AFL 2024: Hawks stun Saints in Launceston with 58-53 win

The Saints found it tough going in Tassie, going down to Hawthorn in a thriller – and coach Ross Lyon wasn’t happy with a lot of things after the game.

Jonathon Tuxworth

5 min read

May 11, 2024 - 9:31PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

St Kilda's Ross Lyon says an AFL restriction makes coaches "like neutered dogs"

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St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has described restrictions on runners relaying messages to players as being “like neutered dogs” after his side’s season hit a precipice with Saturday’s five-point loss to Hawthorn in Launceston.

While Lyon acknowledged the Hawks were cleaner when it counted, and the Saints were too passive in the first half, he vented his frustration at being unable to relay more messages to players in the dying moments of the 8.10 (58) to 7.11 (53) loss.

The AFL has increased the number of times a runner can relay messages this year from twice a quarter and after goals, to four times and after goals.

But that hasn’t appeased Lyon, who is in his second season back at the Saints.

“It’s not an excuse and we’ve had a lot of tight games, but we get four messages a quarter and with three minutes to go you can’t send the runner,” he said.

Lyon’s Saints were toppled in a thriller. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

“In my previous iterations you could use the runner almost at will. You see things you want to fix and things you want to do, and people say kick more goals and you get those opportunities but it’s still limited.

“From my end I find it incredibly frustrating and I think there’d be a lot of coaches (who might agree).

“It’s not an excuse but if you think about the pressure (on coaches) that goes on, you can pick up the phone, shift some stuff and maybe score better.

“We’re like neutered dogs, we can sit there and see stuff and you can’t fix it. It’s very difficult, but it’s not an excuse.”

Asked what he thought the message number should be, Lyon said: “I don’t know what the number is, but I’m tipping it’s more than four.

“I’m talking about it behind closed doors but today is a bit of a tipping point, it’s just hard.”

At one point Lyon briefly left the coaches box and headed to the bench to relay messages to his players.

St Kilda were guilty of not taking the game on in the first half, and Lyon wants his team to be more willing to die by the sword.

They did so in the third term, but squandered chances and managed to kick just 1.5 for the quarter.

“I spoke at halftime I didn’t like how we were playing. There was a mundaneness to it, a sameness,” he said.

“I said we’re better than that, let’s get some run and overlap and go, be bold. We had 16 entries (in the third quarter) and thought the kids started using their legs. Even though we stuffed a couple up, that’s where we want to be more.”

The Saints struggled to score yet again. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Lyon said Max King, who kicked two goals but had minimal impact, is a victim of St Kilda’s hesitant mindset.

“I said we’d rather play the way we did against Essendon with plenty of sizzle. I don’t like how we’re playing at the minute,” he said.

“We don’t sit them down with placards saying don’t take the game on. You’ve got to drive the car and go quick, but to be honest I’d rather go over the hill again.

“I’d like to have a bit more than we’re displaying at the minute, it doesn’t sit very comfortably.

“Criticism will come and that’s fair enough. People will go after Max King, but I think he’s systematic of those problems.

“It’s a mindset, and a quick fix. We might overcorrect and open ourselves up a bit, but I’d rather that than what’s happening at the minute to be fair.”

HAWKS WIN LEAVES SAINTS’ SEASON ON BRINK

St Kilda’s season is teetering on the brink after a lack of attacking efficiency told dearly in a 8.10 (58) to 7.11 (53) defeat to a gallant Hawthorn at Launceston on Saturday.

The Saints’ tall forwards couldn’t have the impact required to get their side over the line as Hawthorn backed up last week’s upset of the Western Bulldogs with another plucky win.

Playing with a dearth of talls up forward, the Hawks turned the match into an arm wrestle and held out a fast-finishing Saints.

St Kilda booted the last two goals and were pressing hard for the matchwinner late, but Max King failed to hold onto a pack mark long enough to set up what would have been a set shot for victory.

Without skipper James Sicily, Hawthorn’s defence was stoic and their small forwards, led by Dylan Moore and Nick Watson with two goals apiece, hit the scoreboard enough to secure the Hawks’ third win of the year.

Nick Watson kicked two for the Saints. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

SAINTS RUE THIRD QUARTER CLANGERS

St Kilda will be reflecting on two moments in the third quarter which proved crucial in the end result.

After dominating the first 15 minutes of the third term, the Saints undid that work when an overly ambitious kick from Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera resulted in a Hawks goal from a turnover to Nick Watson.

Later when Hugo Garcia hit the post with a gettable chance the Hawks transitioned the ball brilliantly to Luke Breust. He made no mistake with a trademark snap from the pocket to give them a 14-point buffer late in the third quarter.

RUCK CONTEST MEMORABLE

The ruck battle between Saint Rowan Marshall and Hawk Lloyd Meek was engrossing all day. Both men had a major influence on the game with Marshall racking up 28 touches, 12 clearances, 11 tackles and 34 hit-outs and Meek had 47 hit-outs and 12 disposals.

Their influence ultimately cancelled each other out but they were the two highest rated players on the ground in the best one-on-one contest of the day.

Lloyd Meek and Rowan Marshall had an epic battle. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

NO SICILY, NO WORRIES

The Hawks lost every game they played without James Sicily last year, and coming up against a Saints side boasting talls Max King, Tim Membrey and Jack Hayes upfront looked a daunting task.

But the likes of Jack Scrimshaw, Josh Weddle and the returning Jai Serong held up well down back and frustrated the Saints.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell praised his defence’s performance without star skipper James Sicily.

“Everyone sees his (Sicily) intercept marking and kicking, but the way he helps us without the ball is just as important,” Mitchell said.

“To us his value is just as much off the ball and setting up the players around him. For the boys to produce a performance like that without him gives us enormous confidence.”

SAINTS’ EARLY LACK OF AGGRESSION COSTLY

Hawthorn only led by ten points at half-time, but restricted a hesitant St Kilda to just four goals at the major break.

The Saints weren’t willing to take the game on with quick ball movement enough in the first half, and it prompted coach Ross Lyon to shift Josh Battle upfront and sub off Hayes.

It worked a treat with Battle kicking two goals and having a strong impact around the ground, but the Saints fell just short.