VENUE & TIME: Etihad Stadium, Friday 23 July, 7:10pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 145: St Kilda 71, Hawthorn 74
LAST TIME: St Kilda 10.14 (74) d Hawthorn 7.7 (49) at Aurora Stadium, Round 19, 2009
LAST TIME AT VENUE: St Kilda 18.11 (119) d Hawthorn 13.11 (89) at Etihad Stadium, Round 16, 2008
WALKING WOUNDED: The Saints will be boosted by the return of star midfielder Nick Dal Santo (back soreness), whose late withdrawal before the Saints' 48-point loss to Collingwood last week, clearly hindered their chances. No definitive timeframe has been set on a return for David Armitage (knee), Steven King (hamstring), Robert Eddy (knee soreness) or Ben McEvoy (knee). Rafael Clarke (hamstring) may be tested this week and could return to the lineup. For the Hawks, their relatively clean bill of health is a far cry from the injuries that plagued the club earlier in the season. Ruckman Max Bailey (knee reconstruction) looks to be out for the remainder of the season with the club unlikely to risk him, while Rhan Hooper (hamstring) could return in a week's time. The big news is, Buddy Franklin will come straight back into the side after missing last week's 75-point win over Brisbane with a rolled ankle. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as Brad Sewell earned a reprieve and starred with 39 touches.
FORM:
St Kilda past five:
Round 16, Loss, 6.16 (52) – 15.10 (100) v Collingwood, MCG
Round 15: Win, 11.13 (79) - 10.5 (65) v Brisbane Lions, the Gabba
Round 14: Win, 15.10 (100) - 9.11 (65) v Melbourne, Etihad Stadium
Round 13: Win, 10.10 (70) - 6.10 (46) v Geelong, MCG
Round 12: Win, 12.13 (85) - 10.7 (67) v Fremantle, Subiaco
Hawthorn past five:
Round 16, Win, 17.16 (118) – 7.1 (43) v Brisbane, Aurora
Round 15: Loss, 11.17 (83) - 12.13 (85) v Geelong, MCG
Round 14: Win, 12.7 (79) -11.10 (76) v Western Bulldogs, MCG
Round 13: Win, 14.18 (102) - 13.8 (86) v Essendon, MCG
Round 12: Win, 19.10 (124) - 11.11 (77) v Adelaide, Aurora Stadium
The Saints dropped their first game after seven straight wins in a 48-point loss to the Pies last week. But it was the manner in which the Saints surrendered that will worry coach Ross Lyon. The Saints need to regain their potency in attack after mustering an inaccurate 6.16. Nick Riewoldt will line up for his third game having returned from a severe hamstring tear and will be better for the run but his accomplice Justin Koschitzke remains horribly out of sorts. Hawthorn on the other hand has hardly put a foot wrong in the past couple of months, winning eight of their past nine matches. Their convincing win last week against the Lions, albeit against poor opposition, had a real ruthlessness about it. The midfield brigade of Luke Hodge (39 disposals), Sam Mitchell (35), Shaun Burgoyne (30) and Brad Sewell (39) seemed to fall into place last week and signaled an ominous sign for the rest of the competition.
WHO'S HOT: Leigh Montagna has become one of the premier midfielders in the competition over the past two seasons and his form over the past month has been exceptional. Over the past four games the skillful onballer has averaged 33 disposals, six marks and five tackles to lead the line for the Saints. With Hawthorn's midfield back to full strength Jordan Lewis has been relishing some more time in the forward lime. Lewis was superb in the Hawks' 75-point win over the Lions last week, playing the perfect negating role on Brisbane's Travis Johnstone, whilst picking up 26 touches, 11 marks and 4 goals to add to his two the week before against the Cats. With the Hawks' engine room up and running expect him to add another dimension to an already potent forward mix, when he's given the chance.
WE THINK: This one is surely the match of the round. The third-placed Saints will be fired up after last week's mauling at the hands of Collingwood while the Hawks (seventh) are playing good footy and will see this as the perfect opportunity to keep their faint top-four hopes alive. The Saints looked off the pace last week against a ferocious Collingwood side and won't be allowed much more time by the hungry Hawks. The manner in which the Hawthorn went about its business last week was a far cry from the side that made a habit of just falling over the line to get the four points some weeks ago. But the Lions are hardly worthy opposition while the Pies were playing for top spot last week and it showed. Expect the Saints to respond to last week's humbling loss, with Nick Riewoldt to get better and better. At the same time, the confident Hawks will be boosted by the return of Buddy Franklin making this one very tough to call, Hawthorn by 13 points.