Hawthorn caused an upset 10-point win over St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon to claim their third win of the season.
It came from with three consecutive goals in the final four minutes, thanks to Dylan Moore, Jacob Koschitzke and Luke Breust, after an arm wrestle of an afternoon.
Scores were level at half-time and the Saints were looking like putting the foot down with an attack spearheaded by Max King (four goals) and with a 14-point lead at the last change, but the Hawks kept the fight.
Jarman Impey of the Hawks celebrates a goal with teammates Josh Weddle, left, and James Worpel, right. Credit: Dylan Burns, Getty Images
The win gives Hawthorn fans two weeks of celebrations after the young side downed West Coast last week by 116 points.
For St Kilda, victory would have had them challenging for a top-four spot midway through the season, but now they will need to dig deeper if they want to stay in contention for finals.
The Hawks were inspired against the Saints, potentially buoyed by their demolition win last week, as they played with more freedom and with a more solidified style.
They could have taken a significant lead into the main break, if it wasn’t for their wayward kicking in front of goal. They dominated the second term by winning the clearances (18-13) and then shared the ball around the ground to drive into the hands of one of their two towers in Mitch Lewis and Breust, three goals respectively.
When the game was on their terms, they moved it quickly by hand and pace. They had almost double the handballs than their opponents with 214-131 and far more uncontested possessions (294-220). While doing this, they often chopped off the Saints’ use of the corridor and set up well behind the ball. And they did it without experienced players Chad Wingard and Changkuoth Jiath, who are both out with calf injuries.
The Saints also demonstrated why they are the best defensive unit in the competition, having conceded the fewest points of any team so far this season under Ross Lyon.
Their pressure in their defensive half, led by Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jack Sinclair, contributed in large part to their opponents’ stack of behinds, which kept the scoreboard in their favour until the dying minutes.
Bradley Hill of the Saints looks on during round 11. Credit: Dylan Burns, Getty Images
Saints ruck Rowan Marshall and midfielder Brad Crouch were also prolific – but just not enough against an energetic Hawks midfield.
Hawthorn next have the tougher task of Port Adelaide in Adelaide, while St Kilda will enjoy a well-earned bye.
Sicily pillar in defence
The Saints’ defence may have hobbled a fair amount of Hawthorn’s attack, but their opposition had the best defender on the day in Hawks skipper James Sicily. He mopped up and absorbed much of the Saints’ attack and dictated play from the back half.
He finished with 42 touches, 17 contested, and 21 intercept possessions.
His only real misshape was giving away a 50m penalty to King in the opening quarter with a shove off the ball, which gifted the opposition six points.
James Sicily.Credit: Getty Images
St Kilda: 3.2 5.4 11.4 12.6
Hawthorn: 2.4 4.10 7.14 12.16
GOALS
St Kilda: King 4, Butler 2, Wood, Phillipou, Crouch, Caminiti, Sharman, Byrnes.
Hawthorn: Lewis 3, Breust 3, Butler, Brockman, Impey, Moore, Koshchitzke, Macdonald.
BEST
St Kilda: Marshall, Crouch, Sinclaire, Wanganeen-Milera.
Hawthorn: Sicily, Day, Moore, Nash, Newcombe.
