Round 6 – Hawthorn v St. Kilda: Saints Give The Hawks A Lesson At The University Of Tasmania (Stadium)

By Braham Dabscheck

Saturday 29 April, 1. 45 PM

University Of Tasmania Stadium

 

Another game with twists and turns, the achievement of another milestone by Saint Nick, possibly the worst missed shot on goal in the history of the code ,and a game which demonstrates that the long reign of the Hawks has come to an ignominious end.

It was a sunny day in Launceston and there was a healthy attendance at the early class at the University of Tasmania Stadium. The Saints brought back Jack Sinclair from his sabbatical in the reserves and new appointment Koby Stevens from Footscray University. The Saints’ brains trust promoted Sam Gilbert to second ruck duties to relieve Josh Bruce of such responsibilities, which seems to have had a negative impact on his efforts up forward. Sam is a great competitor and what he lacks in the palming department he more than makes up for as a mobile and willing midfielder. Blake Acres assumed the more defensive role previously performed by Sam Gilbert. The Saints also used a criss crossing style of play looking for different avenues of attack. These changes were the key to the Saints’ success.

The Saints dominated the play in the first quarter, but had trouble kicking goals. They managed three, two from marks and one from a dropped mark and a quick pick up from long kicks close to goal. The Saints gave up an obligatory goal late in the quarter, which flattered the Hawks and kept them in the game.

The second quarter was a scrappy affair with both teams unable to capitalise on each others turnovers and errors. The Saints backs performed admirably, repelling attacks by the Hawks, who won the inside 50s for the quarter 15 to 9. The Saints kicked two goals from long bombs, one by Dylan Roberton in a best on ground performance and another by ‘Marvelous’ Maverick Weller. The footy gods smiled on the Saints with a free kick to Josh Bruce on the siren for the Saints to go into the main break with a 22 point lead.

Apparently at half time Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson delivered a stern lecture to his charges. He seems to be unaware that seminars and tutorials are a more effective teaching method. It is a state secret regarding what method Saints’ coach Alan Richardson employed at half time. And may it ever be so! Well, in the third quarter the Saints blew the Hawks away, scoring eight goals to one. The Saints dominated the game and seemingly could do nothing wrong. Nick Riewoldt, after marking, played on and kicked his 700th career goal. He added two more for the game, being the leading goal scorer on the ground. He is now number 22 on the list of all time leading goal kickers and could leap frog a few more before the season is finished. Well done Nick.

In the third quarter there was an odd moment when Josh Bruce took a mark near goal with not a defender in sight and instead of kicking it from inside the goal square hand passed it to Jade Gresham for the goal. I thought this was strange, why did he do this? The answer was revealed in the last quarter. He again marked ‘one over the top’ with not a defender or Jade Gresham in sight and from on the goal line kicked it into the post. He had the look of a student with a lame excuse for a late essay.

The last quarter involved little more than playing out time. The Saints kicked another five, the highlight being Jake Carlisle’s, last year’s pick up from the Essendon Institute of Studies, from a long bomb. Two late goals to the Hawks, one from a dodgy 50 meter penalty and another from a free on the siren, reduced the extent of the winning margin. The Saints kicked five goals from bombs and the majority of others were scored easily from marks close to goal. This was a comprehensive win where the Saints dominated the Hawks from go to woe.

Next week in the Friday night game against the Giants from the University of Western Sydney will be a test. If the Saints can win this one 2017 could turn out to be an interesting year.

Go Saints!

 

Hawthorn:  2.1   3.4   4.5   8.7 (55).

St. Kilda:   3.5   6.8   14.13   19.16 (130).

 

Goals

Hawthorn; McEvoy 2, Mitchell, O’Brien, Howe, Breust, Sicily, Gunston.

St. Kilda: Riewoldt 4, Bruce 3, Membrey 3, Gresham 2, Stevens 2, Roberton 2, Weller 2, Carlisle.

 

Best

Hawthorn; Hodge, Mitchell, McEvoy, Hartung, Frawley.

St. Kilda: Roberton, Steven, Riewoldt, Steele, Ross.

 

Umpires: Foot, Schmidt, Stevic.

Crowd: 15,571.

 

Our Votes: Roberton 3 (St. Kilda), Steven 2 (St. Kilda), Riewoldt 1 (St. Kilda).

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