Rain, wind and no shine as the Hawthorn Spartans returned to the green for its first game in the Premier division against St Kevin’s at TH King Oval.
Five debutants joined the Spartans on the field, including Ashwyn Mohandas, Tom Menzies, Lachlan Derham, Oliver Keaney, Stuart Travis and saw the the comeback of Simon Tsapepas.
The Spartans were comprehensively beaten by the very clinical team, who got ahead by 69 points by the first half.
It was not until the Spartans changed its style of football in the second half that the team was able to limit the dominance of St Kevin’s.
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The Hawthorn Spartans managed 88 tackles over 40 in the second half. Alas, their efforts were futile and the score ended with St Kevins on 101 points and the Spartans on 17.
Despite this, the team commended goal kickers Ashwyn Mohandas and Adam Karim, along with Gaggs for backing into a pack to take a mark, Critta for brilliant tackles all day and saving a goal in the second hald, Tom Menzies for his great ruckwork until he was subsequently injured and Sam Speer for intercept marking.
This Saturday the Spartans will be playing the top team from 2019, arch rival Old Xaverians at 2:00pm at Stradbroke Park, 1369 Burke Road, Kew East, with an open canteen.