Lance Franklin's dormant problem with bumps laid on shorter opponents has resurfaced to present a possibly significant blow to Hawthorn's premiership campaign.

The spearhead is in danger of missing the Hawks' first final, and maybe more, due to suspension over an incident in their 12-point win away to Sydney on Friday night that sealed both their second consecutive minor premiership and a finals clash against the Swans next week. Jarryd Roughead also enjoys a seven-goal buffer atop the Coleman Medal goalkicking tally thanks to a four-goal haul against the Swans.

Franklin was reported early in the second quarter at ANZ Stadium for a high bump on the Swans' Nick Malceski. The best-case scenario for the Hawks is seemingly a reprimand for Franklin, with the likely worst a three-match ban that could be cut to two with a guilty plea.

Malceski had just kicked the ball from the Swans' back pocket early in the second quarter when he was met by Franklin, who was too late to effect a spoil and chose to bump instead.

Field umpire Brett Rosebury immediately reported Franklin - likely for rough conduct - for the incident, in which his left shoulder made contact to the right side of Malceski's head.

The Swans premiership player immediately grabbed at his jaw and was taken from the ground but returned within three minutes.

The medical report to be provided by Sydney regarding Malceski will heavily influence the impact grading. While the veteran was substituted at the start of the last quarter he was not overtly clutching at his face, and had instead been hobbling.

Franklin does not have any carry-over points, nor is he subject to any loading for his disciplinary record because he has not attracted match review panel punishment since mid-2011.

While the bump was clearly high the possibility of avoiding a grading of reckless could be helped by the footage which showed the taller Franklin did not jump into the air to deliver the bump.

Given players are warned if they choose to bump and make high contact to an opponent they will be punished in almost all circumstances, a grading of negligent conduct, low impact and high contact would likely be the best outcome for the Hawks. That would result in a base suspension of one match which could be reduced to a reprimand with a guilty plea.

If the match review panel instead classifies the incident as reckless conduct or medium impact it would result in a base suspension of two matches that cut be cut to one, which would rule Franklin out of the Hawks' opening final against the Swans.

If both those categories were upgraded, for an overall charge of reckless conduct with medium impact and high contact, it would trigger a three-match ban that could be cut to two with a guilty plea. Under that outcome, even if Franklin accepted the reduced penalty his season could be over if the Hawks lose both their finals.

Franklin has never missed a final for Hawthorn, having played in all 12 of the club's appearances since he was drafted at the end of 2004.

Franklin's problems with bumping smaller opponents began in late 2009, when he was suspended for two matches for bumping Richmond's Ben Cousins. In round three of the following season he was given a one-match ban for a high bump on the Western Bulldogs' Jason Akermanis, while in 2011 he received a one-match ban for a bump on Gold Coast's Maverick Weller that was classified as a strike because he slightly raised his elbow. In mid-2010 he also received a one-match ban for forceful front-on contact to Sydney's Marty Mattner.

Franklin finished the match against the Swans with two goals.

MISSING MAX

Hawthorn went into last year's finals without a specialist ruckman, relying on a combination of David Hale and Jarryd Roughead. On the evidence of this match it will not want to do the same again, especially with Roughead playing up forward. The pre-match withdrawal of Max Bailey (soreness) forced Hale to be backed up by his replacement Matt Spangher, whose comparative lack of strength was exploited by Shane Mumford and Mike Pyke.

MORE THAN A ROUGH CHANCE

If you had predicted before the season a Hawthorn player would be in the prime position to claim the Coleman Medal it would be almost assured the beneficiary would be Lance Franklin, but it is Jarryd Roughead who looks set to win his most significant personal award. Roughead came into the match with a three-goal buffer in the race for the Coleman, and all but sealed it with four goals.

RETURNED ROHAN'S DELIGHT

The leg break suffered last year by Sydney's Gary Rohan was so severe that it was feared he may struggle to return. He earned plaudits just for managing that feat a week ago, but it was in the second quarter on Friday night he significantly made his presence felt. In the space of two minutes he booted two goals to thrill both the ANZ Stadium crowd as well as his teammates. His delighted reaction to both proved he had lost none of his enthusiasm.