Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has been called out for a curious move during his side’s win over St Kilda on Saturday night.

The Hawks battled to a hard-fought victory over a spirited but ultimately outclassed Saints side.

Midway through the third term with his side leading by 26 points, Mitchell made the call to unleash his substitute.

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He injected Seamus Mitchell into the side, but fans were left scratching their heads when they saw who was taken off.

Tall forward Max Ramsden was the player to make way despite impressing with five marks, including three contested, and a goal.

The club said it was “tactical” so there was no injury involved.

“Ramsden just gone to the back of the bench with a bit of a smile on his face saying ‘youre kidding aren’t you?’” Commentator Ben Dixon said.

Channel 7 commentator Kane Cornes, who calls Mitchell a “genius”, was surprised by the move.

“Genius doing non-genius things,” he tweeted.

Fans were equally puzzled.

“Why would Hawthorn sub off Max Ramsden when he’s been their best key forward tonight? Didn’t look tired,” one fan asked.

“Strange, Ramsden has been good,” another said.

“Don’t understand the logic here,” another added.

“This is a strange sub,” another said.

The timing was curious given an injury would have left them one down on the bench.

But in the end it didn’t have a major bearing on the result with the Hawks doing enough to keep the Saints at bay in a 20-point victory.

Mabior Chol celebrated his 100-game milestone as one of the Hawks’ three multiple goal-kickers in the 14.10 (94) to 10.14 (74) triumph at Marvel Stadium.

It lifted Sam Mitchell’s men into fourth spot with an 11-5 record that keeps them just two premiership points behind the second-placed Brisbane Lions.

Jack Gunston (three goals), Nick Watson and Chol (two each) all hit the scoreboard as Hawthorn’s superior efficiency in attack ultimately told the tale.

Jai Newcombe (22 disposals, seven clearances), Connor Nash (19, eight) and ruckman Lloyd Meek (20, five) did plenty of the grunt work.

Gunston was the most dangerous forward early and the Hawks led 2.5 to 1.2 at quarter-time.

Tempers flared in the second period when former St Kilda defender Josh Battle — who was jeered throughout the contest by Saints fans — threw Mason Wood over the boundary line.

Three-game backman Alix Tauru lived up to his “Flying Viking” nickname with a huge mark in attack, but missed his simple set shot, and the Saints lost Jimmy Webster to a calf injury.

Hawthorn kicked the last three goals of the first half to lead 6.6 to 3.6 at the main break.

The contrast in the two sides’ efficiency was most stark early in the third quarter as St Kilda wasted chances at one end and the Hawks cashed in at the other.

The Saints registered the first four scores of the second half — all of them behinds, including three rushed — before quick goals to Ramsden and Harry Morrison gave the Hawks a 26-point buffer.

It was briefly wound back to 14 points but the Hawks led again by 26 at the final change and weren’t seriously challenged in the last quarter.

Max Hall continued his strong form for St Kilda, tallying 27 touches, five clearances and three goals.

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was typically creative for Ross Lyon’s side with a career-best 43 disposals and 1004 metres gained, while Jack Higgins kicked two goals.

But they couldn’t prevent the Saints (5-11) falling to a fourth consecutive defeat.

- with AAP