Swans soar into the top two with demolition over Hawks at the MCG

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yesterday 6.42pm

KEY POINTS FROM SWANS WIN OVER HAWKSBy Peter Ryan

Isaac Heeney is still flyingThe Sydney star is having a career year in 2024 and he continued his good form at the MCG. With the blond crop of hair, the cliched magnet for Brownlow votes, he will have polled another two or three for his three-goal game against the Hawks.

Hawthorn vs Sydney - Figure 1
Photo Brisbane Times

Heeney is playing in the same style as ex-Geelong champion Jimmy Bartel, being dangerous in the air and winning the ball when he wants to in tight. He has good allies in Errol Gulden and Chad Warner, who has rediscovered his 2022 form, and a midfield enjoying the ruckwork of Brodie Grundy.

But it wasn’t just skill that destroyed Hawthorn. The Swans applied pressure and the Hawks wilted. With Callum Mills to return and Luke Parker getting through the VFL unscathed the fight for midfield spots is on.

After recording their 100th win at the MCG, the Swans are second on the ladder and a genuine threat with the highest percentage now after the 76-point win.

“We knew we needed to beat them on the inside,” Heeney told Fox Sports. “I had a good pre-season, the body is feeling good and a bit of a structural change that suits me.” He also admitted he hurt a troublesome ankle when Jai Newcombe fell on it but he said applying ice should help him recover.

Isaac Heeney of the Swans.Credit: Getty

Mabior Chol let his team downRecruited as a key forward, he has had to battle without a sidekick for most of the season as Mitch Lewis has been missing since round three. He must have been disappointed that Lewis was a late withdrawal after failing to come up in time in his recovery from a hamstring strain.

He played like he had a chip on his shoulder, giving away a vital free kick that cost his team when Blake Hardwick kicked a goal only to see Sydney given the ball in a reverse free. He then wrestled with Nick Blakey while play went on around him and was given a Bronx cheer when he took his first mark six minutes into the third quarter.

Hawthorn vs Sydney - Figure 2
Photo Brisbane Times

Then, he was run down after trying to fend off Blakey late in what was a disappointing afternoon for the recruit. He kicked a goal but finished the match with six clangers.

Hawthorn v SydneyCredit: Getty

How to assess the Hawks?James Sicily is strangely off his game, perhaps overwhelmed by the enormity of what faces his team as they struggle to match the competition’s best teams.

The skipper is a star but with his intercept marking disappearing and making it hard for the Hawks to rebound. It’s not for lack of trying but his form is just off.

Dylan Moore works hard and although he did not hit the scoreboard he was entitled to be satisfied with his performance. Blake Hardwick is also a good player having to fill holes with Sam Mitchell eventually pushing him behind the ball as he tried to limit the damage.

But too often too much is left to too few with Jack Gunston struggling to have any impact in the twilight of his career. The positive was Will Day’s return from a foot injury. He was rusty but classy and the Hawks did win clearance.

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yesterday 6.58pm

Goodnight

That’s us done for round seven. Thanks for joining us for another (very long) weekend of footy.

Doesn’t Wednesday’s Melbourne and Richmond clash feel like a lifetime ago?

We’ll see you back here on Thursday to kick off round eight (already?!) for the Showdown over in Adelaide.

Goodnight!

yesterday 6.54pm

Buddy good player, that Jeremy CameronBy Michael Gleeson

On the weekend Sydney played Hawthorn and feted Buddy Franklin, a great of both clubs, the man who is his closest approximation kicked his 600th goal.

Hawthorn vs Sydney - Figure 3
Photo Brisbane Times

Franklin had his premiership success at Hawthorn but rounded his career, and achieved a more rounded level of recognition and success, by going to Sydney.

Jeremy Cameron won no flags and enjoyed no comparable cut-through to Franklin’s when he was at Greater Western Sydney, but has arrived at Geelong and elevated himself into a modern great.

Cameron won a best and fairest, was twice All-Australian and a Coleman medallist at the Giants. With 427 goals in 171 appearances, he was an exceptional player in a very good GWS side that regularly made finals.

Irresistible: Geelong goalkicker Jeremy Cameron.Credit: AFL Photos

Yet he has been even better at the Cats in his late twenties, and now early thirties. He’s won one flag, another All-Australian blazer, might win another premiership this year and has booted 196 goals in 66 games.

He will play his 250th later this year and with his rangy Michael Tuck-esque build looks capable of playing deep into his 30s and pressing beyond 300 to 350 games. He could retire with more than 800 goals.

If he hasn’t been a more important and influential recruit even than Brownlow medallist Paddy Dangerfield, he is his equal. If modern Brownlows could be won by anyone other than a midfielder, Cameron would be a favourite.

Read the full article, Michael Gleeson’s four points from the weekend, including a forgotten rule and time killer here.

yesterday 6.42pm

KEY POINTS FROM SWANS WIN OVER HAWKSBy Peter Ryan

Isaac Heeney is still flyingThe Sydney star is having a career year in 2024 and he continued his good form at the MCG. With the blond crop of hair, the cliched magnet for Brownlow votes, he will have polled another two or three for his three-goal game against the Hawks.

Hawthorn vs Sydney - Figure 4
Photo Brisbane Times

Heeney is playing in the same style as ex-Geelong champion Jimmy Bartel, being dangerous in the air and winning the ball when he wants to in tight. He has good allies in Errol Gulden and Chad Warner, who has rediscovered his 2022 form, and a midfield enjoying the ruckwork of Brodie Grundy.

But it wasn’t just skill that destroyed Hawthorn. The Swans applied pressure and the Hawks wilted. With Callum Mills to return and Luke Parker getting through the VFL unscathed the fight for midfield spots is on.

After recording their 100th win at the MCG, the Swans are second on the ladder and a genuine threat with the highest percentage now after the 76-point win.

“We knew we needed to beat them on the inside,” Heeney told Fox Sports. “I had a good pre-season, the body is feeling good and a bit of a structural change that suits me.” He also admitted he hurt a troublesome ankle when Jai Newcombe fell on it but he said applying ice should help him recover.

Isaac Heeney of the Swans.Credit: Getty

Mabior Chol let his team downRecruited as a key forward, he has had to battle without a sidekick for most of the season as Mitch Lewis has been missing since round three. He must have been disappointed that Lewis was a late withdrawal after failing to come up in time in his recovery from a hamstring strain.

He played like he had a chip on his shoulder, giving away a vital free kick that cost his team when Blake Hardwick kicked a goal only to see Sydney given the ball in a reverse free. He then wrestled with Nick Blakey while play went on around him and was given a Bronx cheer when he took his first mark six minutes into the third quarter.

Hawthorn vs Sydney - Figure 5
Photo Brisbane Times

Then, he was run down after trying to fend off Blakey late in what was a disappointing afternoon for the recruit. He kicked a goal but finished the match with six clangers.

Hawthorn v SydneyCredit: Getty

How to assess the Hawks?James Sicily is strangely off his game, perhaps overwhelmed by the enormity of what faces his team as they struggle to match the competition’s best teams.

The skipper is a star but with his intercept marking disappearing and making it hard for the Hawks to rebound. It’s not for lack of trying but his form is just off.

Dylan Moore works hard and although he did not hit the scoreboard he was entitled to be satisfied with his performance. Blake Hardwick is also a good player having to fill holes with Sam Mitchell eventually pushing him behind the ball as he tried to limit the damage.

But too often too much is left to too few with Jack Gunston struggling to have any impact in the twilight of his career. The positive was Will Day’s return from a foot injury. He was rusty but classy and the Hawks did win clearance.

yesterday 6.36pm

Swans down Hawks to soar into top two

Well, it really was light work in the end for the Swans, who downed the Hawks by a whopping 67-points.

An important percentage booster, though, which sees Sydney climb to second spot on the ladder, ahead of GWS equal on points.

This while Hawthorn remain at 17th spot, just one ahead of North Melbourne, who are yet to win a game this year.

Sydney defeated Hawthorn 18.10 (118) to 5.12 (42).

Sydney celebrate a goal.Credit: Getty

yesterday 6.29pm

Hawthorn vs Sydney - Figure 6
Photo Brisbane Times
Swans keep coming

Sydney aren’t relenting as the game reaches its final five minutes.

The last goal came from Will Hayward, his second of the day, and then Braeden Campbell had an opportunity, on as the sub, but it went through for a minor score.

The Swans have now scored 17 goals, to Hawthorn’s five.

Sydney by 69.

yesterday 6.19pm

Swans make their sub

Sydney have made their sub midway through the final quarter.

Justin McInerney has been subbed out of the match with Braeden Campbell in as his replacement. A tactical sub, so no injury to worry about there.

yesterday 6.14pm

Final quarter underway

Jack Ginnivan had the chance to put through his first goal of the game, from far out on the boundary, but missed the lot.

Thankfully for Hawks fans, Jai Newcombe had more luck moments later and booted their fifth goal of the day.

Not quite for thankfully for Hawks fans, Isaac Heeney then followed it up with his third major of the game.

Sydney by 64.

Isaac Heeney of the Swans.Credit: Getty

yesterday 6.04pm

3QT STATS

yesterday 6.02pm

Chol gets one back for the Hawks

Well, that would have woken up any of the Hawthorn cheersquad that had started to fall asleep. Mabior Chol has kicked the Hawks fourth goal of the afternoon to close out the third quarter.

It was the Hawks first goal since the fourteen-minute mark of the second quarter.

It followed an Errol Gulden behind, which would have cracked the 100 for the Swans on the scoreboard. They are at 98 points, with a 65-point lead, at the final change.

This from our reporter Peter Ryan from the MCG:

Not much fun for Hawks fans there until Mabior Chol started creating some opportunities. The Swans have kept their pressure up throughout and been too good for Hawthorn. The 65-point margin reflects the difference in the two teams.

Swans lead by 65-points at 3QT.

Hawthorn v Sydney.Credit: Getty

yesterday 5.48pm

Warner walks into goal

It’s not Jack Ginnivan’s afternoon. The exciting small forward is now up to three behinds without a goal to his name.

He’s kicked as many minor scores as his team have kicked majors today. Grim areas.

Meanwhile, for the Swans, Chad Warner strolled into an open goal to extend their lead to 60 points. They just keep coming.

Sydney by 60.

Hawthorn v Sydney.Credit: Getty

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