Saturday first AFL Round 7 match is between Hawthorn Hawks and St Kilda Saints with the game to be played at MCG. The opening bounce is set to commence at 1.45pm (AEST) with home team Hawthorn Hawks currently holding favouritism. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between Hawthorn Hawks and St Kilda Saints.

Round: Round 7, Saturday May 3, 1.45pm (AEST)
Stadium: MCG
Weather: 14° A few showers.

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Odds Comparison:

Hawthorn Hawks	1.04	1.05	1.03	1.05	1.04	1.04
St Kilda Saints	13.00	10.00	13.00	10.00	13.00	12.00

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Preview:

The Hawks play the Saints on Saturday, 1.45PM at the MCG.  I think it’s fair to say no-one is expecting St Kilda to win this one, with Hawthorn in great form, including an 11 goal thumping of Richmond last round.  The Hawthorn midfield are in great shape, with Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis, and Shaun Burgoyne all showing their experience with great games last week.  Cyril Rioli was also outstanding, and the Saints will have a very hard time stopping him this weekend.

St Kilda have had an OK start to the 2014 season, currently sitting 11th on the ladder with three wins and three losses.  While this is certainly nothing to write home about, many people expected even less of them going into the 2014 season.  While the Saints will regain key defenders Sam Fisher and Adam Schneider, even they are unlikely to stop what is an outstanding Hawks attack.

Teams:

Hawthorn Hawks:
B: Brian Lake, Josh Gibson, Taylor Duryea
HB: Luke Hodge, Ben Stratton, Grant Birchall
C: Isaac Smith, Sam Mitchell, Bradley Hill
HF: Luke Breust, Ryan Schoenmakers, Jack Gunston
F: David Hale, Jarryd Roughead, Shaun Burgoyne
Fol: Ben McEvoy, Jordan Lewis, Cyril Rioli
I/C: Mitch Hallahan, Paul Puopolo, Matthew Suckling, Billy Hartung
Emg: Alex Woodward, Jonathon Ceglar, Angus Litherland
In: Ryan Schoenmakers, Billy Hartung
Out: Will Langford (back), Jonathan Simpkin (omitted)

St Kilda Saints:
B: Tom Simpkin, James Gwilt, Jarryn Geary
HB: Sean Dempster, Luke Delaney, Jimmy Webster
C: Blake Acres, Jack Steven, Farren Ray
HF: Leigh Montagna, Nick Riewoldt, Maverick Weller
F: Jack Billings, Rhys Stanley, Clinton Jones
Fol: Billy Longer, Jack Newnes, Tom Curren
I/C: Josh Saunders, Lenny Hayes, Adam Schneider, Shane Savage
Emg: Trent Dennis-Lane, Josh Bruce, Sebastian Ross,
In: Tom Simpkin, Maverick Weller, Billy Longer, Adam Schneider, Blake Acres,
Out: Josh Bruce (omitted), Eli Templeton (broken arm), Tom Hickey (foot), Sebastian Ross (omitted), Luke Dunstan (concussion)

News:

Quietly and efficiently, Hawthorn are rebuilding while at the top of the game.

The reigning premiers will hand out their fifth AFL debut of the season against St Kilda on Saturday, more than any other club bar Brisbane.

It’s an ominous sign for the rest of the league that the club can call on so many AFL-hardened youngsters.

But coach Alastair Clarkson says their rejuvenation – including new ruckman Ben McEvoy – has been less by necessity and more by circumstance.

“It hasn’t been something that we sat down and said we need to reinvigorate our side with these young players,” he said.

“It’s mainly been these lads are ready to play.”

And at 5-1, Hawthorn have shown no signs it’s costing them wins.

The latest new boy, Billy Hartung, is another speedster best known for setting a draft record beep test result of 16.6.

He joins Tim O’Brien, Derrick Wanganeen, Angus Litherland and Mitch Hallahan as the class of 2014.

But perhaps more important for Hawthorn’s title defence is the return of Ryan Schoenmakers.

Schoenmakers hasn’t played AFL since round four last season following a knee injury against Fremantle, and has been named at centre half-forward.

The South Australian has played 64 games in six seasons but mainly as a key defender.

Clarkson said it was time for him for Schoenmakers – who played most of his junior footy as a forward – to contribute at both ends.

“Where he actually settles we’re yet to actually determine,” he said.

“But we’d like him to be able to swing from one end of the ground to another.”

In midfielder Jordan Lewis’ 200th match for Hawthorn, the fixture allows Clarkson to tread the path untaken – with St Kilda debuting Blake Acres against them.

Both Acres and gun rookie Luke Dunstan were taken with picks given to them by Hawthorn as part of the Ben McEvoy deal.

Dunstan has impressed so far this year with his hardness at the ball but concussion has made him one of five changes to the St Kilda lineup.

Eli Templeton (arm) and Tom Hickey (foot) will miss through injury while Josh Bruce and Sebastian Ross have been dropped.

Former Gold Coast man Mav Weller makes his St Kilda debut, joining Adam Schneider, Tom Simpkin and Billy Longer in the side that will celebrate Jarryn Geary’s 100th game.