Hawks hold the phone

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Hawthorn swingman Jarryd Roughead says the mobile phone ban instituted by coach Alastair Clarkson in Sydney had the desired effect.

The Hawks beat the Swans in the Harbour City for the first time in eight years, but most of the talk after the 46-point win surrounded Clarkson's call for everyone to hand over their phones.

Roughead admitted the level of media focus on the no-phone policy had surprised him when quizzed about the topic at Hawthorn's recovery session on Monday.

"It's just been blown out of proportion a little bit, it was a constant reminder that we were there for the four points and that's what we did," Roughead said.

"There still was an opportunity for us to use the phones at the hotel. It wasn't as if we were cut off from the whole world, kept in our rooms and fed bread and water like mice."

"The main thing was we got the four points which we hadn't done for a long time. That was the first time we've won at Sydney since I've been here and the second time in 17 years."

Roughead, who again mixed ruck duties with his usual forward role against the Swans, believed the mobile phone ban would be a one-off.

"Clarko had a plan and it obviously worked pretty well. I don't think we'll be seeing it again," Roughead said.

The win over the Swans catapulted Hawthorn to third spot on the ladder ahead of Essendon and Carlton, who both suffered losses in Round 9.

Roughead says the secret to the Hawks recent success has been consistency of effort across the board.

"The last few weeks we've played some good footy, I suppose out of the last eight quarters, we've played seven really good quarters, which is what you want this time of year," Roughead said.

Star forward Lance Franklin kicked 6.6 against the Swans and in ominous news for the rest of the AFL, Roughead thinks the 2011 model compares very favourably to the 113-goal gun of 2008.

"I think he's improving a lot more than almost '08, he's having 28 touches from the forward line. I don't think he did that back in '08," Roughead said.

"He's giving off goals and sharing the ball, which is what you want. He's a great player and attracts a lot of attention, but he does a lot that you guys don't see and gets a lot of credit in the group."

Hawthorn take on the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

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