Hawthorn holds on as Saints fight to finish
HAWTHORN has 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 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 is level on points with the fifth-placed Swans, who beat GWS earlier on last night.
The winner of the SydneyHawthorn 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.
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.
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 said Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson gave his players a massive serve. “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.
But the Saints have had a bad habit of dropping away through the middle of games. ST KILDA V HAWTHORN 1.3 6.6 10.9 11.10 4.4 7.5 12.6 12.8