A SUPERB six-goal performance by Hawthorn livewire Cyril Rioli has propelled the Hawks to 35-point win against St Kilda in a bruising encounter at the MCG on Saturday night.

The Saints traded blows with Hawthorn until three-quarter time, but couldn't go with the Hawks when they booted the first three goals of the final term to set up the 18.15 (123) to 13.10 (88) win in front of 42,289 fans.

Rioli suffered a family bereavement with the passing of his uncle Sebastian during the week, but showed immense courage to play the game of his season, while teammate Lance Franklin was also impressive with five goals of his own.

Jordan Lewis was instrumental in the victory with 22 possessions while effectively blanketing St Kilda playmaker Nick Dal Santo, who managed just 14 touches.
 
After a week that saw the Hawks pilloried in the media for a second-half fade out against the Sydney Swans, Alastair Clarkson was delighted with how his players ran out the match.
 
"Perhaps the margin at the end made it look a little bit more comfortable than it was because from the coaches box and the players' point of view, it was a really tough battle," Clarkson said.
 
"Right throughout the course of the night we threatened to break away from St Kilda and we just couldn't prise the game open, much to their credit. They just kept hanging in there and it wasn't until late in the game we were able to get a bit of a gap."

Justin Koschitzke, who was a late inclusion for Beau Wilkes, made the most of his opportunity with five goals, while Brendon Goddard was also prominent with 26 possessions.

Rioli was the danger man inside attacking 50 from the outset with two goals in the opening term helping the Hawks to a four-point lead at the first break.

Ben Stratton came off second best after a clash of heads with David Armitage in the first quarter, but returned in the second after spending several minutes on the bench.

Koschitzke booted his second goal to edge the Saints back in front early in the second, but it was Hawthorn that enjoyed a 12-point lead at half-time with Lewis and Sam Mitchell, who finished with 29 disposals, both influential.

The situation looked grim for St Kilda when Franklin and Rioli added their third and fourth goals respectively to open the third quarter, but the Saints showed impressive resilience to drag a 24-point deficit back to a 10-point margin at three-quarter time.

But with the game in the balance, Franklin rose to the occasion with two quick goals to send the Hawks surging to their third win of the season.
 
"I think we missed some opportunities we should have taken," Saints coach Scott Watters said.
 
"There were three or four goals in the first quarter that ... nine times out of ten should have been a goal."
 
"In a game where you're 10 points down at three-quarter time, two or three missed opportunities are critical. We'll continue to work on that."

St Kilda made three late changes before the match with Koschitzke, Dean Polo and Ahmed Saad, who made his AFL debut, coming in for Ben McEvoy, Justin Cripps and Beau Wilkes.

McEvoy will miss four to six weeks after injuring a knee at training during the week.

ST KILDA          3.2      7.3     12.7      13.10 (88)
HAWTHORN      3.6    8.9     13.11   18.15 (123)                  
 
GOALS
Hawthorn: Rioli 6, Franklin 5, Roughead 2, Whitecross, Breust, Puopolo, Smith, Hale
St Kilda: Koschitzke 5, Riewoldt 3, Fisher, Milera, Stanley, Saad, Milne
 
BEST
Hawthorn: Rioli, Franklin, Shiels, Lewis, Hodge, Mitchell
St Kilda: Koschitzke, Steven, Blake, Goddard, Gram
 
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Stratton (head knock)
St Kilda: McEvoy (knee) replaced in selected side by Kotschitzke, Fisher (hamstring)
 
SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Paul Puopolo replaced Jarrad Boumann 20 minutes into the third quarter
St Kilda: Ahmed Saad replaced Sam Fisher at half-time
 
Reports: Nil
 
Umpires: Hay, Findlay, Mollison
 
Official crowd: 42,289 at the MCG
 
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs