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The Roar

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Hawks survive St Kilda scare

Jack Gunston of the Hawks is congratulated by teammates. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
18th August, 2018
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Hawthorn have held off an outstanding challenge from St Kilda to win by four points, setting up a massive AFL clash next week with Sydney.

The Saints rallied from a week of intense scrutiny to nearly pull off one of the season’s biggest upsets, though the Hawks won 12.8 (80) to 11.10 (76).

St Kilda kicked the only goal of the last quarter as the two teams defended grimly.

Hawks pair Jack Gunston and Jarman Impey took crucial marks late in the match as the Saints pressed hard.

Hawthorn stayed fourth and are level on points with the fifth-placed Swans, who beat GWS earlier on Saturday night.

The winner of the Sydney-Hawthorn SCG clash next Saturday night will finish in the top four.

Hawthorn lost veteran key defender James Frawley in the third term with a back injury.

Jarryn Geary, who was outstanding on Hawks playmaker Isaac Smith, was forced off the field in the last term because of a head knock.

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Gunston was best afield, kicking four goals and then going into defence late in the match, while the poise of veteran Shaun Burgoyne was crucial.

Midfielder Jack Steele was best for the Saints and Jack Lonie kicked a career-best four goals.

The game went according to script in the first quarter, with Hawthorn kicking four goals to one.

While the Saints were on top in clearances and had more possessions, Hawthorn were more efficient and looked ready to break the game open.

But the momentum swung dramatically in the second term as the Saints hit back.

The lead changed six times and Hawthorn only led by five points at the main break.

Immediately after the match, Burgoyne told Channel Seven that Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson gave his players a massive serve.

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“You don’t want to be in the front row,” Burgyone said of the team meeting.

St Kilda were well on top in clearances 28-17 and were up in contested possessions as well as they put the Hawks under mounting pressure.

But the Saints have had a bad habit of dropping away through the middle of games.

The signs were bad when Hawthorn went on a four-goal run to lead by a game-high 24 points in the third quarter.

But Lonie kicked three goals late in the third term and the Saints were only nine points down at the last break.

Jade Gresham, another of the Saints’ best players, kicked a goal two minutes into the last quarter – but it proved the last goal of the game.

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