Live: Swans and Hawks look to cement top four spots against wildcard hopefuls

This is starting to look a little worrying for the Swans.

They are trying to get the ball forward but are making errors.

Malcolm Rosas Jr’s wayward handball set up a counter attack from St Kilda. The kick may have been wobbly, but Jack Higgins took a diving mark, and then kicked the goal.

St Kilda leads by 15 points in the second term.

Hawthorn had kicked the opening goal in Launceston through Will Day, but Harry Sheezel answered for the Kangaroos.

And just now Nick Larkey has steered a set shot through from the right forward pocket to give North the lead over Hawthorn halfway through the opening term.

As we’ve said, the Swans defence is under real pressure here, but Sydney are happy they have Tom McCartin down back.

The big man has already taken three intercept marks, and he nearly took another one on the wing, but was ruled to have juggled it over the line.

• Inside 50s: 16-14 St Kilda

• Clearances: 11-8 St Kilda

• Centre clearances: 5-4 St Kilda

• Contested possessions: 35-28 St Kilda

• Uncontested possessions: 76-39 St Kilda

• Marks inside 50: 5-3 St Kilda

• Tackles: 7-7

• Tackles inside 50: 3-2 Sydney

The second game of the day is underway at York Park in Launceston, and the Hawks and Kangaroos are in a tight one early.

Hawthorn lead 0.2 to 0.1, five minutes in.

The siren sounds at Docklands, and an interesting quarter of footy ends with the Saints holding a nine-point lead after a late goal from Logan McDonald was answered with a brilliant snap from the left forward pocket from Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.

The home side has been on top, and have had the better chances, so the Swans might still be happy to be this close right now.

The intensity has gone right up late in the term, and we should be in for a ripping second term.

The big issue is that James Rowbottom has been off the ground with what looks like a nasty hand injury.

He’s just been ruled out of the game – and that’s a big blow for Sydney.

Here they go again!

The Saints go inside 50 and it’s a fast movement that hits Hugo Garcia.

The young Saint drills the set shot, and St Kilda leads by nine.

There are no late changes for Hawthorn or North Melbourne, and you can see both line-ups in full above.

Both changes named in the initial side for the Hawks are forced changes, with forward Mitch Lewis going through concussion protocols and young defender Noah Mraz sustaining a lacerated kidney against Essendon last week.

Into the side come Finn Maginness and South Australian ruck-forward Aiden Schubert who makes his debut after being taken with pick 23 in last year’s AFL draft.

For North, Matt Whitlock and Cooper Harvey are omitted, with Wil Dawson and Tom Blamires returning to the side.

The Saints have been all over this game so far, but the Swans have managed a simple goal with the ball going inside 50.

Logan McDonald has dribbled it home from close range, and the Swans are back within a kick.

Max Hall had a chance for St Kilda but missed a relatively easy shot.

But then Sydney’s kickout went straight to the home side, and then the ball was fed back to Hall, who tried to hand it off but ended up taking the kick.

He got it, and the Saints lead by nine.

The Saints are in control of this one, territory-wise.

They have 12 inside 50s to Sydney’s 5 … that will have to change for the visitors.

St Kilda are getting on top at the clearances, and they are putting the Swans defence under big pressure.

The ball is coming in hot, and that time it was Liam Ryan outnumbered by defenders, but he gets the free for a hold.

Ryan slots the kick, and St Kilda are ahead by two points!

The Saints are fired up after that non-call, and they go into attack again down the right wing.

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera goes for a mark, can’t hold it but is given a free for a chop of the arms.

It’s really deep in the pocket … but it doesn’t matter!

Nas nails the kick, and the Saints fans go crazy.

We’re back to four points at Docklands, with 12 minutes on the clock in the opening term.

That was a rough minute of footy for St Kilda!

The Saints went into attack, and Rowan Marshall took a contested pack mark deep inside 50. The whistle was long in coming, and Marshall thought it wasn’t being paid, so he chipped across goal and it was chopped off by the Swans.

They go down the corridor, and Jai Serong ends up kicking a goal from distance. The Saints fans are FURIOUS, but Sydney leads by 10.

St Kilda are looking dangerous in attack, and they find Darcy Wilson in the right forward pocket,

It’s a difficult kick, and it just slides by to the right.

There’s plenty going on here early, with Tom De Koning taking a great mark on the wing, but the umpires call a push.

TDK doesn’t hear or doesn’t worry, and Sydney gets 50!

Braeden Campbell takes a thumping kick from nearly 60, and it’s touched on the line.

The Saints hit the post after an early foray, but the Swans then went coast-to-coast.

Two kicks from D50 to forward 50, with Tom Papley the conduit and the ball ended up with Charlie Curnow who hoists it into the stands from the square.

Swans by 5!

Who’s going to get the jump at Docklands?

Will Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera have one of THOSE days, or will Chad Warner and Co show why the Swans are second on the ladder?

Let’s find out.

• R13, 2026: Sydney by 2 (SCG)

• R18, 2025: Sydney by 5 (Docklands)

• R17, 2024: St Kilda by 2 (Docklands)

• R13, 2023: St Kilda by 14 (SCG)

• R23, 2022: Sydney by 14 (Docklands)

• R15, 2022: Sydney by 51 (SCG)

Right now, this match-up seems to be going in pairs, with Sydney winning the most recent two, after the Saints took the previous two, and the Swans the two before that.

Before THAT, however, it’s a bit more one-sided, with the Saints winning just two of the previous 13 contests before the six games listed here.

Of more importance is the fact that the last five games have all been decided by 14 points or less, with the last three having less than a kick in them. Another of those ones would be nice, thanks.