Key points:

  • Jack Lonie was impressive against the Hawks on Thursday night with four goals.
  • The small forward acted as the perfect foil to Tim Membrey, and worked excellently alongside Dan Butler.
  • Lonie covered 13km in Thursday's outing, with his high intensity running ranked 'elite' for a player of his position.

Stand-in skipper Tim Membrey may have stolen headlines after Thursday night’s match against Hawthorn, but he wasn’t the only Saint ticking over the scoreboard.

His small forward foil, Jack Lonie, was a thorn in the Hawks’ side all evening, slotting four goals of his own to steer the Saints to a 21-point triumph at RSEA Park. 

An incredible dribbler from the pocket in the second term highlighted Lonie’s craft around goal, but it’s often his work without the ball that packs the biggest punch.

The goal-sneak covered over 13km at RSEA Park, with his high intensity running ranked ‘elite’ for a player of his position.

READ: Saints rise, Skunk shines back in the heartland

Off the back of his work rate up the ground, the 23-year-old helped instigate several assaults forward.

It was the same story up forward, with all of Lonie’s contested possessions (six) – including his three ground-ball gets – charted in the forward 50m; the highest of any player on the ground.

Jack Lonie and Max King celebrate after a goal.

The No. 13 added to his match-topping bag with 14 disposals, six score involvements and two tackles.

Lonie’s ability to weave in-and-out of traffic, weasel out of tackles from much larger opposition and be a harrowing presence at the fall of the ball made him a dangerous asset up forward.

READ: A bit of Membrey magic at Moorabbin

And with new Saint Dan Butler complementing him in-between the arcs and inside-50, the new combination is starting to show its threatening tendencies.

Jack Lonie and Dan Butler team up to put one through for the Saints. Photo: Corey Scicluna.

Butler’s elite two-way running and press up the ground saw him finish with 15 disposals, 21 pressure acts, 10 inside-50s, six tackles and a goal. 

St Kilda will head down the highway to face Hawthorn at Morwell Recreational Reserve to raise additional funds for those affected by the recent bushfires.