Seven’s heaven for rookie Ronke in nail-biting win
A STUNNING seven-goal haul from Sydney rookie Ben Ronke has propelled the Swans to a pulsating eightpoint win over Hawthorn at the MCG.
In only his third AFL match, Ronke kicked his side’s first five goals then sealed victory with his seventh with a minute left on the clock.
The Hawks looked to have the momentum when they led by nine points in a thrilling final term.
Luke Parker — reported for a crude bump on Jarman Impey minutes earlier — put his side in front from a set shot after Will Hayward kicked his third goal.
Jake Lloyd was also outstanding for Sydney with 36 possessions, with Parker (28 disposals and two goals) influential.
Jack Gunston booted five goals for Hawthorn, with James Sicily and Shaun Burgoyne the leading possession winners with 26 apiece.
The driving rain that lashed Melbourne throughout the day eased before the opening bounce but conditions were still tricky at the MCG.
A battle in the mould of the fabled 1993 shootout between Gary Ablett and Paul Salmon was on the cards when Gunston matched Ronke’s four first-quarter goals with three of his own.
The Hawks led by two points as the second quarter started, but the visitors enjoyed a purple patch without rewarding themselves on the scoreboard.
Ronke’s fifth goal came after he danced around Ben McEvoy, but his streak ended when Hayward goaled to send his side into the main break with a six-point lead. Eight points was the highest margin of the tight contest approaching three-quarter time, but Luke Breust bobbed up with back-to-back goals to give the Hawks an 11-point advantage.
The past three matches between the two sides had ended in five, six and six-point wins to Hawthorn and the trend looked set to continue when Hayward goaled in the first minute of the final term.
Ronke’s spectacular sixth major levelled the scores and set up the thrilling final act.
The Hawks move on to play Brisbane Lions at the Gabba, while the Swans will host Fremantle at the SCG.