Saints' season over? Gritty Hawks hold on in Tassie in classic armwrestle

Hawthorn has won consecutive games for the first time in 2024, leaving St Kilda floundering with just three wins through nine rounds.

Sam Mitchell’s Hawks seized the lead early in the opening term and would never relent, responding every time when challenged by a gritty Saints outfit.

St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall put up a massive fight in the ruck to collect 23 contested possessions and 12 clearances, while Jack Steele never gave up.

Despite dominating inside 50s, contested footy and clearances, Ross Lyon’s men couldn’t contain the Hawks on transition.

Max King kicked the final goal of the game when converting a set shot, wasn’t far off what would have been goal of the year with a flying kick minutes later and in the dying seconds came desperately close to holding on to a pack mark.

The 8.10 (58) to 7.11 (53) win was the definition of an arm wrestle, with only five goals kicked in the second half. A consistent effort across the board will no doubt please the Hawks, while fans will be excited at the prospect of Nick Watson after the top draftee played his best game for the season and booted two goals.

And while Mitchell’s men are up and firing, St Kilda’s fall from grace is the headline out of the clash at UTAS Stadium.

After claiming a finals spot in Lyon’s first year at the helm, St Kilda are now long odds to repeat that feat and will finish the round in 14th.

The Saints will likely start outsiders in their next two games against Fremantle and Melbourne and play five other top eight teams across the remainder of the season.

With at least 12 wins required to play finals, Lyon and his troops have plenty of soul-searching to do if they are to salvage the season that is eventuating.

The Hawks were missing the likes of James Sicily, Mitch Lewis, Mabior Chol and others and the undermanned performance will give Hawthorn confidence their earlier form woes are over.

A clash with Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval next Sunday looms as a true test.