17/07/2007 6:40 PM
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has admitted he cannot guarantee this weekend's clash with Hawthorn will not be a repeat of the ugly spectacle that occurred last time the two sides met.
Only four goals were kicked in the entire first half in the sides Round Eight clash earlier this season and Lyon concedes he is more focused on getting a win than putting on a spectacle for the fans.
"It (last meeting) wasn't a high scoring game and I think I heard Alistair (Clarkson) say and I thought he summed it up pretty well it's ancient history, both teams have moved on," Lyon told the media on Tuesday.
"What the game throws up on the night, who knows, it could be low scoring (again)."
"I wasn't at the Geelong and Collingwood game, but what was it nine goals to ten and everyone thought it was a fantastic game and a fantastic competition between the teams, so I don't think you need 20 and 25 goals each to entertain the crowd."
"If we can have something similar nine goals to ten and everyone walks away happy, I'll be happy as long as we get the result."
Despite landing three wins from their past four matches, the Saints finals chances still hang by a thread but Lyon said his side wasn't looking that far ahead.
"The focus this week isn't about the win-loss, it's about what do we need to do to be a good team and we have a clear picture of that and regardless of the opposition or what round and all the clichés, season defining all those things, our focus is to go out and focus on winning the ball and making a tackle and those type of indicators," he said.
After another week of media conjecture over the state of midfielder Luke Ball's battle with osteitis pubis, Lyon tried to clear the air once and for all.
"Everyone has got to understand osteitis pubis is a condition, once you've had that previously you are always determined with osteitis," Lyon said.
"But it's a condition that you have and you manage but it doesn't prevent you, you are not injured and unable to play."
Defender Max Hudghton participated in the team's indoor skills session today but a final decision on whether he will line-up this weekend will be made later in the week.
Aaron Hamill remains only an outside chance to return to the Saints VFL side Casey Scorpions this weekend.