Key points:

• Brett Ratten admits his round one magnet board is starting to look crowded after a promising performance last night.
• The Saints defeated Hawthorn by 21 points at RSEA Park in the first match of the Marsh Community Series.
• Jarryn Geary, Dylan Roberton, Zak Jones and Jimmy Webster are waiting in the wings for a return.

With a number of St Kilda players in promising pre-season form, and a host to return to the side next week, coach Brett Ratten admits his round one magnet board is starting to look crowded.

But, it's exactly the way the new Saints coach wants it, with his players showing signs his message is filtering through in their 21-point win over Hawthorn at RSEA Park on Thursday night.

The Saints had 10 goalkickers, two of which – Tim Membrey and Jack Lonie – nailed four each, with the team combining for a score of 111 points. 

Put in perspective, that tally is the second highest the Saints have scored in the past year, having cleared 100 points just twice in their entire 2019 season. 

"The pleasing part was they were giving it off to each other in a better spot," Ratten said afterwards. 

"If Tim doesn't get any and someone else gets three or four, that's great but to kick 111 points today was pleasing as well. 

"The big two will be not relying on just one. Everyone chipped in, Rowan Marshall got a couple, the load was spread across the board. 

"Even to have Jonathon Marsh come down there in the last quarter and have his speed and strength, Max King was close to getting three goals before half-time but not quite … Dean Kent was good as well. 

"We've got some players in pretty good form so it's going to be a very hard task to pick a round one team." 

Skipper Jarryn Geary, Dan Hannebery, Zak Jones, Jimmy Webster and Dylan Roberton will line up in the Saints' bushfire fundraising clash with Hawthorn next Friday in Morwell, while Matty Parker will play a half.