Hawthorn routs St. Kilda to go top in AFL

Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Hawthorn scored 21 of the last 23 goals to beat St. Kilda 27.13 (175) to 4.6 (30) and to stay atop the Australian Football League ladder after the weekend's seventh round.

Hawthorn's 145-point win was its largest-ever over St. Kilda, eclipsing a 129-point victory in 1983 and taking it to the top of the table on percentage.

Port Adelaide matched Hawthorn's 6-1 record with a 20.12 (132) to 15.7 (97) win over Greater Western Sydney. Jay Schulz kicked six goals while Jared Polec continued his break-out season, finishing with 30 touches and three goals.

Collingwood posted its third straight win over arch rival Carlton, holding out the Blues' late rally to win 14.20 (104) to 10.10 (70), while Essendon ended a three-match losing streak with a 10.13 (73) to 9.11 (65) win over the Western Bulldogs.