Live: Will Day puts together monster first half as Hawks take control over Swans

Some bad news for Hawthorn after the half-time break with James Worpel subbed out due to that ankle issue.

Worpel’s ankle turned awkwardly under a tackle from Brodie Grundy at the end of that half.

Worpel will be replaced by Sam Frost, who is a defender. It’ll be interesting to see how Sam Mitchell re-jigs his side in the wake of that injury.

Meanwhile, we’re off and running in the third quarter after the break.

Hi Mike,

It’s been another less than ideal start for the Swans, that’s for sure.

My worry is up forward. I don’t know if Joel Amartey and Tom McCartin are a key forward duo that are keeping any defenders up at night.

Here’s how all the major team statistic looks through two quarters of this clash:

• Disposals: Hawthorn 179-154
• Inside 50s: Hawthorn 26-19
• Clearances: Hawthorn 26-19
• Contested Possessions: Hawthorn 64-58
• Marks: Hawthorn 51-35
• Tackles: Hawthorn 33-27

Here are your top three ball-winners in the first half:

1. 1.Will Day (HAW) – 19 disposals
2. 2.James Sicily (HAW) – 14 disposals
3. 3.Chad Warner (SYD), Matt Roberts (SYD), Karl Amon (HAW) – 13 disposals

Two quarters in the books and the impressive Hawks are out to a 20-point lead.

It’s been a really good first two quarters of footy from Sam Mitchell’s men at the SCG.

Last year, a half like this would have surprised people, not this year. Hawthorn has just looked professional out there and are well-deserving of this lead.

After conceding four goals in the first quarter, the Hawks locked things up in the second, and skipper James Sicily has been a one-man wall in the back half, thwarting attack after attack from the Swans.

The arrivals of Josh Battle and Tom Barrass free up Sicily to be the prolific interceptor we know he can be across halfback, and he leads all players with seven intercept possessions through two quarters.

Will Day has been absolutely sensational. Three goals and 19 disposals to go along with five clearances is as good a half of footy as you’re likely to see all season long.

There’s one minor concern for the Hawks with James Worpel limping off the ground with an ankle issue to end that quarter. We’ll keep you updated on his status as we find out more.

We have our first big break of the evening here at the SCG as Lloyd Meek kicks his second goal of the match.

Sloppy stuff from Dane Rampe after he tapped the ball out of Meek’s hands after a mark on the wing.

Meek is absolutely dominating his Swans counterpart Brodie Grundy in the ruck at the moment.

The Hawks big man has nine disposals, 17 hitouts and four clearances to go along with two tackles and three marks.

Grundy has just three disposals and a solitary clearance so far.

The match-up between Grundy and Meek reminds me of this exchange from The Wire.

Meanwhile, Will Day has three goals after winning another free kick inside 50, this time by catching Matt Roberts holding the ball.

That call looks harsh at first look, but I think it’s a good call after seeing the replays.

If this half is anything to go by, Day’s going to win the Brownlow and the Coleman. What a first half he’s having.

SYD 6.4 (40) – HAW 9.5 (59)

There’s been plenty of hype around Hawks midfielder Will Day through the pre-season, and you can see why.

Day has two goals now after drilling a set shot following a free kick virtually directly in front of goal about 35m out.

He’s the top-rated player on the ground so far, and just have a look at these numbers with seven minutes left in the second quarter.

Day has 16 disposals, five clearances, three marks and three tackles and has 318m gained. Insane start.

SYD 5.3 (33) – HAW 7.5 (47)

Nick Watson a.k.a ‘The Wizard’ has been curiously quiet so far in this one.

He barely touched the ball in the first quarter and has a look at it in the pocket here in the second.

Watson fakes out one Swans defender, but then gets absolutely belted by Sam Wicks in a second tackle, brilliant defending that.

The crowd relishes in it, as does Wicks, who gets into Watson while the Hawk is on his back like a big brother putting a little brother in his place during a wrestling match while mum is not watching.

SYD 5.3 (33) – HAW 7.5 (47)

This is Hawthorn at its best!

James Sicily takes an intercept mark and immediately kicks the ball inboard and eventually it ends in the hands of Karl Amon in the middle of the ground.

Amon’s left boot is an incredible weapon and he takes some ground, faking out a Swans defender in the process and then dishes the ball off and gets it back and snaps it through from directly in front 30m out.

That is a highlight reel goal if I’ve ever seen one. Excellent footy.

SYD 5.3 (33) – HAW 6.5 (41) 

There is absolutely no love lost between these two teams right now!

Joel Amartey has the first goal of the second quarter after he won a free kick for being slung to the turf by Josh Battle about 25m from goal.

Minutes earlier, Isaac Heeney won a free kick in Sydney’s defensive 50 and gave Hawks big man Lloyd Meek a little shove after the whistle.

Meek shoved Heeney back and Heeney’s head struck the back of James Worpel‘s head and both men were briefly floored.

The Hawks aren’t here to make friends with anyone people, let it be known.

SYD 5.3 (33) – HAW 5.4 (34)

AFL coaches are fun police, it’s confirmed. After all that free-wheeling football in the first quarter, things are noticeably more dour to start the second.

Both teams choosing to lock down each other through the first five minutes as opposed to what we saw in the first term.

Hawthorn could’ve had an early goal but Finn Maginness hit the post from a set shot opportunity on a 45 degree angle.

A terrific quarter of footy is in the books at the SCG and it ends with Hawthorn leading by a goal.

It’s been virtually goal for goal throughout the contest with not a lot of defending being done to be honest.

Both teams look absolutely lethal any time they’ve gone forward and the game has been played at breakneck speed.

Will Day (10 disposals, three clearances and a goal) has been the best player on the ground so far, while Dylan Moore (six disposals, two goals)has also been dynamic in the forward line for the Hawks.

For Sydney, Isaac Heeney has continued where he left off in 2024, picking up nine touches and four clearances in the first term.

The team stats are pretty even at this stage. Hawthorn leads both the inside 50 and clearance count 13-10, and has 87 disposals to Sydney’s 81.

Hawthorn currently holds a six-point lead after kicking the last two goals of this match.

The last of those came to Will Day, who is putting together a huge opening term.

Day already has 10 disposals and three clearances and kicked the goal after Angus Sheldrick missed a soccer attempt a hair outside his goalsquare.

Day also has two marks and has gained 103 metres so far tonight.

SYD 4.3 (27) – HAW 5.3 (33)

The Swans are absolutely ripping apart Hawthorn’s new-look back six at the moment.

Sydney has six inside 50s and five goals as Ollie Florent dribbles one home from inside the centre square.

But hang on, we’ve got another review! This is a little dubious.

Jack Scrimshaw immediately appealed suggesting that he touched it with his right fist, and the ARC has deemed that some grainy old footage is enough to change the on-field call.

The crowd unleashes some boos in unison, I reckon I’m booing that call too. Don’t know if there was enough evidence to overturn that goal.

SYD 4.1 (25) – HAW 3.2 (20)

Cox has made a big call to play Tom McCartin forward and this is why.

McCartin brings the ball to ground after another inside 50 and Tom Papley hits the front of the pack at a 100 miles per hour and in almost one motion snaps it through for a brilliant goal!

But hang on, we’ve got a score review, the first of the season. The on-field call is a goal.

This is close, Papley’s teammate Justin McInerney is perilously close to touching it on the line, but after a few replays it’s ruled good to go.

SYD 4.0 (24) – HAW 3.2 (20)

Dean Cox has one of the first big calls of his coaching career to make here.

Ben Paton gives away a free kick deep inside 50 to Jai Newcombe after another excellent centre clearance from the Hawks.

That’s already two goals given away by Paton, after he found himself matched up on Moore for an earlier goal in virtually the same position.

Hawthorn has nine inside 50s to three so far through the first 10 minutes.

SYD 3.0 (18) – HAW 3.2 (20)

Taylor Adams converts from inside the goalsquare after Hawthorn captain James Sicily gives away a 50m penalty.

Adams took a mark inside 50 and Sicily gave him some physical attention a tad too late.

I reckon that’s a bit of a harsh call from the umpires, who always don’t mind inserting themselves into the contests.

Adams’ goal makes it three goals from three inside 50 entries for the Swans. They’ve been lethal.

SYD 3.0 (18) – HAW 2.2 (14)

Lloyd Meek makes no mistake from a set shot from 30m out on a slight angle to put the Hawks in front.

The story of this goal though is the set-up from Massimo D’Ambrosio.

The Hawks had a repeat inside 50 opportunity, and Massimo unleashed an absolute BULLET on that glorious left boot of his that found Meek in the middle of multiple Swans defenders.

Meek is putting together a monster game early. He’s got four touches, five hitouts and three clearances to go with that goal.

SYD 2.0 (12) – HAW 2.2 (14)

Dylan Moore has Hawthorn’s first goal of the night after a lovely centre break from James Worpel.

Worpel read the tap from Swans ruckman Brodie Grundy perfectly, sharking it before any Swans midfielder could get to it, and then puts it down Moore’s throat.

Moore makes no mistake on the set shot from 25m out on the slightest of angles.

Moore is being manned by Ben Paton, a match-up that might prove problematic as the night wears on.

A big response for the Hawks after the Swans had kicked the first two goals through Warner and Joel Amartey.

SYD 2.0 (12) – HAW 1.2 (8)

This is why teams from the WA offering this man ungodly sums of money!

The Swans finally get a stoppage inside their forward 50 and Chad Warner finds some space in a phone booth to snap one through.

He is so, so, so good at hitting the scoreboard for a midfielder.

SYD 1.0 (6) – HAW 0.2 (2)