AFL 2024 round nine LIVE updates: Watson’s goal keeps Hawks ahead as Lyon plots Saints comeback

This game has gone up a notch with intensity but the pressure is leading to mistakes and miskicks.

Macdonald almost kicked a cracking goal from a turnover after taking a handball from Ginnivan but his shot cannoned into the post.

The Saints have had a few close losses this season and this could be another one.

Hawks 56, Saints 46 with eight mins to go.

Battle has kicked his second goal and the Saints are right back in this last term.

The margin is within two goals and the Saints have bigger forward targets than the Hawks.

Can they use them? That is the question.

Hawks 55, Saints 45 with 15 mins to go.

Rowan Marshall took a big mark on the goal line to stop Moore kicking his third goal but his kick went straight to Ginnivan, 25m out from goal.

Amazingly, Ginnivan missed the shot.

This game is set for a wild finish and both teams are yapping and trashing talking to each other.

Hawks 55, Saints 39 with 17 mins to go.

Can someone get this message to Ross Lyon?

“Hey, Rossy, get that green sign up in the air – and go, go, go. Otherwise, you are looking at another dour loss. Get the ball into the hands of Brad Hill and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and take the game on. Give big forwards Max King and Tim Membrey a shot at a couple of one-on-ones and they might be able to clunk a couple and kick some goals.”

St Kilda trail by 15 points at three-quarter time after controlling a lot of the play. They topped the inside 50 count – 18 to 11 – but could manage just one major.

Full credit to Hawthorn, they absorbed the pressure and managed three goals on the counterattack – one to fifth gamer Nick Watson, the other to Luke Breust who was subbed on during the third quarter.

Watson has earned a 50m penalty on the siren but missed his shot at goal.

Wilkie took him down after a mark and the 50m penalty had Watson around 35m out but his shot went wide to the left.

When the 50m penalty was called, Watson gave Wilkie a cheeky pat on the bum.

We have a cracking last term to come.

Breust has been on the ground for a matter of moments when the Hawks made a counterattack from deep in defence with the veteran leading deep into a hole and pulling in a mark before snapping the goal.

He made a baby rocking gesture, it is the first game after the birth of he and wife Anthea’s baby daughter Freya.

Hawks 53, Saints 39 with a minute to go in Q3.

The Hawks have used their sub with second-gamer Calsher Dear subbed out for veteran forward Luke Breust.

The Saints have been dominating possession for much of this quarter and the Hawks looked in some trouble but a turnover has seen the Hawks pump the ball with speed into their forward line where they found Watson who kicked the open goal.

He has two majors and the Hawks are back to 10-points ahead.

Hawks 47, Saints 37 with six mins to go in Q3.

The Saints have the first goal of the second half with Josh Battle being pushed forward and coming up with a mark and then a goal.

Ross Lyon has moved down to the bench to coach this term.

Hawks 40, Saints 34 with 13 mins to go in Q3.