Peter "Spider" Everitt led Hawthorn to a heroic 17-point win over Sydney at the SCG, doing enough damage in the first half to burst the Swans' bubble and keep the Hawks' season alive.

Sydney finished with a wet sail, winning the second half as Spider tired having put on a clinic in the ruck during the first half.

Hawthorn answered each challenge the Swans could mount and, while it could be said Sydney ran out of time, they never really looked like winning, trailing at every break to give Hawthorn its first win at the SCG since 1994.

The 17.8 (110) to 14.9. (93) victory showed just how much Sydney's chances of a premiership were dented by the loss last month of ruckman Jason Ball with a shoulder injury - Adam Goodes and last week's hero Lewis Roberts-Thomson weren't good enough.

Everitt's partner in crime in the centre, Sam Mitchell, finished with a game-high 27 disposals, three marks and one goal.

The Hawks shut down Sydney's midfield in the first half, forcing it wide when in possession but with very little run out of halfback and a stagnant forward line providing few options the Swans were plucked at the main break, down by 35 points.

Sydney rallied in the third term kicking four goals in 10 minutes while Everitt, who was rushed back into the team this week underdone through a hamstring injury, was resting on the bench.

Sydney won the quarter 5.1 to 3.2 and mustered enough effort to win the final term 5.2 to 4.1, but the bird had flown despite the urgings from the 33,473 crowd.

Hawthorn was playing for its survival and needed to win this and every other game this season to remain in the hunt for a finals berth.

They were harder at the ball, tackling everything that moved, and were skilful in delivering the ball up forward contrasting with Sydney's clumsy use of the ball.

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