HAWTHORN has given St Kilda a painful reminder of how far it has to go to return to the top end of the ladder, mercilessly taking apart the rebuilding Saints in a record 145-point demolition at a rain-soaked MCG on Saturday.
But the Hawks' 27.13 (175) to 4.6 (30) win looks to have come at a high cost, with star midfielder Sam Mitchell (right hamstring) and key defender Brian Lake (right calf) unable to complete the game.
Mitchell was injured late in the first term, Lake early in the third quarter, and both appear set for extended stints on the sidelines.
The Hawks' winning margin was their biggest ever against St Kilda, eclipsing their 129-point win in round three, 1983.
Hawthorn kicked the opening five goals of the match, but really flexed their muscles after the rain started at the quarter-time break, kicking 21 of the last 23 goals and holding St Kilda scoreless in the second quarter.
The Saints entered their forward 50 just three times in that term to the Hawks' 19, with their first inside 50 not coming until the 25-minute mark.
The Saints' half-time score of 2.3 (15) was their lowest against Hawthorn since round nine, 1960.
St Kilda youngster Jack Billings kicked the opening goal of the second half at the two-minute mark of the third term, but the Hawks then piled on 15 unanswered goals, 10 in the third quarter and five in the last.
Jack Steven broke the Saints' scoring drought with a consolation goal with a minute remaining in the match.
Jarryd Roughead was outstanding for the Hawks on a tough day for key forwards, kicking four goals and dishing off two goal assists.
Shaun Burgoyne brightened a dreary day with his class through the midfield, racking up 33 possessions, while Josh Gibson was impassable in defence, Luke Hodge a ball magnet all over the ground and Luke Breust lively in attack with four goals.
Ryan Schoenmakers also made an impressive return in his first game since rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament against Fremantle in round four last year, starting in attack and kicking four goals.
There were countless other strong contributors for Hawthorn, but St Kilda had precious few.
Billings gave Saints fans hope for the future, showing flashes of his class in attack, while Lenny Hayes, Leigh Montagna and Jack Steven never stopped trying around the ground.
The Saints' day was soured even further by an elbow injury to defender Jarryn Geary. Geary looks in doubt for St Kilda's round eight clash with Carlton on Monday week after being subbed out early in the second quarter
