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Sports

Cyril Rioli Stars in Last Gasp Victory for Hawthorn

League leaders Hawks beat second placed swans in a thriller at the SCG

Tiwi Islander Cyril Rioli sunk a 52 meter dagger with 77 seconds remaining to lift Hawthorn to a dramatic five point victory over second placed rivals Sydney Swans at the SCG last night.

In a tense encounter played in front of a "hostile" 42,000 strong crowd, the lead changed nine times before Rioli had the decisive kick. Fellow First Australian and Kokatha man Shaun Burgoyne played a valuable supporting role, kickstarting the Hawks revival in the fourth with his two goal effort —Burgoyne's first coming early in the fourth to put the Hawks in front by five and push him past 250 career goals. It capped a memorable night for the four-time premiership winner who chipped in with 20 disposals and five tackles. Though it was left to Rioli to weather the pressure and win the game as the seconds counted down. Faced with a long range shot and plenty of angle Rioli stepped up and unleashed a canon condemning the Swans to their third loss this season within the final 90 seconds. All on his 27th birthday.

"I didn't think I had it in me (to kick the distance). I just had to find something extra," he said.

"It was pretty nerve-racking. I wasn't too confident going back, but somehow it went through. (It was) sort of a miracle kick.

"It was a hard-fought win. The Swans were very good ­tonight. To come here tonight in a hostile environment, we did well."

The win is the Hawks fifth in a row and moves team further ahead of the field on 52 points with the Swans and Adelaide Crows tied for second on 44.