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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.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
St Kilda Saints 11.10.76
Hawthorn Hawks 12.8.80
It is a story of differing fortunes for these two teams at Etihad Stadium, with the St Kilda Saints, waiting for the season to finish, coming up against a high-flying, and top four chasing, Hawthorn Hawks. Join The Roar for live scores of the match and a live blog of the game from 7:25pm (AEST).
The Ross Lyon era really does seem like a lot longer ago than a mere seven years. Back in those heady days when the Saints were premiership contenders and perennial finalists, building a list of players and stars that would set the club up for years to come.
Fast forward to round 22, season 2018, and St Kilda are back where they started, pre-Lyon, and arguably, even worse than when the Boss was in town.
To be fair, it has been something of an accomplishment for Alan Richardson that he has managed to coach the Saints, maintain his sanity, and fulfil his regular AFL 360 obligations this year, without getting the sack.
And further credit is given where it is indeed due, the Saints have managed, at times, to appear competitive, but there is only so much the likes of Tim Membrey and Jade Gresham can do.
Saints fans, those long-suffering individuals, can only wonder what might have been had perpetual injuries to Paddy McCartin and Josh Bruce not occurred, injuries that would have have weakened any team, but more so the Saints, already lacking in depth.
Speaking of depth, suddenly, that is something Hawthorn do not appear to have to worry about.
Cast your mind back five rounds, when Hawthorn appeared to have given up the race for finals after their second (that’s right, second, count ’em) loss to the Brisbane Lions in Hobart.
The team was lacking in every facet of the game, and appeared to have lost all steam from some early season good form.
Yet fast forward to round 22, season 2018, the Hawks are on a four game winning streak, sit inside the top four and still have the likes of James Sicily, Grant Birchall, Jarryd Roughead, and Daniel Howe to come back. Ouch.
Alastair Clarkson made an interesting point this week, in that while the Hawks remain proud of their wins over the last four weeks, they have not come up against any opposition currently inside the top eight. So to lose a game to the Saints, after the build up of all that momentum, would essentially be disastrous.
Still, a top four aspirant should not have too many concerns against a team that is bleeding players, and just lost another to a season ending suspension.
One area that should give the Saints hope is that while they are ranked last in contested possessions this season, Hawthorn do not fare that much better, ranked 12th.
Prediction
Hawthorn on a roll and with a firing Mitchell, O’Meara, Breust and Gunston, plus the return of Ben McEvoy, should see the brown and gold get the job done against a weary St Kilda opponent.
Hawthorn by 45 points.
Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a live blog of the game starting from 7:25pm (AEST), and don’t forget to leave a comment below.
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