The Hawthorn Hawks are searching for their first win since their Grand Final victory against the St Kilda Saints at Etihad Stadium today. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7.10pm (AEDT).
The Hawks lost their two preseason games against Collingwood and North Melbourne but will look to be getting serious for their last official hit out before the season proper. They have named 19 of last season’s 22 premiership players in their lineup as they try and get game time into their players before Round 1.
Added to the team from last week are Ben McEvoy, James Sicily, Will Langford, Angus Litherland, Jonathan Simpkin while David Hale, Marc Pittonet, Alex Woodward and Daniel Howe have been left out.
While the likes of Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge, Jarryd Roughead and Jordan Lewis should be prominent throughout the match, the NAB Challenge is more about the young players.
Getting to see the development and first glimpse of players such as Billy Hartung, Jed Anderson, Sicily and Jonathan O’Rourke will be paramount for Hawks fans.
They will be hoping this new batch of players coming through can push for selection and keep the good times rolling.
This is even more so with the Saints who have been piecing together an impressive group of young players who they hope will form the core of a premiership team in the future.
The Saints are have split their preseason with a narrow loss to Brisbane followed by a comfortable win over Essendon.
Adam Schneider, Dylan Roberton, Spencer White, Lewis Pierce come into the Saints side from last week, while Sebastian Ross, Jarryn Geary, Billy Longer, David Armitage, Josh Saunders and Jason Holmes are out.
Jack Newnes may not be well know at the moment, but looks very promising after his good season last year and his impressive form so far in the preseason.
The Saints lineup will feature some of the top talent from last draft, headlined by no.1 pick Paddy McCartin along with Hugh Goddard and Jack Lonie. They are added to the promising players Luke Dunstan and Blake Acres from the year before.
Tim Membrey will look to impress his new club after moving from the Swans by providing a strong forward option in the absence of Nick Riewoldt.
No doubt the young Saints will want to test themselves against last year’s premiers and this should provide them with a good learning experience.
Prediction:
On paper the Hawks are fielding a very powerful side against the Saints young and inexperienced lineup. In the season proper this would could be a demolition job, however during the NAB Challenge youthful enthusiasm goes a long way, so I expect them to keep it close until the fourth quarter.
Hawks by 30.
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7.10pm (AEDT).
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
The Hawthorn Hawks recorded a 106 point win over the St Kilda Saints at Etihad Stadium in the final round of the NAB Challenge. The Hawks played 18 of their 22 premiership players from last season as they looked to lift their intensity in preparation for round 1. They looked in awesome form treating the Saints like witches hats at times by using their set plays and footy smarts to set up scoring opportunities. The inexperienced Saints team struggled with the zoning and pressure applied by the Hawks outfit all night. Costly turnovers in the forward half and from kick-ins allowed the Hawks keep the scoreboard ticking over. The top performers for the Hawks were the usual suspects, with Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis strong in the engine room with 33 disposals apiece and Brad Hill eye-catching with his daring runs all night resulting in 10 inside 50's. The biggest headache the Hawks take into round 1 will be at the selection table. With David Hale resting Ben McEvoy and Jonathan Cegler both played well in the ruck and resting forward, providing 4 goals and 40 hit outs between them. New recruits James Frawley and Jonathan O’Rourke put in their best performances for their new club. While Frawley is a lock to play in the opener, O’Rourke put his name in the mix with Jed Anderson and Billy Hartung. Although it seems grim for the Saints team now, their young players probably get more out of this game in the long run than beating the Essendon ring-ins. Their elite young talent got to see firsthand what it takes to be the best in business which will bode well for their development. Jack Stevens looks set for another big season, with the classy onballer collecting 33 disposals against the tide. Newnes, Dunstan, Weller and youngster Jack Sinclair fought manfully all night in the midfield while Sean Dempster played well in defence. Paddy McCartin showed glimpse of his ability with an impressive chase down tackle on Luke Hodge and goal from the resulting free kick. He also set up Weller’s goal by bringing the ball down in a marking contest and quickly handing off to set up the opportunity. Nathan Wright and Luke Bruest were both subbed off due to corkies, which shouldn't hinder their round 1 chances. GOALS: Hawks - Breust 3, Gunston 3, Roughead 3 Saints - McCartin 1, Hickey 1, Bruce 1, Weller 1 DISPOSALS : Hawks – Lewis 33, Mitchell 33, Suckling 29 Saints – Steven 33, Dunstan 26, Weller 22
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
FULL TIME - Hawks by 106 points
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
BEHIND HAWKS Puopolo has a shot from a free kick after the siren bu misses HAWKS 0.22.13.145 SAINTS 1.4.6.39 Q4 - 0.00
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
BEHIND HAWKS Lewis fakes out one then pulls the shot at goal HAWKS 0.22.12.144 SAINTS 1.4.6.39 Q4 - 1.03
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
BEHIND SAINTS Rushed behind HAWKS 0.22.11.143 SAINTS 1.4.6.39 Q4 - 2.11
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
Looks as if both teams would be happy to call it now if they could.
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
GOAL HAWKS Puopolo wins the free and kicks the ball to a 1 on 3, but the 1 is big McEvoy who is shoved by Schneider in the marking contest and wins the free. He slots the easy set shot. HAWKS 0.22.11.143 SAINTS 1.4.5.38 Q4 - 9.47
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
BEHIND HAWKS Duryea goals for a supergoal but pulls the kick HAWKS 0.21.11.137 SAINTS 1.4.5.38 Q4 - 12.15
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
GOAL HAWKS Rioli wins the ball in the pocket, does a little dance and snaps the ball to Roughead for the mark. His set shot is good. HAWKS 0.21.10.136 SAINTS 1.4.5.38 Q4 - 13.52
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
GOAL SAINTS Saints win the ball in the middle through Weller and work it forward cleverly using the extra man. Hickey takes the mark in the 50 and hands over the top to Bruce who runs into the open goal. HAWKS 0.20.10.130 SAINTS 1.4.5.38 Q4 - 16.02
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
BEHIND SAINTS McCartin shrugs the Rioli tackle and snaps at goal, the ball bounces through for a point HAWKS 0.20.10.130 SAINTS 1.3.5.32 Q4 - 17.32
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
LAST QUARTER UNDERWAY
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
Not much to say but the Hawks look awesome tonight. They are running in waves and forcing turnovers at will. Saints players need to learn from this experience.
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
3 QUARTER TIME - HAWKS by 99 points
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Roar Guru
GOAL HAWKS Smith goes on a long gallop from half-back he kicks it to Ceglar who feeds the ball to the running Lewis whose running shot is good. HAWKS 0.20.10.130 SAINTS 1.3.4.31 Q3 - 0.33
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
GOAL SAINTS Saints win the ball from the centre bounce and feed it to the running Lonie. His kick into attack is marked strongly by Hickie. His set shot is right through the middle. HAWKS 0.19.10.118 SAINTS 1.3.4.31 Q3 - 2.34
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
GOAL HAWKS Ceglar takes a towering mark at the top of the goal square and drills another goal for the Hawks. HAWKS 0.20.10.124 SAINTS 1.2.4.25 Q3 - 3.15
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
GOAL HAWKS From the kick-in the Hawks stream out of defence and kick it long into their attacking 50. Three Hawks sit under the ball and Hill wins the raffle to collect the goods and tap it through. HAWKS 0.18.10.118 SAINTS 1.2.4.25 Q3 - 4.47
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
BEHIND SAINTS Rushed behind HAWKS 0.17.10.112 SAINTS 1.2.4.25 Q3 - 5.10
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
SUPERGOAL SAINTS Hickey smothers the Langford kick out of the centre stoppage, Weller runs onto the ball and runs to the edge of the square where he goes bang!!! Some frustration released in that thumping kick. HAWKS 0.17.10.112 SAINTS 1.2.3.24 Q3 - 6.56