Hawks Soar Past Saints in a Tactical Battle at Marvel Stadium
What a night of footy we witnessed at Marvel Stadium! The clash between St Kilda and Hawthorn in round 17 was always shaping up to be a tight contest, and it absolutely delivered—though perhaps not in the way Saints fans were hoping for. Despite bringing the heat and winning the inside-50 count, St Kilda fell short where it mattered most: efficiency and execution.
The Saints had the fight, but the Hawks had the finish. Both teams had the same number of scoring shots, yet Hawthorn’s clean ball movement and clinical conversion in front of goal made the difference. Final score? Hawthorn 14.10 (94) to St Kilda 10.14 (74)—a 20-point win that speaks volumes about composure and precision under pressure.
St Kilda’s biggest downfall? Kicking efficiency inside 50. While Hawthorn moved the ball at nearly 62% efficiency, the Saints lagged behind at just over 50%. That’s a brutal stat when you’ve got 11 more entries inside 50. And despite the Saints showing aggression and intensity, too many of those forward thrusts ended in fumbles, mis-kicks, or missed opportunities—particularly in the final quarter.
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One of the real standouts on the night was Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera. The guy was absolutely everywhere. With 43 disposals, he was a possession magnet, and even Hawks coach Sam Mitchell admitted he’d have nightmares about trying to stop him. “Even when he was on the bench, I was worried about him,” Mitchell joked after the match. That tells you just how impactful Nasiah was.
But Hawthorn had their own heroes. Jack Gunston slotted three majors, while Nick Watson and Mabior Chol both kicked two. And then there’s Lloyd Meek—named Hawthorn’s best on ground with a dominating ruck performance that earned him the Silk-Miller Medal. The big man’s efforts around the contest gave the Hawks a clear advantage in setting up their attack.
We also saw some real spark from young Saint Alixzander Tauru, affectionately dubbed the “Flying Viking” thanks to his flowing blond hair and soaring leaps. He lit up the stadium with a spectacular contested mark in the second quarter, drawing comparisons to club legends like Nick Riewoldt. Coach Ross Lyon couldn’t hide his admiration, calling him “tough, talented, and exciting.” And while Tauru’s performance showed great promise, Lyon was far less thrilled with his team’s overall ball use.
In the end, St Kilda just couldn’t capitalise. Late misses from Cooper Sharman and Jack Higgins cost them dearly. Lyon was open about the inefficiencies up forward, acknowledging that despite their spirit and effort, they let Hawthorn off the hook. “We’re not going to get caught in the rollercoaster of wins and losses,” he said, emphasizing the bigger picture.
So, as the Hawks march towards finals contention, the Saints are left to reflect and regroup. They had the intent, they had the ball—but they just didn’t have the boots.
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