This has been an AFL season like few others: each round seemingly serving up a clinker of a contest - matches notable not just for the closeness of their scores but how they've pulsated with drama and magic. The season has been not so much a staccato set of 17 distinct rounds, as one long highlight reel.

And so it was again at Etihad Stadium last night, as Hawthorn and St Kilda almost outshone all that had gone before them this year - swapping the lead eight times before settling on the second draw of the season.

The margins at each of the breaks told the story: Hawks by a point at quarter time, Saints by a point at half-time, nothing separating them at three-quarter time and then, of course, they were all tied up at the final whistle, St Kilda 14.3 (87) to Hawthorn's 13.9 (87).

In truth, the Saints were lucky to escape with a share of the spoils. They were down by seven points well into time-on, and then Cyril Rioli appeared to slot through a set shot from 35 metres, meaning they faced an unassailable deficit of 13 points.

But the goal was cancelled after the emergency umpire signalled for an interchange bench infringement by Hawk Grant Birchall - a decision that is sure to attract some discussion over the weekend.

That meant a free kick was given to the Saints who rushed it up the other end to skipper Nick Riewoldt, who had the chance to cut the margin to one point with his set shot from 35 metres. Riewoldt's kick faded to the right and missed and the Hawks retained their lead.

With less than a minute on the clock, and the Saints six points in arrears, Justin Koschitzke looked to have taken a mark close to goal that was adjudged touched and he was wrapped up by several Hawthorn defenders.

The ball was bounced about 15 metres from goal and Saints' ruckman Ben McEvoy had the good sense to grab the ball - with no Hawk ruckman in sight - squeeze it on to his boot and send it skidding through for the match-tying goal with barely 10 seconds to go. The Hawks' brain trust will spend much of the weekend trying to work out how McEvoy was able to deny them victory while having no opponent alongside him.  

The match capped off six weeks of memorable contests, which have drawn just about every superlative to describe them. There was Hawthorn and Geelong in round 15, Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs in round 14, Hawthorn and Essendon in round 13 (a bit of a theme developing here), Melbourne and Collingwood playing the first draw of the season on the Queen's Birthday Monday, Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs in round 11 and Hawthorn pipping Sydney by two points in round 10.

The resurgent Hawks have featured in many of these classics and little wonder. For they are, if not back in town, then hovering menacingly around the inner suburbs.

None of the top four teams will want to draw the Hawks if they can maintain this sort of form. As for Saints, well, they suddenly look mortal. They lost badly to Collingwood last week and the return from long-term injury of skipper Nick Riewoldt, instead of being the Godsend many anticipated, seems to have thrown them out of kilter.

Despite all the press and pre-match publicity Luke Hodge garnered, he still went out and produced yet another brilliant game. He was instrumental in the Hawks' second-half dominance, which resulted in them leading by 14 points early in the final term.

Lance Franklin booted five goals but was frustrated for much of the night, giving away four 50m penalties, including two in 30 seconds that led to a goal to direct opponent Zac Dawson.

Franklin started the game on the wing and while the Saints might have been surprised by the move, he had little influence until he was shifted back forward in the second quarter.

The Hawks were conscious of nullifying St Kilda's run out of defence and it showed with Michael Osborne and Jordan Lewis playing defensive roles on Sam Gilbert and Sam Fisher.

For the Saints, Justin Koschitzke looked lively early with three first-quarter goals but his influence waned after that. Adam Schneider stepped up as a potential game breaker to kick three goals in the third term. Stephen Milne was quiet for much of the night but he got dangerous when it counted, booting two quick goals midway through the final term to swing momentum the Saints' way.

-- with AFL.com.au