Hawthorn midfielder Sam Mitchell has racked up a career high 44 disposals as Hawthorn scraped home for a three-point win over St Kilda in Launceston.

The Hawks’ stalwart, who left the ground in the second term with a bloodied face, returned heavily bandaged and finished Saturday’s game with 20 contested possessions and 10 centre clearances as the Hawks won 13.9 (87) to 13.6 (84).

The Hawks didn’t have it all their own way as the young Saints pushed them to their limit, with scores level at the final break and the Saints stretching out to an 11-point lead early in the final term.

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The Saints had their chances to take the game away from Hawthorn, most notably when Paddy McCartin crashed the pack to take a high-flying mark 40m from goal, but his set shot failed to bend back the required amount as he registered a behind.

Turnovers proved costly for the Saints, especially in the first quarter, which ended with the Hawks taking an 18-point lead.

The Saints held their own kicking into the breeze and returned with a newfound confidence after the break.

Captain Nick Riewoldt was the driving force up front, winning the contest when marked by Luke Hodge, who sported a bandaged right forearm on his first game back from a fracture 19 days earlier.

St Kilda took the lead with a surge of confidence, but small errors remained a weakness and the premiers took a five-point lead into the main break.

Jonathon Ceglar, Luke Breust, Paul Puopolo, Tim O’Brien and James Sicily each finished with two goals for the Hawks.

Forward Josh Bruce showed the Saints they’ve made the right decision by renewing his contract, booting two goals, while Riewoldt, McCartin, and Darren Minchington also finished with two each.

Elsewhere, Geelong survived a scare from Essendon before scrapping to a 30-point win at the MCG.

The inaugural `country game’ pitted the depleted Bombers against a Cats side widely tipped to challenge for a top-four berth but it took Chris Scott’s team until well into the final term to put the 9.18 (72) to 6.6. (42) win beyond doubt.

It was a scrappy contest with few highlights to speak of but Dons fans would’ve much preferred that to the Patrick Dangerfield-inspired champagne football Geelong supporters would have been expecting to see.

Former Cat Mathew Stokes gave the Bombers a one-point lead with seven minutes remaining in the third quarter but the Cats finally broke the shackles, kicking 3.5 to one behind in the final term to seal the premiership points.

– with AAP