2nd Semi Final
Sydney Swans v Hawthorn
Friday September 16, 2011
Melbourne Cricket Ground
7:45pm
The Sydney Swans take on Hawthorn in a must-win semi final at the MCG this Friday night. The Swans come into the game on the back of a 25-point victory over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium last Saturday night. It was the Swans first finals win in Melbourne since the 2005 Grand Final and ended a St Kilda winning run of 24-straight at Etihad Stadium on Saturday nights.
The Hawks were beaten by 31 points in their qualifying final against Geelong at the MCG last Friday night. Key forward Lance Franklin suffered bruising to his knee in the last quarter of the game but the latest reports expected him to play in the semi final.
Friday night will be the second time the Swans and Hawks have met in season 2011, with Hawthorn proving too strong in round 9, running out winners by 46 points at the SCG.
Broadcast
Channel 7
Melbourne: 8:00pm (30 minute delay)
Sydney: 7:30 pm (live)
Adelaide: 7:00pm (live)
Perth: 6:30pm (1 hour delay)
Brisbane: 7:30pm (7mate - live)
Hobart: 7:30pm (Southern Cross - live)
Darwin: 7:00pm (Southern Cross - live)
Canberra: 7:30pm (Prime - live)
Radio
Melbourne: 3AW, Triple M, SEN, K-Rock, ABC774
Sydney: ABC630, Triple M, AFL Live: 2SM
Adelaide: Triple M, ABC891, FIVEaa
Perth: 6PR, ABC720, NIRS
Brisbane: ABC936, NIRS
Hobart: ABC936, AFL Live: 7BU, 7XS, 7AD, 7SD
Darwin: ABC105.7, NIRS
Canberra: ABC103.9, AFL Live: 2EC, HOT COUNTRY
Visit www.afl.com.au/broadcast for full details on your local area.
Follow the match live on Sydney Swans’ social media pages Facebook and Twitter - the official hashtag for this game is #aflhawksswans.
If you can’t get to the game, head to one of our Swans Friendly Venues where you can watch the game with fellow Swans fans.
The Swans in Finals
The Sydney Swans have played 70 finals between 1899 and 2011, winning 31 and losing 39.
Previous finals against Hawthorn
2001 Elimination Final - Hawthorn 19.15 129 def Sydney 11.8 74, Docklands
After taking a 19 point lead into the first break, the Swans were no match for a rampant Hawthorn who ran over the top of the Swans by 55 points. Daniel Chick was again the Swans destroyer, amassing 24 disposals and three goals, while John Barker led the Hawks with four goals. Ben Mathews was the Swans leading possession getter with 24, with Brett Kirk kicking three goals to go along with his 21 touches.
1996 Qualifying Final - Sydney 13.12 90 def Hawthorn 12.12 84, SCG
The Swans went into their first final since 1987 without star goalkicker Tony Lockett, but the ledger was soon squared when Hawthorn’s full forward Jason Dunstall was carried off on a stretcher. Both teams really struggled for goals early in the game, and just when Hawthorn looked like they would pinch the game before three-quarter time, Jason Mooney fired the Swans back into the game with two quick goals. In a classic final quarter, it wasn’t until Daryn Cresswell’s pack mark and subsequent goal in the dying seconds that the game was decided in the Swans favour. Craig O’Brien starred for the Swans with five goals, while Stuart Maxfield and Dale Lewis each finished with 16 kicks, five handballs and a goal, in the Swans first finals win since 1945.
1987 Qualifying Final - Hawthorn 23.18 156 def Sydney 8.9 57, Waverley Park
In the first ever finals meeting between the two sides, the Hawks inflicted the Swans with their worst ever loss against the star-studded Hawks. Dermott Brereton and Jason Dunstall combined for 11 goals, with future Swans coach Gary Buckenara kicking five goals from his game-high 32 disposals. Robert DiPierdomenico wasn’t far behind with 31 touches, with John Kennedy (current Swan Josh Kennedy’s dad) had 27 disposals and a goal. Warwick Capper (four goals), Barry Mitchell (30 touches, one goal) and Greg Williams (24 possessions) were the sole shining lights for the Swans in the 99-point loss.
Swans v Hawthorn
Played 148, Won 65, Lost 81, Drawn 2
Last time - Round 9, 2011 - Hawthorn 15.16 106 def Sydney 8.12 60, SCG
Swans v Hawthorn at the MCG
Played 9, Won 4, Lost 5
Last five times at the MCG:
R10, 2010 - Hawthorn 10.19 79 def Sydney 11.11 77
R11, 2009 - Hawthorn 12.14 86 def Sydney 11.9 75
R15, 2008 - Hawthorn 15.16 106 def Sydney 10.15 75
R11, 2007 - Sydney 11.9 75 def Hawthorn 9.12 66
R9, 2006 - Sydney 19.5 119 def Hawthorn 7.12 54
Highest Score
Sydney’s highest score against Hawthorn - 28.15 183 in 1980
Hawthorn's highest score against Sydney - 29.15 189 in 1979
Greatest Winning Margin
Sydney’s greatest winning margin against Hawthorn- 123 points in 1932
Hawthorn's greatest winning margin against Sydney - 99 points in 1987
Crowds
The largest crowd to ever watch the Swans and Hawks play was the final game at Waverley Park when 72,130 people saw Hawthorn win by 85 points in Round 22, 1999. The largest crowd to ever see the two teams play in a final was 47,752 at the 1987 Qualifying Final, also at Waverley.
