals: Beckmans, Bolton, Bird, Davis, Mathews, Moore, O’Dwyer
BEST
Hawthorn: Birchall, Murphy, Muston, Ellis, Hodge, Murphy, Taylor
Sydney Swans: Mattner, Buchanan, Roberts-Thomson, McVeigh, Bird, Jack
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil.
Sydney Swans: Malceski (knee)
Reports: Jack (Sydney Swans) reported by field umpire Meredith for rough conduct against Hodge (Hawthorn) in the second quarter.
Umpires: S Meredith S McBurney S Stewart
Crowd: 14,778 at Aurora Stadium, Launceston
