In a Tweet

The Rundown

The Hawks got the early jump to lead by 21 points at the first change as both sides proved inaccurate in front of goal.

Midfield star Isaac Smith shone with two early majors before the Saints reeled the margin back to within eight points by half time in what was proving to be an arm wrestle of a contest.

A goal to key forward Paddy McCartin cut the deficit to just a point early in the third term, before the Hawks pulled away, kicking three of the next four goals.

A six-goal-to-two final term saw the Hawks run over the top of their opposition, defeating the Saints by 35 points.

Ball-magnate Tom Mitchell finished with 45 touches after gathering 27 in the first half, while forward Jack Gunston was also important with three majors.

The Star

While teammate Mitchell may have had plenty of the ball, Isaac Smith was arguably the Hawks’ most important player against the Saints kicking four goals from 24 disposals.

The vice-captain pushed hard forward to find a crucial goal with the Saints trailing by just a point in the third quarter, before providing one of the highlights of the night, kicking a long goal after forcing a turnover through the middle of the ground and taking two bounces midway through the fourth term.

The Moment

Up by 15 points in the final term, Jack Gunston fed the ball of the contest out to teammate Dan Howe at half forward, who took a long snap at goal from outside 50.

Despite kicking off just a few steps, the ball sailed through for a crucial goal that pushed the margin to 21 points, all but breaking the Saints’ back.

The Coach

"The scoreboard doesn’t perhaps reflect the toughness of that game. It was close and tight all game and we just managed to convert some opportunities late in the third quarter and early in the last that just got us enough scoreboard ascendency.”

  • Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson

 

HAWTHORN     3.7     4.9     7.9     13.11     (89)
ST KILDA           0.4     3.7     5.10    7.12      (54)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Smith 4, Breust, Gunston 3, Howe, Impey, Morrison
St Kilda: Billings, Hickey, Long, McCartin, Membrey, Sinclair, Steele 

BEST
Hawthorn: Smith, Mitchell, McEvoy, Morrison, Howe, Gunston, Breust
St Kilda: Steven, Webster, Savage, Carlisle 

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
St Kilda: Nil

Reports: Nil 

Umpires: Donlon, Haussen, Meredith 

Official crowd: 15,741 at the University of Tasmania Stadium