Hawthorn’s Grit Overcomes Sydney’s Glamour in Hard-Fought Victory
In a contest that showcased the contrasting philosophies of two AFL clubs, Sam Mitchell’s Hawthorn outfit, often labelled the “Hollywood Hawks,” proved that grit and a relentless appetite for the contest can trump pure star power. Under the Thursday night lights at the MCG, the Hawks rolled up their sleeves and dismantled Sydney’s dynamic, high-octane game plan, ultimately securing a hard-earned 17-point victory with a final score of 14.15 (99) to 13.4 (82).
The most significant divergence between the two sides was evident at either end of the ground, a direct consequence of Hawthorn’s superior engagement in the physical battles when the ball was contested in the midfield.
While the Sydney Swans arrived with considerable fanfare and a roster boasting considerable individual talent, it was the less heralded contributions from Hawthorn’s forward line that made the difference. Jack Gunston, Mabior Chol, and Mitch Lewis, whose collective salaries are reportedly comparable to that of a single star player at another club, all played pivotal roles. In stark contrast, Sydney’s highly-touted recruit, a significant investment for the Swans, failed to make a meaningful impact beyond two early goals in the opening term. He was notably limited to just one disposal in the entire second half, a statistic that speaks volumes about the Hawks’ defensive pressure.
Gunston, a familiar figure from Hawthorn’s dominant era in the 2010s that inflicted heartbreak on Sydney on multiple occasions, continued his penchant for causing pain to a new generation of Swans. His fourth goal of the night proved to be the decisive blow, sealing a win that had seemed a distant prospect earlier in the third quarter when Sydney surged to a 20-point advantage.
This was a significant night for Sam Mitchell and his coaching staff. While the absence of key Sydney players like Isaac Heeney and Errol Gulden undoubtedly eased some pressure, the question remains how much impact those superstars would have had against the intense arm wrestle Mitchell orchestrated.
A Tactical Shift Ignites Hawthorn’s Comeback
Following a frenetic first term that saw an impressive 11 goals kicked, the complexion of the match underwent a significant transformation. Mitchell’s tactical masterstroke involved deploying an extra player behind the ball, a move that effectively slowed down the game and suited Hawthorn’s approach. This deliberate shift in tempo allowed the Hawks to build their attacks more methodically, and crucially, they possessed more avenues to score due to their overwhelming dominance in contested possessions.
The contested ball count tells a compelling story. Sydney held a slender two-possession advantage at halftime, but by the final siren, Hawthorn had flipped the script dramatically, winning the count by 26. Swans coach Dean Cox acknowledged this disparity as a major contributing factor to his team’s defeat.
Despite their territorial dominance and repeat entries inside their forward 50, Hawthorn struggled with accuracy in the second term, failing to convert their opportunities. However, as the Swans began to tire, exacerbated by a quick five-day turnaround between games, the Hawks pounced, cashing in on their late-game ascendancy.
Mitchell himself highlighted the stark contrast in his team’s performance. “If you looked at our GWS game and the Sydney game, and you looked at just intensity around the ball and the speed of the bodies and the pressure that we were able to put on tonight… the difference between those two games was quite significant in how we behaved,” he commented. “And if we can sustain the type of pressure and intensity that we got tonight, we’ll be a really hard side to beat. But if we drop off, we don’t have to look too far in our rearview mirror to realise how vulnerable we can be.”
Sydney’s Reliance on Speed Exposed
The decision to employ a spare defender was a daring tactic from Mitchell, as it carried the inherent risk of allowing Sydney to exploit the extra man in defence and create overlaps, typically through the dangerous running of Nick Blakey or Callum Mills. However, the relentless pressure exerted by Hawthorn’s small forwards, Connor Macdonald and Nick Watson, alongside the unexpected contributions of Mabior Chol, proved effective. They managed to force Sydney into consistently kicking long, high balls towards a well-marked Charlie Curnow, who struggled to bring the ball to ground and initiate crucial stoppages on the wings.
Mitchell was visibly pleased with his team’s sustained effort. “There was an intensity about the whole game right to the last five seconds,” he stated. “My son actually texted me, and he said, ‘I wasn’t sure we’d won until eight seconds to go’, and it felt like that in the game. And so for our players to put together 120 minutes of really high, intense footy, I thought that was a good sign.”
The Hawks’ mastery of the contested ball effectively choked Sydney’s preferred method of victory – rapid ball movement from defence. This reliance on sheer speed has delivered spectacular moments for the Swans this season, including a remarkable 18-goal half against Carlton and a seven-goal opening term in their previous match. However, as demonstrated against Hawthorn, this high-octane style can be difficult to sustain, particularly against disciplined and physically imposing opposition.
“We don’t want to be so reliant on one method to score, and that’s you can’t do that from your back half,” Cox admitted, acknowledging his team’s tactical inflexibility.
Curnow’s Struggles Continue
Charlie Curnow proved to be a significant handful for Hawthorn defender Josh Battle in the opening quarter when the game was more open and he was able to roam. However, his influence waned considerably when he was locked in a physical battle with the larger Tom Barrass. Despite arriving at Sydney with expectations of thriving alongside the club’s skilled playmakers, Curnow’s return of five goals from his first three games aligns more closely with his output from an injury-plagued and disappointing final season at Carlton, rather than his back-to-back Coleman Medal-winning form.
His ineffectiveness after the first term echoed his performance at the same venue last July, where he was similarly nullified by Hawthorn’s key defenders. While a full pre-season might have been expected to bolster his capabilities, Curnow’s only discernible alibi appears to be his unfamiliarity with a new team system. Cox, however, pointed out that Curnow was unable to contest aerial duels as effectively as he had in the Swans’ opening two matches.
“The ability for Charlie to perform consistently, he’s still working his way through at our football club,” Cox explained. “One thing we try and say is, at all times, compete as hard as you possibly can, and try and read the cues up the ground when we are bringing the ball through. There’s some inconsistencies throughout that at times, and it’ll be a work in progress. We’re going to put time into [it].” The Swans will be looking for a significant improvement from their key forward as the season progresses.
