AFL: Hawthorn ends SCG drought with easy win over Sydney

A six-goal effort by Hawthorn’s Lance Franklin has helped the Hawks move into the AFL’s top four with a 46-point win over Sydney at the SCG today.

Franklin kicked 6.6 as Hawthorn delivered a dominant second half performance to win 15. 16 (106) to 8.12 (60) in front of 33,136 spectators.

Hawthorn kicked seven goals in the third quarter whilst Sydney could only manage two. This opened the door for Hawthorn and opened up what had been a tight game between the two sides.

Hawthorn then kicked four goals to two in the final quarter to cap off the win.

It was Sydney’s biggest loss this season and the highest score kicked against them this year.

Ex-Hawk Ben McGlynn kicked three goals and was Sydney’s only multiple goal kicker, he kicked a crucial goal at the end of the first quarter to give the Swans a five point lead.

The second quarter was closely contested and low scoring, the Hawks kicked one goal and six behinds to three behinds to be ahead by four points at half time.

Cyril Rioli returned to his team after a hamstring injury and played well, setting up two quick goals as the Hawks kicked 4.2 to 0.1 early in the third quarter.

Sydney closed the margin to 19 points; however another Hawthorn surge gave them a 36-point lead at three quarter time.

Lance Franklin kicked the first two goals of the last quarter and Hawthorn led by over 50 points at one stage of the game.

Hawthorn ruckman Max Bailey was playing his first game after three knee reconstructions and played well against Shane Mumford before getting concussed in the third quarter.

Grant Birchall picked up 30 possessions for Hawthorn.

Full-time scores: HAWTHORN 3.2 4.8 11.14 15.16 (106)
SYDNEY 4.1 4.4 6.8 8.12 (60)

Goals: Hawthorn: L Franklin 6 L Hodge 2 C Bateman C Rioli J Roughead L Breust L Shiels M Osborne S Burgoyne. 

Sydney: B McGlynn 3 A Everitt J McVeigh L Jetta N Malceski R Shaw.

Umpires: Simon Meredith, Jacob Mollison, Ray Chamberlain.
Official Crowd: 33,136 at SCG.