NOT EVEN a six-goal third quarter could save St Kilda from its diabolical first half, as Hawthorn notched up its eighth-straight victory at Marvel Stadium.

The Saints couldn't buy a goal in the opening half and the Hawks feasted on the turnovers they gave up, which set up the 18.11 (119) to 9.13 (67) win on Thursday evening.

SAINTS v HAWKS Full match coverage and stats

It was a result compounded by a seemingly serious Achilles injury to ballwinner Sam Flanders, who was ruled out of the second half after an awkward landing.

Put simply, it was an ugly start. Both sides struggled to hit the ball sweetly, and dropped marks were common early in the piece. It meant a turnover-heavy first quarter in which the only real star was Jack Gunston.

The returning veteran kicked the opening two goals of the game, exploiting the space and time his opposition afforded.

Hawthorn saw an opportunity to stretch the Saints' backline throughout the match, and took it. Already with Gunston (five goals), Mitch Lewis (three), and Mabior Chol (two) as tall targets in attack, the work rate of ruck duo Ned Reeves and Lloyd Meek to press forward and further impose height inside 50 was impressive.

By the final term, when the Hawks felt comfortable that the four points were won, Gunston rode the bench and defender Blake Hardwick (four goals) switched to attack to reprise his impressive goalkicking role of last week.

The speed with which the Hawks were able to transition forward then left the Saints all at sea. But once some pressure began to be applied up the field, creating some turnovers or slower movement, St Kilda's defence became increasingly organised.

After their horror opening half, it didn't take long for the Saints to finally break through, by an unexpected hero no less. Former Carlton key defender Jack Silvagni (three goals, 10 marks) was swung forward to add some sort of presence inside 50, and took an early mark and – importantly – kicked truly.

Another new face, Tom De Koning landed the second major three minutes later, and finally some positive momentum started to build for St Kilda.

Once the floodgates opened, fast footy was on the menu. Pinging out of centre stoppage and toward each attacking 50, the Saints started to find some genuine marking targets in dangerous positions. Youngster Alix Tauru and ruck Rowan Marshall started to become genuine options ahead of the play.

Meanwhile, Hawthorn was forced to scrap close to goal. No longer were neat leading channels easily available, instead the grunt work at contest was the side's avenue to goal.

This is where Nick Watson (21 disposals, two goals) was able to shine.

There was a palpable sense of excitement through the crowd knowing that much-loved Hawk Will Day (18 disposals, five clearances) was making his return. After a start on the bench, he received a round of warm applause when first taking to the field, and with every possession after that.

A goal denied
Piling more pain on a goalless St Kilda heading into the main break, Nick Watson kicked a goal after the siren from a set shot. Or, that's what everyone thought had happened. As Watson celebrated to the crowd, the umpires decided to cancel out the major, ruling that he had run off his line in the run up. It was a confusing moment for all involved, as Watson's error by rule of law was minor, but what the umpire says, goes.

The veteran continues to strike
Jack Gunston missed the last two matches with a foot injury, but the veteran simply cannot be slowed. Bouncing back onto the field in a big way, he slotted the first two goals amidst an unsettled, slopping start to the game. He moved freely goal side of his direct opponent, and capitalised on the space he was afforded, taking his tally to four in the first half alone. By the end of the match, the 34-year-old had five majors, edging him ahead of Gold Coast's Ben King atop the season's leaderboard to kick off round 12.

Can't buy a goal
For the first time since round 14 1987, St Kilda failed to register a major in the opening half of footy, and the Saints' equal-lowest opening half score since 1957. It wasn't without some prime opportunities to goal, either, with both Mattaes Phillipou and Anthony Caminiti missing plum shots as the tension built. It bucked a club trend this year, as St Kilda has been a fast-starter for much of the year, but it was turned on its head against Hawthorn's full-ground press.

ST KILDA       0.2   0.5   6.7     9.13 (67)
HAWTHORN   3.2   8.7  13.11  18.11 (119)

GOALS
St Kilda: Silvagni 3, De Koning 2, Wilson, Tauru, Marshall, Windhager
Hawthorn: Gunston 5, Hardwick 4, Lewis 3, Chol 2, Watson 2, Ginnivan, C.Macdonald,

BEST
St Kilda: Hall, Silvagni, Wilson, Sinclair
Hawthorn: Gunston, Watson, Sicily, Newcombe, Lewis, Mackenzie

INJURIES
St Kilda: Flanders (right Achilles)
Hawthorn: Nil

LATE CHANGES
St Kilda: Nil
Hawthorn: Conor Nash (neck soreness), replaced in the selected side by Flynn Perez

Crowd: 33,476 at Marvel Stadium