HAWTHORN has finished strongly, beating St Kilda by 28 points at the MCG on Saturday night.
A late goal to the Saints left the final scores at 10.12 (72) to 6.8 (44).
In a low-scoring game, the Hawks made better use of their attacking thrusts, as the Saints struggled to find a good target up forward. Jarryd Roughead (three goals) and Tim Boyle (two) both provided a spark for the Hawks in attack, while the midfield won plenty of possession.
It was Hawthorn’s first win over St Kilda since 2002, regaining the Blue Ribbon Cup, which commemorates police officers Senior Constable Rodney Miller and Sergeant Gary Silk, who died on duty in 1998.
After narrowly losing to Fremantle in Perth last weekend, Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis, and Rick Ladson all starred in the Hawks’ midfield, with Grant Birchall also prolific across half-back.
Trent Croad kept Fraser Gehrig quiet, while Campbell Brown and Brad Sewell both did well on Nick Riewoldt and Nick Dal Santo respectively.
It was a close match until the final quarter, with the Hawks keeping their noses in front of the Saints for most of the game before kicking away in the last term.
Roughead’s performance was encouraging considering Lance Franklin’s tough night, with the star forward kicking 1.5.
The match started slowly, with the first goal coming after 11 minutes to Chance Bateman. Both teams had numbers back in defence, and accordingly struggled to convert scoring opportunities.
Chance Bateman scored the Hawks’ first after breaking away from a pack of players on the 50 metre arc. Bateman was good early on a wing, while Shane Crawford and Clinton Young were winning plenty of ball through the middle for the Hawks.
After Aaron Fiora kicked the Saints’ first goal, Robert Campbell replied within 30 seconds after a slick pass from Rick Ladson. The margin remained seven points at the quarter time break, 2.3 (15) to 1.2 (8).
The Hawks failed to kick a goal in the scrappy second quarter, but remained in front at half time, 2.6 (18) to 2.4 (16).
Riewoldt kicked St Kilda’s only goal in the quarter, after marking near the 50 metre arc.The Saints star was marked by Campbell Brown, who forced him to work up the ground to gather plenty of possessions.
As the midfield battle continued, with both teams struggling to provide good delivery into the forward line, Ladson and Lewis were big ball-winners for the Hawks.
Both teams sought to up the tempo after the half time break, with St Kilda grabbing the first goal through a good snap in the forward pocket from Riewoldt.
The Hawks quickly grabbed a reply, as Roughead marked strongly on the lead and converted from 40 metres out.
As light rain began to fall, the skill errors continued. Shane Crawford missed a shot on the run in the fifth minute and it was another 14 minutes before any team scored - this included Gehrig kicking out on the full from 25 metres out on the run, under pressure from the Hawthorn defence.
Eventually, Roughead scored his second of the quarter after a string of errors, dribbling through from a tight angle after the ball spilled from a marking contest.
He could have had his third for the quarter shortly after, but his kick after the siren went across the face of goal, putting the Hawks 10 points up at three quarter time, 4.9 (33) to 3.5 (23).
The Saints came out strongly in the final quarter, showing plenty of spirit. However, Boyle snapped through a classy goal after crumbing a pack in the second minute, putting the Hawks 16 points in front.
The Saints had two chances to peg the lead back, through Stephen Milne and Dal Santo, but after missing both shots Ben Dixon was able to find space in the forward line, with his mark and goal increasing the Hawks’ lead to 20 points. In the low-scoring game, this sealed the win for the Hawks.
Lewis and Mitchell continued their busy work in the midfield, with Hawthorn having more chances up forward. Ben McGlynn kicked another goal for Hawthorn, before Gehrig kicked his first by crumbing a pack in the Saints’ goalsquare. It was St Kilda’s first goal since just after half time, and it came fifteen minutes into the final term.
Boyle kicked his second after Young’s effort to spoil a kick to James Gwilt, before Gehrig’s second goal came from the forward pocket.
The Hawks followed up with goals to Franklin and Roughead, who kicked his third goal from the 50 metre arc, before Jason Blake kicked a goal seconds before the siren blew, confirming victory for the Hawks.
HAWTHORN 2.3 2.6 4.9 10.12 (72)
ST KILDA 1.2 2.4 3.5 6.8 (44)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Roughead 3, Boyle 2, Dixon, McGlynn, Campbell, Franklin, Bateman.
St Kilda: Riewoldt 2, Gehrig 2, Blake, Fiora.
BEST
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Ladson, Sewell, Lewis, Crawford, Croad, Guerra, McGlynn.
St Kilda: L Fisher, Harvey, Riewoldt, S Fisher, Montagna, Ball, Gilbert.
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil.
St Kilda: Gehrig (leg), Gram (virus) replaced in selected side by Howard, X Clarke (virus) replaced in selected side by Sweeney.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Vozzo, Grun, Ellis
Official crowd: 36,063 at the MCG
