HAWTHORN has landed the first blow of the season as it showed its rapid rise could be set to soar much, much higher this year with a 20-point victory over beaten Grand Finalist Sydney at the SCG.
The Hawks and Swans made sure the season start – delayed by 24 hours after a pair of Opening Round clashes in Queensland were postponed – was well worth the wait, with a pulsating clash that suggested both teams will be back at the pointy end come September.
But in the end, it was the Hawks that booted the only three goals of the final term to run away from the Swans and begin their campaign with a 14.12 (96) to 11.10 (76) triumph on Friday night.
There were familiar signs of the Hawks’ exciting, precocious style that took the competition by storm last year even as they turned the clock back further with a classy heritage guernsey.
The stylish Will Day was on track to have a night out as the Hawks’ 2023 club champion was back to his brilliant best early after an injury-ravaged season, matching his total haul of three goals last year by half-time against the Swans.
The 23-year-old could only add seven disposals to the 19 he gathered to the main break after having Swans minder James Jordon for company through the second half, but did more than enough to suggest he will be a key piece of the puzzle as the Hawks look to close the gap on the top four.
While Day added polish whether in the midfield or resting forward, his fellow onballers Jai Newcombe (19 disposals, one goal), Conor Nash (20, one) and James Worpel (11) more than matched their highly-fancied opponents.
Their efforts were helped by Lloyd Meek (14, two) playing with a big-man presence against an underdone Brodie Grundy as the Hawks’ ruck was influential around the contests and added a pair of goals.
James Sicily brushed off any concerns over his role after the recruitment of key defenders Tom Barrass and Josh Battle as the Hawks captain regularly stopped Swans attacks in their tracks. It could hardly have been more fitting for Sicily to boot the sealer with the last goal of the game after switching forward for the final quarter.
The Hawks pulled out to a 27-point lead early in the third term but were just as impressive for withstanding the inevitable rally from last year’s minor premier, even with Worpel subbed out with an ankle injury.
The Swans fought back bravely but were unable to give new coach Dean Cox a taste of victory in his first match in charge as the Hawks held sway in the final term.
Chad Warner did his best to lead the charge with a team-lifting goal that helped spark the Swans’ third-term resurgence.
The powerful midfielder finished with 21 disposals and two goals but lacked enough support even with stand-in captain Isaac Heeney (21) battling hard and half-backs Nick Blakey (26, one goal) and Matt Roberts (26) adding dash from defence.
Amon puts on a show for Hollywood Hawks
Hawthorn enthralled the competition with a brash brand last year that matched their exhilarating style as much as it at times frustrated opponents. The Hawks were back and putting on a show in the first half as they piled on four straight goals after Karl Amon lit up the SCG. The versatile Hawks midfielder ran through the centre square, stepped around a pair of Swans opponents and juggled out a handball before receiving one back inside the forward 50. Amon then snapped the major under intense pressure to spark a Hawks flurry of goals that set up a strong lead heading into the main break.
Sydney’s magnet moves a work in progress
Tom McCartin booted 28 goals in 48 matches across his first three AFL seasons but was yet to trouble the scorers with even a behind in his next 84 games over four years. That was until a change of coach meant a new role for the Sydney forward-turned-defender-turned-forward. The 25-year-old started deep in the Swans’ forward half but found it difficult to work his way into the contest until a strong mark and goal that helped spark his side in the third term. While McCartin had mixed results in his return to attack, one-time small forward Sam Wicks was thrown into defence. Wicks finished with 18 disposals while adding more speed off half-back but Dean Cox will consider the magnet moves as works in progress.
Hawks’ debut duo impress in surprise roles
Josh Battle and Tom Barrass arrived at Hawthorn during the off-season expected to stiffen up the defence as a pair of prized key backs. So it was a surprise to see the 193cm Battle spend much of the contest standing alongside the Swans’ 177cm firebrand Tom Papley. Battle was able to find plenty of the ball as he gathered 13 disposals while helping to repel the Swans’ attacks, but perhaps most importantly limited Papley’s impact to one goal even as he threatened to get off the chain. Barrass is as renowned for intercepting the ball in defence as much as lockdown roles but did more of the latter against the Swans in an equally impressive club debut.
Tom Papley is tackled by Josh Battle during the match between Sydney and Hawthorn at the SCG in Opening Round, 2025. Picture: Getty Images
SYDNEY 4.3 6.4 11.5 11.10 (76)
HAWTHORN 5.3 9.6 11.10 14.12 (96)
GOALS
Sydney: Amartey 3, Warner 2, Adams, Papley, Rowbottom, McCartin, Hayward, Blakey
Hawthorn: Day 3, Moore 2, Meek 2, Newcombe, Amon, Chol, Maginness, Nash, Sicily, MacDonald
BEST
Sydney: Warner, Blakey, Roberts, Heeney, Lloyd, Amartey
Hawthorn: Day, Sicily, Meek, Amon, Moore, Newcombe, Battle
INJURIES
Sydney: Adams (hamstring)
Hawthorn: Worpel (ankle)
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Tom Hanily (replaced Angus Sheldrick in the third quarter)
Hawthorn: Sam Frost (replaced James Worpel at half-time)
Crowd: 40,310 at the SCG
