St Kilda v Hawthorn: How move to defence reignited out of form Saint Bradley Hill
St Kilda coach Brett Ratten has moved the spotlight off under pressure Bradley Hill courtesy of a savvy positional switch that sparked his star.
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In an early season battle for relevance St Kilda saved themselves and brutally took Hawthorn out of that conversation.
Alistair Clarkson told everyone earlier in the season the Hawks weren’t going to be doing a lot in 2021 and apart from the odd miracle comeback (they’ve done it twice this year) their season is all about getting games into kids.
No more needs to be said.
On the other hand, St Kilda has to be given the glass half-full approach as they may just be getting their mojo back after a confidence boosting 69-point victory, although it must be noted it was against the 15th-placed team in the competition.
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After an impressive 2020, most tipsters circled in the Saints as almost certainties every time they walked out onto Marvel Stadium given their style which was all about pace and quick ball movement.
But losses to Melbourne, Essendon and Richmond at the indoor stadium put a big dint in that theory.
The Hawthorn smashing was more like what had been expected of Brett Ratten’s team with the coach pulling an old trick out of his play book to reignite his most maligned player.
Brad Hill has been the poster boy for the Saints disappointing performances in recent times, and rightly so given some of his efforts which the Monday night TV shows have had a field day with.
Instead of going to his regular wing position, the former Hawthorn premiership player was sent to the halfback flank.
And Hill the defender was suddenly a completely different beast.
He was everywhere in the opening five minutes, setting up the opening goal to Rowan Marshall on his way to 11 first-quarter possessions.
Ironically, the St Kilda player who was riding shotgun with him was the one he’d had a heated argument with at training during the week.
Zak Jones and Hill were caught by cameras going nuts at each other, with Ratten saying it was a good competitive debate between the pair.
Given what they then did to Hawthorn – the end result was a combined 64 touches (Jones 37, Hill 27) – there should be more blues at Moorabbin this week.
Back to the relevance discussion and the Saints have a real chance to remain in the conversation.
They face an improving Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium next week which will be tough but then settle back at Marvel for four straight games, two against worthy premiership contenders Geelong and the Western Bulldogs.
We’ll know more about if the indoor mojo is back for real after, if it is then the Saints may yet find a way to remain relevant in the September discussion.
SAINTS OF 2020 RETURN AS HAWKS’ REALITY LAID BARE
– James Mottershead
St Kilda provided its fans a walk down memory lane as it trounced Hawthorn by 69 points in a performance jam-packed with 2020 hallmarks.
There was Dan Butler goals out the back, Brad Hill at his damaging best, and the Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall tandem proving too much for the opposition to handle.
The mammoth win, which was much needed to make up for heavy percentage lost through the first six rounds, was set up in a first quarter frenzy.
At quarter time the Saints had recorded 54 more disposals, 12 more inside-50s and six more clearances than the Hawks.
The Saints’ day out was powered by a midfield that clicked for four quarters for the first time in 2021.
The addition of Paddy Ryder let Zak Jones, Brad Crouch, Jack Steele and Seb Ross – who all collected more than 25 touches – dine out on his tap work.
Saints coach Brett Ratten said the trickle-down effect of having Paddy Ryder back in the Saints’ side enabled their midfield to find form again.
Ryder played his first game for 2021 and gave his midfield an armchair ride on the way to a 69-point win.
“He’s a very good player, Paddy,” Ratten said. “I think what he did towards the back end of last year showed everybody what he’s capable of.
“Even though he might be getting a little older, I think he might be getting a little wiser too.
“I’m really pleased for Paddy because of his journey so far this year. He struggled with some things personally and needed to get back.
“He knows how important he is for our footy club and our team.”
For Hawthorn, it was their biggest loss since 2017 as the reality of regenerating its list was laid bare.
Alastair Clarkson has found a quality young forward in Jacob Koschitzke, who kicked two goals.
And Jack Scrimshaw played a steady hand, finishing with 33 disposals going at 84 per cent efficiency off halfback.
The absence of clearance beast Jaeger O’Meara was heavily felt as the Saints feasted on them at stoppages around the ground.
Over the hill
Brad Hill has been the poster boy for the Saints’ struggles in 2021 when they’ve struggled to find the same groove that shot them up the ladder last season.
But this was a step, or perhaps a leap, in the right direction for the 27-year-old.
Hill was at his dashing best for the Saints, gliding through the centre square as he played the role of architect in most forays forward.
It wasn’t just his work offensively that would’ve had Saints fans grinning, as two defensive moments pointed to him being back to his best.
Playing against his old side, Hill set up the first goal of the evening after winning a free kick for holding the ball before linking up through the middle and delivering a perfect pass to Rowan Marshall who kicked the goal.
In the second quarter a desperate smother from Hill at the 27-minute mark stopped the Hawks going inside 50 as they looked to kick a goal.
Brad Hill has been the most maligned Saint this season, but Ratten said much of it had been unfair and the 27-year-old’s defensive acts in the win had shown his commitment to the cause.
“I thought he was very good, I thought some of his defensive acts were outstanding,” Ratten said.
“That smother early in the game, really that was a sign of how invested he is.
“He’s copped some criticism and I think sometimes unfairly, and he’s been working extremely hard.
“For him to bounce back tonight was great.”
Hunter Clark played on all three lines at different times, kicking two goals to go with clearances and rebound 50s, and Ratten said it’s something fans might see more of.
“We know what Hunter can do, today was probably a bit different with where he played,” he said.
“But he showed his class and poise, and he seems to have more time than others.
“But he’s still growing aspects to his game, we all know what he can do and potentially the sky’s the limit for him.
“I think he can nearly play anywhere and that might be what we need from him at times to allow others to go and showcase what they can do.”
Hunter spark
He landed at St Kilda because of the pick Hawthorn traded to the Saints to land Jaeger O’Meara, so it was fitting Hunter Clark produced the golden highlight of his blossoming career to date against the Hawks.
Unlucky to miss out on the All-Australian squad following a breakout year last season, the 22-year-old kicked a frontrunner for goal of the round midway through the Saints’ Saturday evening waltz to victory.
Pressing up on a Hawthorn rebound 50, Clark smothered a ball just inside his side’s attacking 50-metre arc before collecting the loose footy and taking off.
Confronted by two Hawthorn defenders, Clark sold the sweetest of candy and split the players in a biblical fashion before strolling into goal and kicking truly from 15-metres out.
Hunter Clark is a one man show 🙌
— AFL (@AFL) May 1, 2021
Defence and attack all in the one play! #AFLSaintsHawkspic.twitter.com/Oj9dmz9lwP
Best ever from Jones
Zak Jones has struggled to get going this season, but the 26-year-old clicked into gear in the Saints’ emphatic win.
In fact so good was Jones’ outing it felt like he’d brought his own footy to Marvel Stadium on his way to collecting a career-high disposals.
Jones had equalled his previous best of 32 touches at three-quarter-time on his way to 37 disposals.
The former Sydney Swan also equalled his career best goal tally of two by halftime in a performance that will go down as the best in his career.
Milestone men
Crouch and Higgins both had nights to remember in their 100th and 50th games respectively.
Crouch was irrepressible around the ball for St Kilda and finished with 32 disposals and seven clearances in his best game for the club since switching from Adelaide.
Higgins also played his best game in the red, white and black since arriving from Richmond and kicked four goals to go with three goal assists.
SCOREBOARD
SAINTS 5.4 10.9 14.11 19.14 128
HAWKS 0.0 4.2 6.3 9.5 59
MOTTERSHEAD’S BEST
Saints: Jones, Crouch, Clark, Hill, Sinclair, Higgins.
Hawks: Mitchell, Scrimshaw, Worpel, Shiels, Koschitzke.
GOALS
Saints: Higgins 4, Butler 3, Marshall 2, Jones 2, King 2, Membrey 2, Clark 2, Sinclair, Coffield.
Hawks: Koschitzke 2, Breust 2, Shiels, Hanrahan, Lewis, McEvoy, Moore.
INJURIES Saints: nil. Hawks: nil.
UMPIRES Deboy, Hosking, Dore.
VENUE Marvel Stadium.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JAMES MOTTERSHEAD’S VOTES
3 Zak Jones (St. K)
2 Brad Crouch (St. K)
1 Hunter Clark (St. K)
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