St Kilda   2.5    3.6     4.12      7.14 (56)
Hawthorn   3.3    8.13   10.18     14.18 (102)

Goals: St Kilda: Schneider 3, Saunders, Riewoldt, Murdoch, Minchington
Hawthorn: Roughead 5, Gunston 2, Grimley, Sewell, Spangher, Smith, Lewis, Hill, Breust

Best: St Kilda: Montagna, Steven, Riewoldt, Ray, Schneider
Hawthorn: Savage, Duryea, Roughead, Burgoyne, Smith

Hawthorn did enough to account for St Kilda on Friday night, though the game certainly wasn’t one for the highlights reel.

St Kilda made the Hawks work for their victory from the opening quarter and for a while, it appeared Hawthorn was set to again be beaten in contested footy and clearances before turning their fortunes around in the final three quarters.

Slow start

Like last week, Hawthorn started slowly against the Saints on Friday night and anyone looking at the stats at quarter time would have experienced déjà vu.

The Saints led the Hawks in clearances and contested possessions at the first break, 5-9 and 18-39, stunningly similar numbers to those at quarter time last week against the Tigers.

The stats at the first change between Hawthorn and Richmond were 2-16 for clearances and 19-38 for contested possessions, but luckily for Hawks fans, this time the players were able to arrest back the momentum in the middle and eventually outwork the Saints in close to set up the 46-point victory in the final three quarters.

St Kilda’s ability to win the contested ball in the opening term also allowed it to advance the ball forward to give their forwards the opportunity to score.

Nick Riewoldt was on fire early but their inaccuracy in front of goal arguably cost them a quarter time lead.

The Saints had 15 inside 50s to Hawthorn’s eight, but a return of 2.5 cost it a probably deserved quarter time lead as the Hawks were more efficient, booting 3.3 and going at a 75 per cent chance of scoring from forward 50 entries.

Ball use

Hawthorn are renowned for their elite kicking skills and ability to work the ball into space, and that was probably the difference in the end between the two sides.

The Hawks ran at 80 per cent for overall disposal efficiency in the first three quarters and high 70s for kicking efficiency throughout the game, when they register numbers like that, they’ll win 9 out of 10 games.

The Hawks ended the match with 34 more disposals (415-381) and 39 more uncontested possessions (303-264), a disposal efficiency of 79.8 per cent and kicking efficiency of 74.5 per cent compared to St Kilda’s 65.4 per cent.

Hawthorn also had 40 more effective kicks (178-138) – they simply used the ball better than the Saints and were able to hit their dangerous forwards inside 50.

When Hawthorn works the ball into space, the delivery to the forwards is almost un-defendable and that’s what St Kilda had to deal with because their tackling was down, only laying 46 tackles to Hawthorn’s 55.

Poor goal kicking but strong message

Hawthorn’s final winning margin of 46 points would have been a lot more had they converted their myriad number of chances on goal, particularly in the second and third quarters.

Clarkson’s team asserted their authority on the match in the second term by winning the contested ball 33-19 and the clearances 9-3, which allowed them to generate more forward 50 entries.

The Hawks had 19 inside 50s to six in the second quarter, but poor conversion cost it a healthier half time lead.

Incredibly, Hawthorn had 15 scoring shots from the 19 entries but kicked 5.10 – it’s poorest conversion of the season.

While the conversion was poor, the fact the Hawks were able to generate 15 scoring shots from 19 forward 50 entries without spearhead Lance Franklin is a reminder to the rest of the competition how dangerous its forward line is.

In the opening term, Hawthorn scored six times from eight entries (75 per cent chance of scoring) and incredibly, bettered that in the second.

Each time Hawthorn entered its forward 50 in the second quarter, Hawthorn scored 78.9 per cent of the time.

No wonder the St Kilda defenders were feeling the pressure.

Shining lights

While the game certainly didn’t rise to any great heights, the form of some Hawk midfielders would have pleased the coaching staff heading into Friday night’s blockbuster against Collingwood.

Shane Savage continued his impressive form of late with a 30 possession game – the team’s highest disposal getter.

Savage adds another dimension to the Hawthorn forward and midfield mix, with his aggression at the ball and man combined with his long kicking and finishing skills proving a real weapon.

He had four clearances, five inside 50s and used the ball well – 73 per cent for disposal efficiency.

In his second game back after serving a two-week suspension, Shaun Burgoyne gathered 29 disposals and was one of the side’s best in the win.

Burgoyne’s ability to play in a variety of roles heading into the final three rounds will be pivotal in Hawthorn’s ability to secure the top sport and all-important home final.

Isaac Smith also had another high disposal, high efficiency game, which would only boost his confidence ahead of the finals series.

Smith gathered 23 touches at 83 per cent efficiency – continuing his good form since the Round 16 match against the Power.

In his last five matches, Smith has gathered 26, 27, 23, 29 and 23 disposals and been consistently named in the best because of his ability to provide run and carry and slice through the opposition’s midfield defence.

He is becoming a real key and consistent offensive weapon for the Hawks.

What the coaches said

Hawthorn’s Alastair Clarkson: "They showed us how to go about it in the first quarter, but fortunately for our guys we got it together after that and ended up winning the clearances quite convincingly, and also the inside 50s.

“We’re going to need to play a little bit better than what we did tonight to match it with the Pies, but we look forward to that challenge.”

St Kilda’s Scott Watters: "There were some elements out of the three quarters we were really happy with, we won the contested ball tonight which was a target we set ourselves for.

"But our ability to sustain over four quarters is still a challenge for us right at this point.

"But three quarters against a potential premiership side … there's a lot to take out of that for us."