So it proved for Hawthorn-Monash University on Saturday in its last game of the season against Casey-South Melbourne.

Fresh from a morale-lifting win last week against Dandenong, the Hawks won the toss on a flat Monash wicket and batted.

Jayde Herrick, the Swans speedster, relished the overcast conditions and made life difficult right from the outset.

He removed both openers to have the Hawks' two best players, Dale Tormey and Rohan Wight, at the crease inside the first hour.

It wasn't Herrick, however, who drove the stake into the Hawks. That was left to left-arm swinger Ash Perera, who blasted through both Tormey and Wight, adding teenager Josh Henry for good measure.

Tormey looked in solid form again before becoming frustrated at some poor running between wickets.

Losing his normal composure, Tormey drove wildly and was caught at mid-off for 18. Wight managed his customary good start before falling for 25.

From there, only skipper Ben Cookson (29) held up the Swans, the tail folding to leave the Hawks all out for a disappointing 111. Simon Black gave the Hawks a glimmer of hope, with his outswingers helping reduce the Swans to 5-32 before Herrick again thwarted the Hawks' charge. He combined with Tom Hussey to push past the Hawks' score, eventually steering the Swans to 9-180 at the close.

Black was easily the pick of the bowlers, taking 5-47 from 19 overs, while Lucas Hoogenboom and Matthew Hewat each picked up two wickets.

Former Hawk Craig Entwistle came back to haunt the club in the seconds, scoring 119 as South amassed 5-275.

The thirds and fourths also will have totals to chase next week, South compiling 8-251 and 165 respectively.