Classy Swans win big over Hawks at MCG, Suns down the Eagles (2024)

That wraps up the round, and our coverage for today.

But don't worry, we'll be back on Thursday night to kick off round eight — and what a match to kick it all off, the Showdown between an injury-hit Port Adelaide side and their cross-town rivals the Crows.

We'll bring you every minute of the action, and all the news as it happens.

In the meantime, keep checking in on this site as we will wrap up the round tomorrow morning and bring you all the reactino and a decision by St Kilda on whether to challenge Jack Higgins' three-match ban for rough conduct.

Thanks for joining us on the blog today.

We'll see you next time. Good night.

Brownlow Medal favourite Isaac Heeney has continued his outstanding start to the AFL season in premiership contender Sydney's 76-point thumping of Hawthorn.

As retired champion Lance Franklin watched his two former clubs battle from the stands, Heeney ran amok in the Swans' 18.10 (118) to 5.12 (42) victory at the MCG on Sunday.

The brilliant midfielder racked up 21 disposals, four clearances and three goals as Sydney improved to 6-1 ahead of a huge derby with GWS in round eight.

A heavy defeat brought Hawthorn (1-6) back to earth after their first win of the season against fellow battlers North Melbourne last week.

Heeney had plenty of support through Chad Warner (22 disposals, six clearances), Jake Lloyd (26 touches), Errol Gulden (28) and Nick Blakey (30), among others.

James Rowbottom celebrated his 100-game milestone with 24 disposals and five clearances, while Logan McDonald (three), Will Hayward and Sam Wicks (two each) joined Heeney at the top of a list of a dozen goal-kickers for the Swans, who were in control from the outset.

One positive on a difficult day for Hawthorn was the successful return of reigning best-and-fairest winner Will Day (11 disposals) in his first game of the season after a foot stress fracture.

James Worpel (21 disposals, six clearances) and Dylan Moore (25 touches, one goal) battled on for the Hawks in a losing cause.

Hawthorn suffered a pre-match blow when Mitch Lewis was a late withdrawal from what would have been his return from a knee injury.

Day started in the centre square and marked his comeback with seven disposals and three clearances in the opening term, to the delight of Hawks fans in the crowd of 38,052.

But they were left tearing their hair out as Mabior Chol's high shove on an opponent off the ball cost teammate Blake Hardwick a goal.

Sydney kicked four majors in time-on of the first term to take a comfortable 6.3 to 2.2 lead to quarter-time and a run of seven straight goals ripped the game away from the Hawks before the main break.

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The siren sounds, the Swans seal their sixth win of the year, with their second highest score of the season. A late goal to Hayden McLean extended the lead to 76 points.

It was a tough day for the Hawks, but they didn't turn it up late in the piece when the game was gone.

The Swans march on towards a big 'Battle of the Bridge' next week against the Giants. That will be some match.

Sydney hit back, kicking inside 50, the ball comes to Logan McDonald, who sends a short-arm jab of a handball to Will Hayward, who kicks his third.

Sydney have their 17th goal of the game, and they lead by 68 points.

Sydney Swans forward Tom Papley has been his usual dangerous self out there today, but he is limping around after being LEVELLED by a big tackle from Jai Newcombe for holding the ball.

He may have twisted his ankle, but he is still out there.

The Hawks are still coming here at the MCG, and they are creating chances.

Jack Gunston — who looks like he has a fair scrape down one side of his face — marked in the left forward pocket, but his kick barely managed a behind.

Then a minute or so later, Connor McDonald had another set shot after a mark - but he pushed it well wide.

The Hawks have 5.12 - they trail by more than 10 goals, but they could be a lot closer with better conversion.

The Swans aren't willing to settle for the lead they have, however.

They ramp up the pressure and Isaac Heeney takes advantage with a brilliant finish from about 20m out in traffic.

That's three for Heeney.

Hawthorn has started the final term with energy. Mabior Chol has produced a big effort on the wing to run clear and drill a kick to Jack Ginnivan in the pocket.

His kick arrowed toward goal before just drifting wide.

But they have kept going, and put pressure on the Swans, leading to Jai Newcombe taking a mark inside 50 and kicking the Hawks' fifth.

The lead is 58 points, but this is a solid start - if they can keep the pressure up there will be some positives to take out ahead of next week against the Western Bulldogs.

The siren cuts short one last Sydney attwack, but the Swans are on track for a percentage-booster to put them up to second on the ladder.

Another five goal to one quarter just emphasises the Swans are operating at top gear today.

It's another tough day for the Hawks.

James Worpel kicked a behind for the Hawks after a fierce attack at an aerial contest.

That was Hawthorn's second score of the quarter. But it's 5.2 to 0.2.

But now the Hawks put it together! Will Day evades some tackles and kicks one over the back perfectly for Mabior Chol to mark.

He kicks it that's Hawthorn's first goal since lloyd Meek at the 13-minute mark of the second term.

The Swans are feeding here ... they go through the corridor, and go long for James Jordon to mark inside 50, Sydney's 11th.

He nails the kick, and the lead is 72 points.

There is still a quarter and a bit to go here, and this could really get out of hand.

Every time Sydney goes forward they look likely.

Daniel Amartey dinked a kick out of a stoppage inside 50, it bounced to Logan McDonald, and he threw it on the boot and got it through for his third.

The Swans now have kicked 14.7 from 29 inside 50s. That's a goal every two forward entries. Ouch.

Oh dear. That was too easy.

Sydney get a chance to go forward, they kick long to a contest, it comes off hands, and Chad Warner picks it off and waltzes in for the Swans' 13th goal of the day.

The lead is 60 points.

The Swans kicked another goal to Isaac Heeney to get the lead beyond 50 points, but Jack Ginnivan has taken a mark to have a chance to answer.

The Hawks' forward steered it wide, however, cue the camera view of coach Sam Mitchell looking frustrated in the Hawthorn box.

While Sydney might be well ahead in the "Lance Franklin Cup" (unofficial), Hawks fans have had a nice moment at half-time when two-time premiership star Lance Franklin spoke to former teammate Jordan Lewis on the ground for Fox Footy in his return to the MCG.

"I have goosebumps, mate," Franklin said, when asked what it was like to be back.

"It's the home of football ... I loved playing football here."

Lewis suggested that a couple of famous goals from along the boundary against Essendon might have been his favourites, Franklin said his favourite memories were "the big finals we played here [at the MCG] over the years".

It was a family reunion or sorts, with Franklin there with his children, Lewis was there with his children, and Jarryd Roughead was there with his kids.

A tough start for the Hawks, as they come under pressure inside defensive 50, and Sam Frost gets run down by Will Hayward.

He kicks the set shot, and the lead is out to 48 points.

Gold Coast co-captain Jarrod Witts put on a rucking clinic as the Suns overpowered West Coast in the third term for a 37-point AFL win.

After a tight first half, the Suns piled on six goals to one in the third quarter and won 17.10 (112) to 12.3 (75).

The Suns are 4-3, with all their wins at home.

Witts dominated young Eagles ruckman Bailey Williams, racking up 47 hitouts and 10 clearances as Suns midfielders Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell in particular fed off his work.

When Eagles revelation Jake Waterman kicked his fourth goal five minutes into the last quarter, they had cut the lead to 22 points and remained in the hunt.

Liam Ryan, playing his first AFL match since round three last season, reduced the margin to a gettable 18 points with five minutes left.

But the Suns replied immediately through Jed Walter to confirm the win, with both sides kicking four goals in the final term.

While veterans Elliott Yeo and Jeremy McGovern impressed, West Coast were clearly at a disadvantage without in-form young gun Harley Reid, who was managed for the AFL's longest road trip.

In his second game, Suns youngster Jake Rogers stood out with 22 possessions, a goal and four score assists.

West Coast bounced the home side, with Yeo setting up the opening goal from the first bounce.

Yeo kicked a goal himself and Waterman brought up his first, for three goals in five minutes.

Witts then stopped the rot, winning a free kick from a ruck contest and putting the Suns on the board.

While Gold Coast only managed one mark inside 50, they kicked another goal and trailed by only four points at the first break.

The lead changed hands seven times in the second term and when Jamie Cripps kicked his first goal a minute after the long break, the Eagles were in front again.

But that was all for the Eagles as the Suns took control and dominated the rest of the quarter for a game-winning lead at the last change.

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This game has got a little scrappy in time on, with both sides missing chances.

But the bottom line is that Hawthorn is seven goals down — and while it's a positive that the Swans haven't completely put this one out of sight, it's a tough task to come back.

Another plus for Hawthorn is that they lead inside 50s and clearances, so there is some hope.

But without better delivery and more confident goalkicking, you have to favour the visitors.