ST KILDA has ended Hawthorn's five-year, 19-match winning streak in Launceston with a 75-point thrashing on Saturday afternoon.
The dominant Saints piled on eight goals to one in the third quarter on their way to a 19.16 (130) to 8.7 (55) win before a crowd of 15,571 at York Park.
Champion Saint Nick Riewoldt celebrated his 700th goal in the clash as the Hawks suffered their first loss at University of Tasmania Stadium since round five, 2012.
But such dominance looked like a distant memory for the hapless Hawks, whose lack of pressure and dreadful skills would surely be raising alarm bells for coach Alastair Clarkson.
There was plenty to like for St Kilda, who led by 22 points at half-time but deserved to be further ahead with twice as many scoring shots.
The Saints corrected their wayward goalkicking after the break, with Riewoldt reaching the 700-goal milestone with a clever snap around his body.
It was the start of an ugly quarter for the Hawks, who conceded seven straight majors as St Kilda ball magnets Jack Steven, Seb Ross and Dylan Roberton repeatedly hit targets over the back of the Hawks defence.
The statistics at three-quarter time made for damning reading – the Hawks had 67 fewer disposals, 18 fewer tackles and 14 fewer inside-50s.
Riewoldt finished with four goals, while former Western Bulldogs midfielder Koby Stevens had two majors and 28 touches in his Saints debut.
Hawthorn ruckman Ben McEvoy had two goals and 26 hit-outs, while off-season recruit Tom Mitchell fought hard to finish with 35 disposals.
But the Hawks barely resembled the side that belted West Coast by 50 points at the MCG last week, and questions are bound to be raised about a number of key players.
Star recruit Jaeger O'Meara returned after a fortnight on the sidelines with a knee complaint but looked well off the pace, finishing with just 14 disposals.
Jack Gunston, Luke Breust, Josh Gibson and Isaac Smith were among the Hawks' premiership players who struggled to make an impact.
Breust and Gunston both hit the scoreboard late but it will be cold comfort for the 1-5 Hawks, whose hopes of making the finals are slipping away fast.
HAWTHORN 2.1 3.4 4.5 8.7 (55)
ST KILDA 3.5 6.8 14.13 19.16 (130)
GOALS
Hawthorn: McEvoy 2, Mitchell, O'Brien, Howe, Breust, Sicily, Gunston
St Kilda: Riewoldt 4, Bruce 3, Membrey 3, Gresham 2, Stevens 2, Roberton 2, Weller 2, Carlisle
BEST
Hawthorn: Mitchell, McEvoy, Hodge
St Kilda: Steven, Stevens, Steele, Roberton, Ross, Riewoldt, Weller
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
St Kilda: NIl
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Foot, Stevic, Schmitt
Official crowd: 15,571 at University of Tasmania Stadium
