AFL 2024 round four LIVE updates: Hardwick leads Hawks comeback to worry Pies; Pendlebury subbed out with ribs concern

CAPTAIN’S QUARTER
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon demanded a better effort at the contest after his side’s vapid first half.

He got it – and it was piloted by his skipper.

Captain Jack Steele led a full-blooded assault of previously rampant Richmond in the clinches, the Saints dominating at ground level, forcing turnovers and generating repeat dangerous entries.

Steele had 10 touches for the term, six of them contested and was the key figure in St Kilda’s tremendous third-quarter turnaround, which began at the coalface and turned into some slick corridor transitioning that had been absent in the opening hour.

THE SHAI AND DUSTY SHOW
Shai Bolton and Dustin Martin turned Norwood Oval into their own two-man playground in the first half.

Defying Richmond’s injury-ravaged forward line, the pair’s brilliance catapulted Richmond to a commanding 21-point quarter-time lead over St Kilda.

Alternating between on-ball and half-forward, Martin looked fresh and energetic in his return from injury, racking up a game-high 20 first-half disposals.

Meanwhile, Bolton looked the most dangerous forward-of-the-footy on either side, finishing with four goals, including two absolute rippers from the Sir Edwin Smith Pavillion pocket.

KING’S ROYAL FLUSH
Max King made an indifferent start in his return from a week’s suspension, fading two shots way left to The Parade end in the second term – the first registering a behind and the second sailing out on the full.

He made spectacular amends after half-time.

King dropped an easy chest mark in front of Ben Miller just before time-on in the third term, the ball dribbling harmlessly out of bounds.

He got his hands on the subsequent boundary throw-in and defied a near-impossible angle to nail a miracle goal from the scoreboard pocket, giving St Kilda their first lead of the afternoon.

Then in the shadows of three-quarter-time, his piercing forward entry found Jack Higgins who crushed a six-pointer from the goal-square with eight seconds left, extending the resurgent Saints’ advantage to eight points.

Dylan Moore kicks a goal and draws the margin by down to just ten points. This is getting very interesting!

Hawthorn are in with a huge chance here. And plenty of time to do some important damage if they can keep their composure.

Collingwood lead by 10-points with five minutes to go.

The last two scores have been Collingwood behinds, which had they been goals, might have put this game out of Hawthorn’s reach.

Hawk Massimo D’Ambrosio touched a Reef McInnes kick right on the line, then Bobby Hill missed his third attempt tonight.

There’s 16-points in it with five minutes to go, Collingwood up.

Blake Hardwick took a contested mark, out bodying Jeremy Howe, to slot through his fourth goal of the game. That’s the most goals he’s ever kicked in a season.

He is having a massive second half and spearheading the Hawks’ huge comeback.

Backing this up Jack Ginnivan earned a free, then a 50m, and kicked a very important goal, which set the crowd alight.

The Hawks were down by 38-points at half-time but now trail by just 14-points.

Collingwood lead by 20.

We did suggest moving James Sicily forward but Sam Mitchell decided Blake Hardwick was a better option, proving why he is the coach and we sit in the press box.

Hardwick kicked three goals and could have kicked four goals in that quarter.

He led hard at the kicker in the fine tradition of champion Hawk forwards such as Jason Dunstall and Peter Hudson.

He’s got a natural aptitude for that role and should be knocking on the door to play forward against the Suns.

The third quarter was an interesting match of footy with a bit of an arm wrestle unfolding, and Hawthorn winning it.

Blake Hardwick kicked three of Hawthorn’s four goals in the quarter (he also hit the post for a behind), while Nick Daicos got his name on the scoreboard.

Collingwood still lead in all areas on the stat sheet but Hawthorn have been efficient with ball in hand, and they have shown a lot of fight.

Collingwood lead by 25-points.

Well, this is turning out to be a pretty good quarter for the Hawks, all things considered.

Hawthorn’s Dylan Moore has kicked an important major from a set shot to claw the margin back to 25-points.

It’s the Hawks’ third goal this quarter, while holding the Magpies to just the one.

Blake Hardwick has kicked another for the Hawks, his second of the evening. He was free out of the back in Hawthorn’s forward 50 and took an easy grab, unopposed.

While Hawthorn trail by 30-points, they have now kicked two goals to one in this third quarter.

Collingwood have been slowed right down, while Hawthorn have managed to claw back the margin ever so slightly.

It’s fair to say this wouldn’t be the most enjoyable game to watch as a Hawthorn supporter. Even as they got one back, through Blake Hardwick, Brody Mihocek quickly answered for Collingwood.

However, to start the third quarter, the Hawks won four of the first five clearances and had some early territory dominance. They are massively undermanned but keeping in the fight, even if the challenge ahead is a big one.

Collingwood lead by 37-points.

Collingwood stalwart Scott Pendlebury has been subbed out of the game with a ribs concern after a big collision.

Fellow veteran Steele Sidebottom comes in as the sub.

This could get ugly quickly for Hawks fans as the Magpies look to fill their boots against an undermanned opponent.

Five unanswered goals have put the result beyond doubt at half-time with Collingwood up by 38-points.

The Hawks would need to improve to equal the nine goals Collingwood have kicked by half-time when the final siren sounds.

Collingwood’s dominance in the midfield means the Hawks forwards have seen little action but when it does go inside 50 they have very few options beside Jack Ginnivan and an inconsistent Mabior Chol.

With Mitch Lewis, Luke Breust and Nick Watson sidelined it’s not fertile ground for the Hawks.

Perhaps one option is to send James Sicily forward. It would be brave but they need to try something.