The Serve

Swans massacre Hawks

Sydney were supposed to have nothing to play for. Supposed to put the cue in the rack, and wait for the real matches before turning the switch on.

Problem was someone forgot to them.

The Swans thrashed Hawthorn 22.9.141 to 10.9.69 in front of a delirious packed SCG crowd, to bounce into the finals with tremendous momentum.

Sydney may have been consigned to a sudden death away from home no matter what the result, but the Swans may have inflicted enough scarring on the young Hawks to render Hawthorn’s finals campaign useless.

Buddy Franklin kicked the first goal, but from there it was a massacre. Sydney were unusually proactive with the ball, slamming fourteen goals before half time. The 92-21 lead drew a standing ovation.

The Hawks improved immeasurably after the main break, but the damage was well and truly done. Hawthorn kicked six goals to four in the third term.

The Swans restored order in the final term, Nick Davis and Michael O’Loughlin ended with four goals, his last a contender for the year.

Luke Ablett left the match in the third term