Hawks put Hall and Swans in the red

Hawthorn produced a gutsy, 11-point win over Sydney in Sunday's AFL game at the MCG
after Swan Barry Hall's frustrations boiled over.

The Hawks had two defenders withdraw before the game, lost star Cyril Rioli eight
minutes in and had several others play sore, yet won the slug-fest 12.14 (86) to
11.9 (75) to retain their place in the eight.
Hawthorn's victory means the reigning premiers reached the halfway point of the
season with a 6-5 win-loss record, while the Swans slipped into the red at 5-6.
Hall in particular was left seeing red as he was docked three successive 50-metre
penalties at a crucial stage of the tight last quarter, which gifted a goal to
Hawthorn and put them 10 points up.
Hall was penalised after he slung Jarryd Roughead to the ground and abused the
umpire after the big Hawk had out-marked him just inside the Swans' attacking zone,
12 minutes into the final term.
As Hawk fans jeered and Hawthorn players sarcastically clapped in Hall's face,
Roughead was taken from centre half-back to the top of the goalsquare, from where he
popped through the simplest of goals.
Swans coach Paul Roos immediately called his spearhead to the bench to let him cool
down for a couple of minutes.
Sydney had clawed back to grab the lead early in the final quarter, but lost it when
Hawthorn's Mark Williams converted from a free kick.
Hall's indiscretion shifted the momentum of the match, as the Hawks jumped clear
when Xavier Ellis kicked a goal off the ground after Roughead's conversion.
Hall's frustrations mounted during the game, as he was denied what looked a clear
mark in the goalsquare, in the third quarter, after the umpire deemed he had grabbed
the jumper of opponent Robert Campbell.
Hall was also involved in a nasty incident in the first quarter, when he
accidentally kneed Ellis to the head as he charged in trying to tackle the Hawk, who
had his head over the ball.
Ellis, who left the ground bleeding badly from the mouth, played out the game in
pain, along with half-back Luke Hodge, who injured his leg early in the game, and
youngster Ryan Schoenmakers, who was also left groggy from a shirtfront by Sydney's
Adam Goodes.
Hawthorn have been beset by injuries all season and had defenders Campbell Brown and
Tom Murphy withdraw before the game.
Rioli limped off with what looked a hamstring injury and took no further part.
Williams, Roughead and Lance Franklin all booted three goals for the Hawks, Ellis
kicked two, and midfielders Sam Mitchell and Ben McGlynn were among the side's best.
Hawthorn's win was just their second over Sydney in nine clashes between the sides.
Goodes was Sydney's best player and kicked three goals, while half-forward Ryan
O'Keefe was busy and Jarrad McVeigh and Rhyce Shaw both got plenty of the ball.