Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has hailed his team's progress after a second AFL upset in as many weeks heaped more pressure on a "mundane" St Kilda.

The Hawks were ahead of the Saints from start to finish in Launceston on Saturday afternoon, surviving some anxious moments late for a five-point win.

The 8.10 (58) to 7.11 (53) result, on the back of a shock win over the Western Bulldogs, was even more impressive in the absence of injured skipper James Sicily.

Hawthorn have won three of their past four games, while the Saints have lost four of their past five, their sole success coming against winless North Melbourne.

Mitchell said he was pleased with his side's ability to restrict scoring when momentum wasn't with them.

"There's some confidence that the work we've done is starting to show," he said.

"There are little glimpses of it ... (but) it's far from perfect.

"The best sides in the competition ... they're able to change the game much more quickly than we can currently, but we've definitely made some gains."

St Kilda forward Max King almost snaffled a mark within range inside the final minute, which would have resulted in a shot to win the game.

King's second goal earlier in the quarter had his side within five points and a big chance of securing a come-from-behind win.

They had the run of play in parts but couldn't convert on the scoreboard, managing just one goal in the third quarter from 18 inside-50s.

"We're disappointed. I spoke at halftime. I didn't really like how we were playing," St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said.

"There was a mundaneness to it, a sameness. I said we're better than that. Let's get some run, some overlap and go. Be bold.

"We created some opportunities, but it was just the inability to cash in.

"I'd like a bit more than what we're displaying at the minute. It doesn't sit very comfortably."

Hawthorn were ahead 54-39 heading into the last term and got home without scoring a final-quarter goal.

Mitchell praised his young defensive unit without Sicily, who may be kept on ice next round after dislocating his shoulder against the Bulldogs.

Stand-in Hawks skipper Dylan Moore was one of their best and picked up two opportunistic goals in the first half.

Hawthorn's Jai Newcombe and Karl Amon were heavily involved and both finished with a game-high 31 possessions, while Newcombe picked up eight clearances.

The Hawks, in front of a 15,112-strong "home" crowd, made the most of their chances early in the first quarter to open up a 24-8 lead.

But St Kilda clawed back momentum with back-to-back goals to reduce the margin to 25-21 at the first break.

Moore scrapped his second of the first half to put his side ahead by 10 points early in a second quarter that produced just three goals.