The Hawthorn Hawks and the St Kilda Saints clash in Saturday afternoon AFL. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 1:45pm (AEST).
It was back to business for Hawthorn last Sunday, with an 11-goal thumping of Richmond at the MCG, highlighted by four classy goals by Cyril Rioli and 11 goal kickers all up.
Also noticeable was that the Hawk veteran midfielders – Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis and Shaun Burgoyne had some of their best matches for the year.
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St Kilda suffered a shock loss last week against an injury riddled Brisbane lineup. The Saints had many chances to win the game late, but didn’t have the poise to finish them.
They will be weakened this week by missing young stars Luke Dunstan, Eli Templeton and Tom Hickey. Leigh Montagna had his best match for the season and will be the key to the Saints chances.
Game changers:
Cyril Rioli had an amazing game last week against the Tigers and his mix of explosive offensive flair and intense tackling pressure will cause a handful for the Tigers defence.
Young key-forward, Jack Gunston, has been in good form recently and if he can get a bag, Hawthorn will get up.
Veteran Saint, Nick Riewoldt, had a down game last week, but his early season form has been outstanding. He needs to push up the ground and give his young defence a long target.
Billy Longer has been brought in to replace the missing Tom Hickey. Hickey has been impressive early on and Longer will need to put in a impressive performance to keep his spot in the side.
Last five meetings:
Round 20, 2013: Hawthorn 14.18 (102) d St Kilda 7.14 (56) at Etihad Stadium
Round 6, 2012: Hawthorn 18.15 (123) d St Kilda 13.10 (88) at the MCG
Round 8, 2011: Hawthorn 14.15 (99) d St Kilda 10.9 (69) at the MCG
Round 17, 2010: Hawthorn 13.9 (87) drew St Kilda 14.3 (87) at Etihad Stadium
Round 19, 2009: St Kilda 10.14 (74) d Hawthorn 7.7 (49) at Aurora Stadium
Prediction:
The Hawks have had a great start to the year and will steamroll a St Kilda team that is missing key players.
Hawks by 50.
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 1:45pm (AEST).
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
HAWTHORN PLAYERSUPERCOACH 6 Josh Gibson 139 22 Luke Breust 136 2 Jarryd Roughead 134 9 Shaun Burgoyne 123 3 Jordan Lewis 115 33 Cyril Rioli 114 15 Luke Hodge 110 14 Grant Birchall 107 4 Matthew Suckling 106 25 Ryan Schoenmakers 102 10 Bradley Hill 96 19 Jack Gunston 96 16 Isaac Smith 91 28 Paul Puopolo 86 7 Ben McEvoy 83 40 Billy Hartung 68 20 David Hale 60 38 Mitch Hallahan 53 8 Taylor Duryea 52 17 Brian Lake 43 31 Angus Litherland 41 5 Sam Mitchell 8 TOTAL1963 ST. KILDA PLAYERSUPERCOACH 11 Leigh Montagna 141 22 Farren Ray 103 7 Lenny Hayes 96 3 Jack Steven 92 28 Rhys Stanley 71 24 Sean Dempster 68 31 Tom Simpkin 60 40 Blake Acres 58 18 Billy Longer 57 4 Clinton Jones 57 16 Jack Newnes 57 29 Jimmy Webster 56 35 Josh Saunders 50 15 Jack Billings 49 44 Maverick Weller 49 26 Tom Curren 38 12 Nick Riewoldt 34 21 Luke Delaney 32 33 James Gwilt 30 5 Shane Savage 30 13 Adam Schneider 26 14 Jarryn Geary 26
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
HAWTHORN: 27-13-175 ST KILDA: 4-6-30 FT There was a late goal by St Kilda, but that didn't stop St Kilda getting beat by 145. The Hawks outplayed and destroyed the Saints in every department. Hartung, Litherland and Hallahan looked impressive and Schoenmakers was impressive on return. This was an absolute clinic Thanks for tuning in!
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
HAWTHORN: 26-13-169 ST KILDA: 3-6-24 Q4 2` Hawthorn still looking viscous as Cyril kicks at goal, but misses. Bruest centres it to LEWIS WHO WILL LINE UP FOR A GOAL IN HIS 200TH. GOES BACK AND PUTS IT THROUGH. Good to see the veteran get a goal on his milestone day.
Radelaide
Guest
Looks like Hawks didn't like losing top spot.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
HAWTHORN: 25-12-162 ST KILDA: 3-6-24 Q4 4` Hartung on the wing gets it to Gibson who has been tackled. Saunders fends Hodge off and gives it to Montagna. Schoenmakers on Riewoldt in this 2nd half and doing a good job. Lots of positives today from the Hawks. Hartung and Schoenmakers looking good in their first matches of the year.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
HAWTHORN: 25-12-162 ST KILDA: 3-4-23 Q4 6` Gibson with his 28th possession, goes wide and Duryea looses it over the boundary. Gibson again goes to Hodge to Hallahan who sends it into the 50 and causes a turnover.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
HAWTHORN: 25-12-162 ST KILDA: 3-4-23 Q4 8` Riewoldt takes a mark 70 out and goals wide to Billings. They turn the ball over and HAwthorn go forward. Gunston goes wide to Hale who cant collect it.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
HAWTHORN: 25-12-162 ST KILDA: 3-4-23 Q4 10` Riewoldt is finally having a shot on goal, he goes back and its a point. Schoenmakers having a great impact down back after Lake left the field of play. Gunston is found on the lead and will go back and shoot for his 4th. Misses to the left.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
HAWTHORN: 25-11-161 ST KILDA: 3-3-22 Q4 12` Ray wins a free kick in his own goal square, the kick is turned over and Roughead has missed. Gibson on the wing, fumbles it over the line. Burgoyne through traffic gets it long and Bruest kicks his 4th.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
HAWTHORN: 24-10-154 ST KILDA: 3-3-22 Q4 14` Birchall running through the middle and it goes long and Hill watches run out of play. St Kilda are all over the place at the moment, Hartung marks the ball and gives it to Roughead. He goes back and misses it left. Montagna with 30+ possessions.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
HAWTHORN: 24-9-153 ST KILDA: 3-3-22 Q4 16` Hartung bursts through the centre and gives it to Poppy who finds Gunston and Gunston puts it through. This is becoming MASSIVE!!!! Hawks with 18 of the last 19 goals.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
HAWTHORN: 23-9-147 ST KILDA: 3-3-22 Q4 18` The ball is thrown up in the middle and Hawthorn win another clearance and Burgoyne snaps on the left. GOAL! Ball is bouncing around the Hawks offensive 50 and its out of bounds. Gunston gives it to Bruest who kicks another.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
HAWTHORN PLAYERSUPERCOACH 2 Jarryd Roughead 118 6 Josh Gibson 115 9 Shaun Burgoyne 93 22 Luke Breust 90 15 Luke Hodge 83 3 Jordan Lewis 82 10 Bradley Hill 81 25 Ryan Schoenmakers 80 14 Grant Birchall 79 33 Cyril Rioli 78 4 Matthew Suckling 77 28 Paul Puopolo 69 7 Ben McEvoy 68 16 Isaac Smith 61 19 Jack Gunston 53 20 David Hale 45 8 Taylor Duryea 44 38 Mitch Hallahan 42 17 Brian Lake 40 40 Billy Hartung 35 31 Angus Litherland 33 5 Sam Mitchell 8 ST. KILDA PLAYERSUPERCOACH 11 Leigh Montagna 108 22 Farren Ray 73 3 Jack Steven 65 7 Lenny Hayes 63 28 Rhys Stanley 55 24 Sean Dempster 53 31 Tom Simpkin 48 18 Billy Longer 46 4 Clinton Jones 45 40 Blake Acres 44 44 Maverick Weller 41 29 Jimmy Webster 39 15 Jack Billings 38 16 Jack Newnes 37 35 Josh Saunders 31 26 Tom Curren 31 33 James Gwilt 28 12 Nick Riewoldt 25 5 Shane Savage 25 14 Jarryn Geary 24 21 Luke Delaney 20 13 Adam Schneider 19
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
HAWTHORN: 21-9-135 ST KILDA: 3-3-22 3QT This has turned into an absolute hiding. A term to go and its a 110+ lead. The only negative for the Hawks is injuries to Mitchell and Lake.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
HAWTHORN: 21-9-135 ST KILDA: 3-3-21 Q3 2` Schoenmakers has gone back and sets the play up for the Hawks. Smith to goes long and Gunston gives it to Puopolo who runs into an open goal. Hale marks on the lead and kicks it through. It is an absolute clinic at the moment.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
HAWTHORN: 19-9-123 ST KILDA: 3-3-21 Q3 4` Long ball to Gunston on the 50, ball spills and Gunston gets a handball away, but Bruest thumbles over the line. Gunston is everywhere at the moment, down back and up forward. Saints haven't scored since early in the half.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
HAWTHORN: 19-9-123 ST KILDA: 3-3-21 Q3 6` Hawthorn are just doing what they want at the moment. Hartung bursts out of the pack runs to 50 and kicks a goal. Good start from the young kid. Great pace from him. Smith picks it up on the wing, but his kick is poor. Gunston on the lead on the wing, inside 50 and Cyril puts it through
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
HAWTHORN: 15-9-99 ST KILDA: 3-3-21 Q3 10` Roughead is unselfish and finds Bruest, He goes back and kicks the goal. This is turning into a massacre. The Saints need to block it here. The Hawks are down a rotation, but that doesn't bother them in the slightest.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
HAWTHORN: 14-8-92 ST KILDA: 3-3-21 Q3 12` Rioli bursts through the middle and gives it early to Roughead. Roughead gives it to Hodge. The kick is a good kick, but is just left of the post. Brain Lake has gone off the field with a calf injury. Roughead runs round onto the left and slots it from 40.
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
HAWTHORN: 13-7-85 ST KILDA: 3-3-21 Q3 14` Hallahan with a clearance, but the long kick is intercepted. Hallahan has it in the centre for the hawks gives it to Bruest who kicks it into the mark.