Four goals from 34-year-old Jack Gunston – including two fourth-term majors – has dragged an inaccurate Hawthorn to a 17-point win over Sydney, in a strange, feast-or-famine match at the MCG.

The Hawks had 12 more scoring shots in the 14.15 (99) to 13.4 (82) win, but despite their struggles in front of goal, proved to be the steelier and more consistent side across all four quarters, standing tall in the face of fast and chaotic Swans play.

The lead changed hands six times in the first quarter alone, as both teams embraced quick and direct football through the middle of the ground.

Such was the non-stop play, the first time a secondary stoppage occurred after a centre ball-up was 24 minutes into the game, after 11 goals (the eventual final tally for the term) had been kicked. Both Mabior Chol and Charlie Curnow had purple patches where they looked destined for a big night, but it wasn't to be for either player.

Despite Sydney owning the footy, Hawthorn stayed in touch by scoring every time it went into attack in that quarter, and it was an omen for what was to come.

Hawthorn sent an extra defender behind the ball in the second term – with a mix of Jack Scrimshaw, Tom Barrass and James Sicily freed up at different points – and began to gain area dominance, locking the ball in its forward half.

Any handwringing in the first term about the new rules ruining the game and turning into high-scoring foot-basketball seemed to be a gross overreaction when the first goal of the second term wasn't kicked till the 19-minute mark, albeit the Hawks having blown crucial chances by kicking 1.4.

Sydney took just a one-point lead into the main break, and it was temporarily overhauled in the first two minutes via Gunston, Sydney's high-risk, high-reward handball game coming unstuck with some tight Hawks' defence.

Another array of Hawthorn misses – coupled with some very accurate Sydney goals from close range – saw the Swans drag themselves out to a 20-point lead, capped off by a beautiful curling goal from Brodie Grundy.

Dylan Moore kicked the opening goal of the fourth term – his third – and the Hawks dragged themselves back to level pegging with another three behinds, the Swans a step behind their opponents, before Gunston stamped his authority on the game late.

Sydney's current way of playing will no doubt have their supporters on the edge of their seat for the rest of the season, but when it works, the Swans are feasting on the chaotic ball into a wide open 50, the smalls running onto the entry to support the spearhead.

It's a tactic they've used the past few weeks to great effect against Carlton and Brisbane, but Hawthorn's defenders were fantastic overhead, nullifying Curnow after his opening burst, as well as Joel Amartey.

Life without Errol and Isaac
For the past five years, Sydney has had at least one of Isaac Heeney or Errol Gulden in its side – until Thursday night. While Heeney is likely to return soon, the Swans will once again be without Gulden for an extended period of time. Dean Cox had forecasted a variety of players were going to fill the void, with Angus Sheldrick standing up, while James Jordon and Tom Papley were also rotated through. The first-choice trio was the high-energy combination of Chad Warner, Justin McInerney and James Rowbottom.

HAWTHORN   5.3    6.7    9.10    14.15 (99)
SYDNEY         6.2    7.2    12.13    13.4 (82)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Gunston 4, Moore 3, Chol 2, Mackenzie, Butler, Newcombe, Lewis, Watson
Sydney: McDonald 3, Curnow 2, Papley, Rosas, Co.Warner, Amartey, McInerney, Jordon, Ch.Warner, Grundy

BEST
Hawthorn: Newcombe, Gunston, Battle, Moore, Weddle, Sicily
Sydney: Warner, McInerney, Blakey, Grundy, Mills, Sheldrick 

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Sydney: Nil

Crowd: 47,945 at the MCG