In a Tweet
75 points at the final siren.
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) April 29, 2017
That hurt, a lot.#AFLHawksSaints #StrongAsOne pic.twitter.com/2YcXkzm03P
The Rundown
Hawthorn entered this clash with St Kilda in Launceston seeking a 20th straight win at the venue. Having not lost in Tasmania for five years, the Hawks entered the game as favourites but instead it was the Saints who looked right at home.
The Saints took a comfortable lead into every break, with the Hawks managing just four goals in the first three quarters.
Hawthorn lifted their production slightly in the fourth term, booting four goals, but the Saints piled on another five of their own to extend the final margin to 75 points.
The Star
With a major in the third quarter, St Kilda superstar Nick Riewoldt reached his 700th career goal, becoming just the 23rd player in the game’s history to do so. It capped off an outstanding day for Riewoldt, who was everywhere, finishing with 20 disposals, eight marks, two tackles and four goals.
The Moment
In the late stages of the opening term, Hawks defender James Frawley was surveying his options from his team’s defensive line. Hesitant and flustered, he was caught holding the ball by Saints youngster Jack Billings. Despite the margin being just 14 points at the time and Billings failing to convert his shot at goal, the tackle was the Saints’ seventh forward 50 tackle of the term, highlighting the intensity at which they had come to play with.
The Coach
“We were just overwhelmed by a side that were just more desperate for the footy on the inside and ran harder on the outside. They controlled the game for 90 per cent of it."- Hawthorn Coach Alastair Clarkson
HAWTHORN 2.1 3.4 4.5 8.7 (55)
ST KILDA 3.5 6.8 14.13 19.16 (130)
GOALS
Hawthorn: McEvoy 2, Mitchell, O'Brien, Howe, Breust, Sicily, Gunston
St Kilda: Riewoldt 4, Bruce 3, Membrey 3, Gresham 2, Stevens 2, Roberton 2, Weller 2, Carlisle
BEST
Hawthorn: Mitchell, McEvoy, Hodge
St Kilda: Steven, Stevens, Steele, Roberton, Ross, Riewoldt, Weller
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
St Kilda: NIl
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Foot, Stevic, Schmitt
Official crowd: 15,571 at University of Tasmania Stadium