Sydney rally to defeat Hawthorn by 19 points despite injury to Lance Franklin

An injury to Lance Franklin has soured Sydney’s win over Hawthorn but the form of the Swans’ young players, who stepped up in the final term, was a big positive for coach John Longmire.

Tom Papley was good again. Picture: Getty

Sweet rapidly turned sour for Lance Franklin on Friday night with a suspected hamstring injury overshadowing his 200th SCG goal and leaving plans for his 300-game milestone celebration in tatters.

The superstar forward bagged four goals as the Sydney Swans secured a precious 12.10 (82) to 9.9 (63) triumph in what The Daily Telegraph columnist Mick McGuane had labelled an elimination final in front of 29,553 fans on a chilly night.

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The Swans delivered impressively in the first and final quarters — but all eyes are now on Franklin, who was ably supported on the goals front by Will Hayward, Tom Papley and Nick Blakey, who grabbed two apiece.

As the end of the third quarter approached Franklin left the field, with the ice swiftly applied to his left leg, the night ending with the forward facing another spell on the sidelines.

An anxious wait too for milestone man Callum Sinclair, forced off with suspected concussion in his 100th game.

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Lance Franklin injured his hamstring in the win. Picture: Phil Hillyard

THE DEADLY DUO

Bang! 44 seconds. Buddy. Goal.

Twenty goals for the season duly clocked up. Picking up where he left off, having booted a special major after the siren in the win over West Coast last time out.

Leading scorer Papley responded swiftly and roared with delight as the ball sailed between the posts as the fifth minute approached.

The Hawks got themselves on the board through James Sicily two minutes later only for Papley to hammer home another goal to take his tally for the season to 22.

“Is there a player that puts more effort into the celebration,” joked the Giants’ Adam Tomlinson and the ABC team in radio commentary.

Dan Menzel collected his first major of the night on 16 minutes as the home side extended their lead to 17 points. The returning Will Hayward promptly joined the party for the Swans’ fifth.

And just as he’d started the show, Franklin snapped across his body for his second, as the Swans went to the first break 18 points ahead.

THE FIGHTBACK

Start of the second, 90 seconds in. Buddy. Bang. Third of the night and his 200th goal at the SCG.

But the Hawks refused to go away.

Swans tagger George Hewett and O’Meara enjoyed a good tussle in a much scrappier second term than the first with the visitors digging deep and chipping away steadily at the hosts’ advantage.

As half time approached Luke Parker and Isaac Heeney led the way for disposals for the Swans (17 and 15 respectively) with Ricky Henderson (16) and Liam Shiels (14) impressing for the visitors.

O’Meara had six clearances, while the returning Josh Kennedy and Sinclair joined Parker and Hewett with four apiece.

All of a sudden the gap was just seven points as veteran Jarryd Roughead found the target and the Hawks had five goals out of the last six.

Heeney had to leave the field but returned with strapping after suffering a suspected cork.

Into the third and the Swans needed a settler. It was provided by Franklin. Teed up by Hayward, 20m out, number four for the night.

8.5 to 6.6 15 minutes into the third.

Callum Sinclair suffered concussion in the final quarter of his 100th game. Picture: Phil Hillyard

MILESTONE MAN AND GREAT NICK

Ruckman Sinclair celebrated his 100th game with a goal two minutes into the fourth and ended the night with 20 hit-outs and a suspected concussion for his trouble.

And as the fifth minute approached there was Nick Blakey to grab a spectacular mark above a big pack, deliver the goal and the lead was back out to 20 points. And then Hayward again as the Swans dominated the disposals.

Blakey delivered again. Two big goals when they were desperately needed by the Swans.

QUALITY GOODES

Hawthorn’s players showed their support for Adam Goodes in the warm up by sporting the No.37 on their warm-up guernseys, a gesture which bizarrely led to some Hawks fans threatening to tear up their memberships.

“A nice touch, a sign of respect between these two clubs,” Tomlinson said.

Originally published as Sydney rally to defeat Hawthorn by 19 points despite injury to Lance Franklin