The Hawks will return to University of Tasmania Stadium on Saturday 12 months after their 19-game winning streak in Launceston was broken.
doesn’t become a bad omen as they again face the Saints in this year’s corresponding fixture.The Hawks went down to St Kilda by 75 points in the Round 6 encounter last year – their first loss at the venue since 2012 – and will be desperate to ensure the game
The Hawks’ 19-game winning streak began with a 63-point drubbing of the Dockers in Round 8 2012 and lasted up until the loss to the Saints 12 months ago, with the Hawks again without loss (they drew with the Giants in Round 16) at the venue since.
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On-ball pair Tom Mitchell and Ben McEvoy were two of the Hawks best in the St Kilda loss, while Luke Breust and Ricky Henderson both enjoyed strong form in the apple isle last season, kicking eight and seven goals respectively across the Hawks’ four games at York Park.
The Saints also enjoy a strong record at the venue, going down to the Hawks by just three points in Round 4 2016 and have won three of their last four games in Launceston.
Last time it was St Kilda’s tall timber who did the damage on the scoreboard, with Nick Riewoldt, Josh Bruce and Tim Membrey combining for 10 goals, but the Hawks are unlikely to suffer quite the same problem this time around with Riewoldt having since retired and Josh Bruce currently out with a back injury.
