ST KILDA coach Ross Lyon's 26-point win over his friend and former mentor came at an enormous cost last night, with Brendon Goddard falling victim to a season-ending knee injury.

Goddard ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the first quarter of the victory over Paul Roos and his Sydney side, for which Lyon worked as an assistant coach before moving to Moorabbin late last year.

The latest in an extensive list of St Kilda players to succumb to injury, Goddard was hurt during a marking contest involving a handful of players late in time-on in the first term. The 21-year-old clutched at his left knee as soon as he landed and was promptly helped off the ground and into the change rooms, where he was comforted by his mother. He will have scans to confirm the damage today.

A huge improver in 2006, Goddard had been the Saints' fourth-best ball-winner this season, a year in which they have lost Aaron Hamill, Matt Maguire, Lenny Hayes, Max Hudghton, Andrew Thompson, and recruit Michael Gardiner for extended periods. Defender Sam Fisher returned from a hamstring injury last night.

St Kilda broke away midway through the third quarter in what had been a predictably tight tussle between the two defensively minded teams, with all bar two Saints players crammed inside the Sydney forward 50 at one point in the second term. With scores level early in the third quarter, Aaron Fiora, Fraser Gehrig and Justin Koschitzke scored from set shots, before Shane Birss snapped a fourth consecutive goal to stretch the lead to 25 points at the final break.

Sydney narrowed the gap again with a Nick Davis goal early in the final term, but a quick reply by Leigh Montagna and another goal to Stephen Milne ensured the Saints' fourth win for the season.

■ It was supposed to be a night of celebration for Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews. But someone forgot to tell the Adelaide Crows. Adelaide crashed Matthews' 200th game party with Brisbane to grab a morale-boosting win at the Gabba, 14.16 (100) to 9.15 (69).

Matthews became the first man to play or coach 200 games at three clubs. But he won't remember his landmark match for Brisbane fondly after the Crows gave the rebuilding Lions a reality check. With AAP