ST KILDA 0.3.0 0.8.2 1.9.10 1.12.13 (94) ESSENDON 0.1.6 1.7.6 1.9.10 1.12.10 (91) SUPER GOALS St Kilda: Allen. Essendon: Hille. GOALS St Kilda: Riewoldt 3, Dal Santo 2, Milne 2, Montagna, Schneider, M Gardiner, Armitage, Birss. Essendon: Neagle 4, Welsh 2, Lucas 2, Ryder 2, Johns, Dick. BEST St Kilda: Hayes, Jones, Schneider, Riewoldt, Armitage, King. Essendon: Stanton, Welsh, Dempsey, Davey, Peverill, Neagle. UMPIRES: Chamberlain, Jeffery, Stevic, Meredith. CROWD: 26,079 at Telstra Dome.

ST KILDA co-captain Lenny Hayes has promised that if the Saints win next weekend's NAB Cup grand final against Adelaide, he will crack a smile on the dais — partly because the Saints did not expect to be there.

Saints coach Ross Lyon admitted as much after Friday night's three-point victory, which marked the return to football of star trio Nick Riewoldt, Luke Ball and Hayes.

"It certainly wasn't the objective when we started," Lyon said.

"I think we have had a bit of luck. For whatever reason Richmond has a blow-out (in the first round) — they are clearly a better team than that. Geelong — it could have gone either way last week and (Friday night) it could have gone either way."

Lyon said the players would play to win, but the focus would be shared on continuing the preparations for round one.

"Clearly our players are competitive beasts, so we'll come and put on a good show next week, because we're two weeks away from round one," he said.

"But I think we've shown you can strike a balance … a nice equilibrium between managing the players and practising a game style that we think will stand up."

Riewoldt, Hayes and Ball impressed on Friday night, although all had limited game time, with Ball sitting out the first half.

Lyon said the interchange schedules had been worked out two days before the match, in keeping with the club's philosophy of making player preparation the focus of their pre-season.

Lyon said Ball's pre-season was going to plan as he worked his way back from two seasons restricted by osteitis pubis.

"It's been a tailored program to the day — he's actually ahead of schedule," Lyon said.

"They've all had tailored programs, virtually to the day, the session, they've had running programs mapped out for months. He ran really strongly over the top of the ground, he had some power in his kick, so I think he walks away pleased with that first step in competitive footy."

Saints football manager Matthew Drain said the club was delighted with the trio's return.

"They are all fine," Drain said yesterday. "There are the normal bumps and bruises after a match but it worked out well."

Drain said the coaching staff fought the "temptation" to put the players back on the field when Essendon led in the final quarter, and were happy their younger players rose to the occasion.

Lyon said Max Hudghton and Justin Koschitzke were in strong contention to return for the grand final, but Hayes believed it was the young players who carried St Kilda through the pre-season who had most to gain from the occasion.

"It has been excellent to see the young boys really step up, it is going to be a great experience for them," Hayes said.

Somewhat tongue in cheek, Hayes has promised to smile should the Saints win — a far cry from when Hayes and former coach Grant Thomas were both criticised for not appearing to enjoy the 2004 cup presentation.

"I probably smile more than that 75% of the time! They got me on a bad shot there, " Hayes said.