Hawks keen to earn stripes for boys in blue

ST KILDA will be looking to not only snap Hawthorn’s incredible winning streak in Launceston when the two sides meet today, but also its own recent struggles against the Hawks in the annual battle for the Blue Ribbon Cup.

The Hawks are eyeing off their 20th consecutive victory at UTAS Stadium this afternoon, while the Saints are striving to beat the home side for the first time since round 19, 2009.

Hawthorn has won six straight contests between the two sides — they played out a draw in 2010 — giving the club a stranglehold on the Blue Ribbon Cup.

The match is played in honour of two Victorian Police officers, Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller, who were killed in the line of duty in August 1988.

Now in its 18th year, the annual battle is an important part of the foundation set up to recognise the efforts of all police officers.

“It’s very important, it also sends a very strong message to police all over Australia that their work is valued, the challenging work they do keeping our community safe,” Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation chief executive Neil Soullier said.

Members of both families, including Constable Miller’s son, who was just eight weeks old when his father was killed, will be in attendance.

“A lot of the footballers from both teams have watched him grow up and he is a mad Hawthorn supporter,” Mr Soullier said.

The match starts at 1.45pm.