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Gresham compared to all-time great as Saints thrash Hawks at the MCG

3 years ago

St Kilda have improved to 3-1 with a emphatic 69-point victory over Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday.

After starting the season with a loss, the Saints have since pieced three wins together with this one helping them distance themselves from the chasing pack.

While both teams entered with relatively good form, St Kilda looked a class above Hawthorn from midway in the first term until the final siren, cruising to a healthy buffer that they’d never look back from.

St Kilda’s efficiency inside 50 is what was ultimately the difference, with the Saints having 32 shots on goal from 46 entries inside the arc.

After coach Brett Ratten said that his team was “too Max King focused”, the Saints shared the goals around as Tim Membrey (four goals), Jade Gresham (four goals), Bradley Hill (four goals), Dan Butler (two goals) and Paddy Ryder (two goals) all kicked multiple majors – while King chimed in with another four of his own.

Captain Jack Steele also led from the front, kicking a goal of his own and picking up 33 disposals in a leading performance.

Port Adelaide captain, Connor Rozee is confident teammate Zak Butters will stay at the club as rumours swirl around him leaving at the end of his contract.
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Alongside Steele as the Saints’ best was Gresham who had 20 touches to go with his bag of four, causing AFL Nation’s Michael Barlow to compare his role to Richmond superstar Dustin Martin’s.

“(Gresham is a) class act, not to the level obviously – he’s got a fair few accolades to reach and premierships to win if he wants to be Dustin Martin,” Barlow said.

“But he’s wearing the same number, and he’s playing the same (Martin-like) role as has become known around AFL circles as the midfielder that just floats forward on the offensive side of the stoppage.

“He plays the same role, not at the same level, but today maybe (he is).”

For the Hawks, Dylan Moore (two goals, 14 disposals) continued his good form, while Tom Mitchell was typically prolific with 32 touches.

St Kilda looked to escape the game with a clean bill of health, while Hawthorn were forced to sub off Will Day due to concussion.

The Saints will be gunning for four-straight when they host the Suns at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, while the Hawks face the Cats in their traditional Easter Monday clash.

FULL SCORE

Hawthorn: 3.3, 5.8, 7.11, 10.13. (73)

St Kilda: 6.1, 12.3, 15.8, 22.10 (142)

GOALS

Hawthorn: Lewis 3, Breust 3, Moore 2, O'Meara, Reeves

St Kilda: King 4, Membrey 4, Gresham 4, Hill 4, Butler 2, Ryder 2, Long, Steele

BEST

Hawthorn: James Sicily, Tom Mitchell, Jai Newcombe, Dylan Moore

St Kilda: Jade Gresham, Jack Steele, Bradley Hill, Max King, Jack Sinclair, Brad Crouch

INJURIES

Hawthorn: Will Day (concussion)

St Kilda: n/a

Sports-News

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