ST KILDA'S remarkable season has come to a disappointing end with a 54-point loss to Hawthorn in Saturday night's preliminary final at the MCG.
The Hawks dominated most of the game to win 18.10 (118) to 9.10 (64), even though the Saints looked to have their measure in the opening minutes with aggression at the contests.
Adam Schneider got things rolling with the first goal of the game after a 50m penalty and, when Sam Fisher goaled from another one minutes later, it looked like the Saints had come to play.
But the Hawks soon hit back to regain a lead they didn't surrender for the rest of the night.
After Fisher's goal, the Saints only booted one of the next 14.
St Kilda rallied in the third quarter, with Nick Riewoldt shaking off a flat first half to boot three goals in four minutes.
The Hawks then chose to chip the ball around and slow the St Kilda momentum to go into the final break with a 49-point lead.
While the Saints side hardly resembled the outfit that put Collingwood away last week, their usual suspects put in some consistent performances.
Evergreen defender Max Hudghton did an outstanding job on Hawthorn dangerman Lance Franklin, sticking to him like a glove. He not only kept him goalless for the first half, but didn't even allow him to take a mark.
Franklin only improved slightly in the second half, but by then the game was well and truly over.
Much publicity in the lead-up to the game was given to Hawk Luke Hodge and his attacking run from defence, but it was Fisher at the other end who created the drive from half-back early on.
However, his work and the efforts of the midfield were nullified with the St Kilda forwards well held by Hawthorn's defence. Goal scoring opportunities were scarce.
Brendon Goddard (33 disposals) was another to hold his head high for the Saints but he didn’t have enough teammates helping him out. He had nine touches in the third term and was a key player in the mini-revival.
But all St Kilda eyes were on one man, knowing from an early stage of the evening that it would be the last time they would see him play.
For the 383rd and final time, Robert Harvey gave his absolute all to the St Kilda cause. The 37-year-old finished with 19 possessions and put in a typically dogged performance.
As has been the case for much of his final season, he started on the bench before running on to rapturous applause from St Kilda fans. The applause continued every time the veteran gathered the ball and, for parts of the final quarter, the fans chanted his name.
He was chaired off at game's end, with players and officials from both sides forming a guard of honour for a true legend.
What became Harvey's farewell match did not seem to inspire more than a couple of his peers. Many had little or no impact on the game that would have awarded the club a place in its first grand final since 1997.
Nick Dal Santo (15 disposals) was well held in the middle by Chance Bateman, and Lenny Hayes (27) and Raphael Clarke (25) worked hard, but others just looked lost in the bright lights and buzz of September.
In 2008, St Kilda fans got the full spectrum of emotions and some have said the players got the most out of themselves to reach a preliminary final.
The Saints now go forward without Harvey, but supporters can be assured of plenty of good times ahead – remembering that highs and lows come with following the red, white and black.
Hawthorn 4.4 11.5 15.8 18.10 (118)
St Kilda 2.3 3.6 7.7 9.10 (64)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Williams 5, Roughead 4, Rioli 2, Young 2, Bateman, Brown, Crawford, Franklin, Osborne
St Kilda: Riewoldt 3, Fisher 2, Fiora, Milne, Montagna, Schneider
BEST
Hawthorn: Lewis, Mitchell, Williams, Sewell, Young, Hodge, Guerra, Birchall
St Kilda: Hudghton, Goddard, Fisher, Clarke, Hayes
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Hodge (ribs).
St Kilda: TBC
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Kennedy, Rosebury, McLaren
Official crowd: 77,002 at MCG
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
