Australian Football

Match Report

In a game that most Hawks' fans will remember forever and Saints' fans will want to forget as soon as possible, Hawthorn slaughtered St Kilda by a whopping 145 points at the MCG on Saturday. The Hawks outscored St Kilda by four goals in the first term and only got better in the the three quarters after that, leading by 58 points at half time and 118 at the last change before finishing more than 24 goals ahead of the hapless Saints.

The Saints scored two goals in the first term but could only manage another two for the remaining three quarters, while the Hawks went on their merry way. The result highlighted the gulf that exists between Hawthorn and the lower sides at the moment. The Hawks' best football will take a power of beating by any side and they deserve their current status as flag favourites.

There were winners all over the ground for Hawthorn, with Shaun Burgoyne (33 disposals and two goals), Luke Breust (four goals and 29 touches) and Jarryd Roughead (four goals and 23 possessions) amongst the best. For St Kilda, Jack Billings, with 15 touches and a goal in just his fourth AFL match was one of the few highlights, while Leigh Montagna (39 disposals and seven tackles) and Jack Steven (29 touches and seven tackles) never stopped trying.

It wasn't all roses for the Hawks, however. Sam Mitchell sustained a hamstring tendon injury that will see him miss eight weeks, while Brian Lake injured a calf and is likely to miss at least four weeks. And to rub salt into St Kilda's wounds, Jarryn Geary's 100th game was ruined when he ruptured elbow ligaments, an injury that will see him out of football for three months.

For Hawthorn, on top of the ladder with six wins from seven games, a big game against Sydney and ex-premiership Hawk Lance Franklin awaits next Friday, with a bye to follow after that, while the Saints (12th on the ladder with three wins) will look to pick up the pieces against Carlton in a Monday night game next week.

GOALS
Hawthorn: Schoenmakers, Roughead, Breust, Gunston 4; Rioli, Puopolo, Hale, Burgoyne 2; Hill, Hartung, Lewis
St. Kilda: Stanley, Montagna, Billings, Steven

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Hawthorn: Burgoyne, Roughead, Gibson, Breust, Schoenmakers
St. Kilda: Billings, Montagna, Steven, Hayes

BEST - THE SUNDAY AGE
Hawthorn: Burgoyne, Roughead, Gibson, Birchall, Hodge, Breust, Hill, Puopolo
St Kilda: Billings, Montagna, Hayes

COACHES' COMMENTS
Alstair Clarkson (Haw): We had a focus on trying to play four quarters of strong footy this week and really pressuring the St Kilda side. They still had enough of the ball but the pressure we were able to apply meant that they found it hard to get forward momentum of the footy. They were hand balling backward a lot and that was credit to our guys. We were pleased with that effort over four quarters.

Alan Richardson (StK): We will review that performance really strongly. Collectively and as individuals we got an absolute belting today, there's no hiding from that. We'll learn from that. To come up against the reigning premiers in that form and to play and fail dismally, with respect to pressure - not to apply it, not to cope with it - that will be where out focus lies.

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Ben Stratton (corked hip) replaced in selected side by Angus Litherland, Sam Mitchell (right hamstring), Brian Lake (right calf)
St. Kilda: Jarryn Geary (right elbow)

SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Sam Mitchell (right hamstring) replaced by Billy Hartung at quarter time
St. Kilda: Jarryn Geary (right elbow) replaced by Josh Saunders during the second quarter

UMPIRES: Margetts, Mollison, O'Gorman

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

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