SUMMARY
With a few tough weeks on the injury front, and with defender James Sicily set to miss through suspension again, the Hawks could be vulnerable. But at least they have a complete midfield arsenal to throw at St Kilda, with Tom Mitchell dodging his own match review bullet and evergreen Shaun Burgoyne expected back to add some experience. Perhaps he can address the slow first quarters that have plagued Hawthorn this year. The Saints showed tremendous pluck to eke out the draw against the Giants and kept on coming against one of the flag favourites, but their conversion remains an issue. The Hawks are generally hard to beat in Tassie, but the venue won’t faze St Kilda following a comfortable win last year.
Read: Sicily handed suspension
WHERE AND WHEN: University of Tasmania Stadium, Saturday, April 28, 7.25pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
R6, 2017, St Kilda 19.16 (130) d Hawthorn 8.7 (55) at University of Tasmania Stadium
R4, 2016, Hawthorn 13.9 (87) d St Kilda 13.6 (84) at University of Tasmania Stadium
R10, 2015, Hawthorn 20.12 (132) d St Kilda 10.9 (69) at Etihad Stadium
R7, 2014, Hawthorn 27.13 (175) d St Kilda 4.6 (30) at the MCG
R20, 2013, Hawthorn 14.18 (102) d St Kilda 7.14 (56) at Etihad Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Saints blew away the Hawks in the second half when they met in 2017, kicking 13 goals to five including an eight-goal third term. Jack Steven was best on ground with 36 disposals, eight tackles and five inside 50s.
2. Not in the Saints favour is their kicking for goal this season. They are the 17th-ranked team for accuracy, operating at just 39.8 per cent, and they’ve kicked just 45 goals, putting them at the bottom of the ladder.
3. A big advantage for the Saints could in the clearances, where they are ranked well ahead of the Hawks averaging 32 per game, though in centre clearances they have struggled, ranked in the bottom four with an average of 10.6.
4. This is the Hawks' first match in Launceston this season after they won two of four games with one draw there in 2017. The Saints are no strangers to University of Tasmania Stadium, with 11 games for six wins.
5. St Kilda continues to be the highest ranked uncontested possession team in 2018, averaging 254.2 per game, but they’re second last in contested possessions. Hawthorn is mid-table in both categories.
6. St Kilda's Nick Coffield is listed at No.606 in the Schick AFL Player Ratings. He is ranked 15th among all first-year players.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
The Saints ran rings around Hawks midfielder Jaeger O'Meara in the corresponding game last year, after which it emerged that he had injured his knee once again and he didn't play for nearly four months. He'll be keen to make amends this time around.
PREDICTION: Hawthorn by 10 points
