Papley bags four as Swans down Hawks in thriller
Sydney and Hawthorn have played off in grand finals and big home and away games in the past decade, and invariably produced grandstand finishes. The two sides may no longer be contenders but on Saturday they continued their tradition.
This time it was the Swans who prevailed, intensifying the scrutiny on master coach Alastair Clarkson after holding off the Hawks in a frantic finish to win by seven points - 9.6 (60) to 7.11 (53).
The Hawks had chances to pinch the game late but Chad Wingard's miss was costly, and they could not find a way through the mass of red and white bodies.
Under pressure: Sydney's Callum Mills and Hawk James Sicily compete.Credit:Getty Images
With Lance Franklin injured, the Swans have found a new goalkicking hero in Tom Papley, who backed up his chat with action - his four goals priceless in a low-scoring affair.
The Coleman Medal leader heading into this round, Papley provided both the turning point and the game's flashpoint when he helped himself to a two for one meal deal shortly before half time.
The energetic goal sneak dropped the f-bomb on live TV but it was the Hawks who were cursing after slumping to their fourth consecutive defeat - all since their move into the Sydney hub.
Hawthorn and Sydney were two of the heavyweight clubs of the 2010s, but though little separates them on the ladder they are heading down vastly different paths.
Clarkson has persevered with the older guard while the Swans have invested heavily in youth, even if the word "rebuild" is rarely uttered.
Though Papley was the game breaker and skipper Dane Rampe was inspirational in defence there was more evidence as to why the Swans are so confident in their next generation.
There was symbolism in second-gamer Elijah Taylor, who snapped a freakish goal in the second quarter, finishing the game in possession as it was the Swans' kids who stood up in the mad final scramble.
Robbie Fox's smother hemmed the ball in on the boundary. Ollie Florent showed maturity beyond his years, repeatedly putting himself in harm's way to get his side out of danger, so too Nick Blakey, who was prepared to have his slender frame bounce of bodies like a pinball if it stopped the surge.
Clarkson faces some difficult decisions in the coming weeks. He fielded a much more inexperienced side than the Swans but still came up short.
The finals appear a pipedream so does he gain more by continuing to play premiership heroes such as Shaun Burgoyne and James Frawley? Is Tom Scully still in the Hawks' best 22?
The Hawks won the contested possession and clearance counts but struggled to move the ball with the fluency displayed by the Swans.
They were made to look slow when the tempo of the game lifted in the second half, counter-intuitively in the wet.
Instead of erring on the side of caution with kicks long up the line, the Swans took risks, picking holes in the Hawks' defence with their switches play and kicks into the corridor.
Rampe epitomised the Swans' sense of adventure, his incisive kick to Aliir Aliir leading to big goal for Papley. Nursing an injured hand, the Swans captain also pulled off some key defensive plays in the final quarter.
BEST:
Sydney: Papley, Rampe, Lloyd, Parker, Florent. Hawthorn: Shiels, O'Meara, Sicily.