Round 12 – St Kilda v Hawthorn: An independent observation

Round 12
St Kilda v Hawthorn,
Thursday 28 May 2026,
Marvel Stadium

 

I came to Docklands via John Butler’s ‘Everybody Knows Books’ book shop in Ballarat. I was wearing my Geelong cap hardly a word was spoken about Carlton during our chat.

 

My word this is a shop worth visiting even has copies of my books with more to come.

 

The visit to John’s shop was more satisfying than the first half of the game at the Docklands Stadium where Hawthorn Mayblooms stood supreme against St Kilda’s Seasiders. Maybe Lyon’s Saints need to read more books.

 

What dreadful disease has Jack Gunston got? No one went near him in the first-half as he marked on his chest, dribbled them along the ground and then left to have a look at the video. The only problem with Hawthorn in the first half and for the whole game in fact was their jumpers. For heavens sake when are we going to see them play in their rightful strip of brown and gold? The clubs are making mockery of history these days just to boost their coffers.

 

Saw so many people leave at half time and from both clubs! The game was pathetic except for Jack and there were more fumbles than at an egg and spoon race.

 

I don’t think we need to get Lyon on the line as he now is the next cab off the rank for Brutus’s mates in the media to get their knives out. If he had a game plan in the first half it must have been based on soccer or as it is called in the UK ‘Football’. This is where Ross The Boss got his wires crossed. You don’t win Aussie Rules games by going backwards all the time. Particularly against Hawthorn whose main weapon in this century has been precision kicking.

 

To not register a major before half time was the sign of a very ordinary team despite all the excuses coming from the bench about a slippery surface et al.
It is 40 years since St.Kilda failed to score a goal in the first half footy game. Not a proud record to hold.

 

Thank heavens the Saints came out after the long interval and did outscore the Hawks 6 goals to 4 in the third term but the dye had already been cast. Praise to former Carltonite Jack Silvagni who has had some pretty tough times since last footy season. He marked well and surprise for him kicked 3 goals from six shots.

Talking of Carlton and former players. De Koning battled hard against the lumbering two headed giants from Hawthorn. Is the weight of money getting to him?

The two headed monster from Dingley has been interesting this year for the Hawks but it is hard to see them dominating finals at the G when the weather gets warmer. Both players do well at ball-ups and stoppages but do little else and Reeves cannot kick.

 

However to offset my comments The Hawkettes around the ground were delighted to see the return of star on-baller Will Day for the first time. He played a constructive game and will only get better as the season progresses. A real warning for the opposition. As will Blake Hardwick, another 4 goals when switched forward while Old Jack was reading his I Pad.

 

It is hard to say how good are Hawthorn. The opposition in the vital first half was timid and whilst the Hawks did not run riot they always looked in command.

They will play a part in the finals. Their kicking is excellent and if they get ‘G’ matches their kicking will be a real plus.

As for St Kilda. They proved one thing that money can not buy experience and their imports really haven’t shown the ability to win matches and sadlyFlanders will be out for the rest of the year.
They might make it hard for team lower in the top bracket but the good teams will have training runs.

 

 

ST KILDA       0.2   0.5   6.7     9.13 (67)
HAWTHORN   3.2   8.7  13.11  18.11 (119)

 

GOALS
St Kilda: Silvagni 3, De Koning 2, Wilson, Tauru, Marshall, Windhager
Hawthorn: Gunston 5, Hardwick 4, Lewis 3, Chol 2, Watson 2, Ginnivan, C.Macdonald,

 

BEST
St Kilda: Hall, Silvagni, Wilson, Sinclair
Hawthorn: Gunston, Watson, Sicily, Newcombe, Lewis, Mackenzie

 

INJURIES
St Kilda: Flanders (right Achilles)
Hawthorn: Nil

 

LATE CHANGES
St Kilda: Nil
Hawthorn: Conor Nash (neck soreness), replaced in the selected side by Flynn Perez

 

Crowd: 33,476 at Marvel Stadium

 

More Round 12 Reports HERE

 

 

More stories from Citrus Bob Utber can be read Here.

 

 

 

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