The Sydney Swans kick off their 2025 campaign at the SCG tonight against one of the most improved teams of last year, Hawthorn.

New Swans coach Dean Cox will go head-to-head with Hawks boss Sam Mitchell, in a match which could shape the season for the victors.

The Hawks are coming off an 11-point loss to the Western Bulldogs in their AAMI Community series match in Launceston, while the Swans defeated Gold Coast by 21-points.

The Swans welcome Tom Hanily and former Saint Ben Paton who will make their debut in the red and white, while for the Hawks highly touted recruits Tom Barrass and Josh Battle will pull on the yellow and brown for the first time.

The last time these two sides met was back in Round 7, 2024, and on that occasion with Swans prevailed by 76 points at the MCG. Nick Blakey collected 30 disposals on that day, while Logan McDonald and Isaac Heeney booted three goals apiece. For the Hawks, Dylan Moore was among their best with 25 disposals.

Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said despite a finals appearance in 2024, they must improve to take it up to the best teams in the competition.

“We didn’t finish that well last year, we’ve got a huge amount of improvements (left) in lots of parts of our game,” Mitchell said.

“I think our consistency quarter to quarter, our close-game scenario needs to improve, we’ve got a heap of things we need to get better at.

“We finished sixth but this year we’re equal 18th or equal first depending (on) if you’re a glass half full or empty.

“I didn’t think there was a shortage of things we could improve this pre-season,” Mitchell said.

First bounce on Friday night SCG is 7.40pm.

The Sydney Swans have started their season with a 20-point loss to Hawthorn at the SCG in Friday night's Opening Round. 

The Hawks and Swans made sure the season start – delayed by 24 hours after a pair of Opening Round clashes in Queensland were postponed – was well worth the wait, with a pulsating clash that suggested both teams will be back at the pointy end come September. 

But in the end, it was the Hawks that booted the only three goals of the final term to run away from the Swans and begin their campaign with a 14.12 (96) to 11.10 (76) triumph on Friday night.

There were familiar signs of the Hawks' exciting, precocious style that took the competition by storm last year even as they turned the clock back further with a classy heritage guernsey. 

The stylish Will Day was on track to have a night out as the Hawks' 2023 club champion was back to his brilliant best early after an injury-ravaged season, matching his total haul of three goals last year by half-time against the Swans.

The 23-year-old could only add seven disposals to the 19 he gathered to the main break after having Swans minder James Jordon for company through the second half, but did more than enough to suggest he will be a key piece of the puzzle as the Hawks look to close the gap on the top four.

While Day added polish whether in the midfield or resting forward, his fellow onballers Jai Newcombe (19 disposals, one goal), Conor Nash (20, one) and James Worpel (11) more than matched their highly-fancied opponents. 

The Hawks pulled out to a 27-point lead early in the third term but were just as impressive for withstanding the inevitable rally from last year's minor premier, even with Worpel subbed out with an ankle injury.

The Swans fought back bravely but were unable to give new coach Dean Cox a taste of victory in his first match in charge as the Hawks held sway in the final term. 

Chad Warner did his best to lead the charge with a team-lifting goal that helped spark the Swans' third-term resurgence.

The powerful midfielder finished with 21 disposals and two goals but lacked enough support even with stand-in captain Isaac Heeney (21) battling hard and half-backs Nick Blakey (26, one goal) and Matt Roberts (26) adding dash from defence.

Sydney's magnet moves a work in progress
Tom McCartin booted 28 goals in 48 matches across his first three AFL seasons but was yet to trouble the scorers with even a behind in his next 84 games over four years. That was until a change of coach meant a new role for the Sydney forward-turned-defender-turned-forward. The 25-year-old started deep in the Swans' forward half but found it difficult to work his way into the contest until a strong mark and goal that helped spark his side in the third term. While McCartin had mixed results in his return to attack, one-time small forward Sam Wicks was thrown into defence. Wicks finished with 18 disposals while adding more speed off half-back but Dean Cox will consider the magnet moves as works in progress.

SYDNEY            4.3     6.4     11.5      11.10 (76)
HAWTHORN      5.3     9.6     11.10    14.12 (96)

GOALS
Sydney: Amartey 3, Warner 2, Adams, Papley, Rowbottom, McCartin, Hayward, Blakey
Hawthorn: Day 3, Moore 2, Meek 2, Newcombe, Amon, Chol, Maginness, Nash, Sicily, MacDonald

BEST 
Sydney: Warner, Blakey, Roberts, Heeney, Lloyd, Amartey
Hawthorn: Day, Sicily, Meek, Amon, Moore, Newcombe, Battle 

INJURIES 
Sydney: Nil
Hawthorn: Worpel (ankle)

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Tom Hanily (replaced Angus Sheldrick in the third quarter)
Hawthorn: Sam Frost (replaced James Worpel at half-time)

Crowd: 40,310 at the SCG