Live: Swans and Hawks look to cement top four spots against wildcard hopefuls

St Kilda hosts Sydney at Docklands Stadium as Hawthorn and North Melbourne face off in Launceston. Later on Saturday, Port Adelaide hosts the GWS Giants at the Adelaide Oval from 6:35pm before Carlton hosts the Brisbane Lions at Docklands from 7:40pm.There is also AFLW action as the star-studded Australia and Ireland sides face off at North Sydney Oval from 4:15pm (all times AEST).Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 12:57pmSat 1 Aug 2026 at 12:57pmAFL round 21 — Saturday live scoreboardSat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:26pmSat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:26pmHall misses, then kicks one for St KildaMax Hall had a chance for St Kilda but missed a relatively easy shot.But then Sydney's kickout went straight to the home side, and then the ball was fed back to Hall, who tried to hand it off but ended up taking the kick.He got it, and the Saints lead by nine.Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:22pmSat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:22pmSt Kilda peppering the Swans arcThe Saints are in control of this one, territory-wise.They have 12 inside 50s to Sydney's 5 ... that will have to change for the visitors.Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:21pmSat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:21pmSaints hit the front!St Kilda are getting on top at the clearances, and they are putting the Swans defence under big pressure.The ball is coming in hot, and that time it was Liam Ryan outnumbered by defenders, but he gets the free for a hold.Ryan slots the kick, and St Kilda are ahead by two points!Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:19pmSat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:19pmWhat a goal from Nasiah Wanganeen-MileraThe Saints are fired up after that non-call, and they go into attack again down the right wing.Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera goes for a mark, can't hold it but is given a free for a chop of the arms.It's really deep in the pocket ... but it doesn't matter!Nas nails the kick, and the Saints fans go crazy.We're back to four points at Docklands, with 12 minutes on the clock in the opening term.Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:17pmSat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:17pmSt Kilda hard done by as Sydney kick a goalThat was a rough minute of footy for St Kilda!The Saints went into attack, and Rowan Marshall took a contested pack mark deep inside 50. The whistle was long in coming, and Marshall thought it wasn't being paid, so he chipped across goal and it was chopped off by the Swans.They go down the corridor, and Jai Serong ends up kicking a goal from distance. The Saints fans are FURIOUS, but Sydney leads by 10.Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:14pmSat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:14pmSt Kilda chance missed by WilsonSt Kilda are looking dangerous in attack, and they find Darcy Wilson in the right forward pocket,It's a difficult kick, and it just slides by to the right.Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:10pmSat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:10pmCampbell's big kick touched on the line for SydneyThere's plenty going on here early, with Tom De Koning taking a great mark on the wing, but the umpires call a push.TDK doesn't hear or doesn't worry, and Sydney gets 50!Braeden Campbell takes a thumping kick from nearly 60, and it's touched on the line.Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:07pmSat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:07pmCharlie Curnow kicks the opener for SydneyThe Saints hit the post after an early foray, but the Swans then went coast-to-coast.Two kicks from D50 to forward 50, with Tom Papley the conduit and the ball ended up with Charlie Curnow who hoists it into the stands from the square.Swans by 5!Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:05pmSat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:05pmWe are underway at DocklandsIt's a lovely day in Melbourne for a game of footy (Getty Images)Who's going to get the jump at Docklands?Will Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera have one of THOSE days, or will Chad Warner and Co show why the Swans are second on the ladder?Let's find out.Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:04pmSat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:04pmRecent results between St Kilda and SydneyR13, 2026: Sydney by 2 (SCG)R18, 2025: Sydney by 5 (Docklands)R17, 2024: St Kilda by 2 (Docklands)R13, 2023: St Kilda by 14 (SCG)R23, 2022: Sydney by 14 (Docklands)R15, 2022: Sydney by 51 (SCG)Right now, this match-up seems to be going in pairs, with Sydney winning the most recent two, after the Saints took the previous two, and the Swans the two before that.Before THAT, however, it's a bit more one-sided, with the Saints winning just two of the previous 13 contests before the six games listed here.Of more importance is the fact that the last five games have all been decided by 14 points or less, with the last three having less than a kick in them. Another of those ones would be nice, thanks.Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:00pmSat 1 Aug 2026 at 1:00pmBig opportunity for the SaintsThe Sydney Swans may be favourites for today's game, but coach Ross Lyon will be telling the Saints that this is their time.The Swans are second on the ladder, but they have looked vulnerable in recent weeks, losing three of their last five.The Saints on the other hand, have won three of their four games since the bye, and getting Rowan Marshall back for today is an important in.This is a big opportunity for St Kilda. If they can get the points here, and Brisbane can beat Carlton at Docklands tonight, the Saints would have a one-game gap plus percentage on the chasing pack for the last wild card spot.Over to you, St Kilda.Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 12:56pmSat 1 Aug 2026 at 12:56pmTeams are in for Saints vs Swans(AFL.com.au)There are no late changes for either side, and you can check out both line-ups above.St Kilda are yet again forced to deal with an injury, as Max King's season-ending hamstring rules him out, while Dan Butler is managed.Impressive mid-season draftee Campbell Lake comes back in the side, with ruck/forward Rowan Marshall returning after he was a late out with back spasms last week.The Swans are unchanged from the side that beat GWS in the Battle of the Bridge last weekend.Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 12:45pmSat 1 Aug 2026 at 12:45pmWelcome to Saturday footy!Hello, good afternoon and welcome to ABC's live online coverage of round 21 of the AFL.We have a big Saturday of football ahead of us, starting with a crucial clash at Docklands between St Kilda and Sydney, where a loss for the Swans would officially make Fremantle minor premiers.Then we have Hawthorn hosting North Melbourne in Launceston, with the Hawks pushing for a top-two spot.The twilight game this afternoon is at North Sydney Oval, where an historic AFLW game will take place between Australia and Ireland, played with the Sherrin rather than the round ball.Then tonight Port Adelaide will take on GWS at Adelaide Oval, before we go back to Docklands for Carlton and the Brisbane Lions.I'm Andrew McGarry, and I'll be taking you through today's early action. Later Marnie Vinall will be at North Sydney for the AFLW clash, and Chris De Silva will take you through the night session.Let's get into it!