Sydney could not have been in a better position to beat Hawthorn on Friday night. They were given a six-goal start by a side missing several of their premiership-winning, limited Sam Mitchell to a mere 14 possessions, and still it was not until time on in the last quarter that the Swans were finally able to shake off the triple premiers.

And it took the magic of Lance Franklin to do it. The Swans were careful not to rely too heavily on their superstar forward but when the game was up for grabs he was the man who delivered the goods.

The Hawks have not missed Franklin since his departure but this was one night where his presence in the brown and gold would have made a difference.

Missing Jarryd Roughead, who was honoured with a rousing round of applause two minutes into the second quarter, and with Jack Gunston down, they still had the Swans in their sights for long parts in the second half but could not pass them.

The key play in the night came just before midway in the last term. Ruckman Jonathon Ceglar had parked at centre half-forward but instead of launching deep inside 50 handballed to Will Langford, who had his back turned.

From the turnover the ball landed in Franklin's hands and from well inside the centre square he launched towards an unguarded goal. Minutes later, he again scored from long range.

This was a vital win for the Swans, and also a brave one as they were missing a concussed Ted Richards for three quarters.

If you judge games by the number of goals scored then the first quarter, which produced just one, was not for you. This was football's answer to Test cricket, where every contest and bobble of the ball mattered.

No team is better at holding on to the ball than the Hawks but when they pull the trigger their opposition few sides can score as heavily. The Swans were able to stop their run and carry, their desperation to defend space and their opponent a marked contrast to six nights earlier.

The Hawks threw plenty at the Swans, usually this is enough to beat them, in the first term but had little to show for it. The Swans' defence, roundly criticised all week, was up to the task. Heath Grundy, who leaked like a sieve last week, was near impenetrable, so too Dane Rampe, who was comprehensively beating Jack Gunston.

It took the Hawks until the 24-minute mark of the second term for their first goal, by which time the Swans already had six. Whether they had lifted or the Hawks dropped off was immaterial, not so their impact.

Two stats demonstrated the Swans' greater intensity. They won, sorry, dominated the contested ball count 51-27 and despite having more of the ball still laid 13 more tackles.

The Hawks, down by 36 points, ended their goal drought through Luke Breust then, as is their way, found another, and suddenly the Swans' lead, though not insignificant, did not represent full value for their dominance.

It also gave the Hawks hope and belief, that as badly as they had played their adversary had not landed a knockout blow.

The Hawks who the Swans had planned for but hitherto barely seen arrived with a rush early in the second half. They were now matching the Swans in the clinches. A game which had been completely in the Swans' control was now shifting.

The symbolism in Paul Puopolo's goal irresistible; firstly in the manner it was constructed through Hawthorn's ability to break the lines and the authority in which Puopolo was able to brush aside the much smaller Jake Lloyd in a key one on one duel.

Alas for the Hawks, they were to have better chances to come but did not make enough of them