ST KILDA held on grimly to beat Sydney by two points in a grinding AFL contest at Telstra Dome last night.
A shot on the run by Swan Jarred Moore with less than two minutes left narrowly missed and the Saints then held on to win 6.15 (51) to 6.13 (49).
The highlight of the match was an outstanding moment of courage from Saints second-year player Clinton Jones in the third term, which led to a vital goal.
After Moore's behind, the Saints kicked in and were given a free kick on the half-back flank, with a 50-metre penalty ensuring they would close out the match.
A few minutes earlier, former Swan Adam Schneider had the mark in the middle of the ground, but took too long with his kick.
Sydney forward Barry Hall ran him down from behind and passed to Nick Davis, whose shot at goal did not make the distance.
Reflecting the dour nature of the match, the two sides took a combined total of just 12 contested marks and 213 uncontested grabs.
Saints key forwards Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke were the only multiple goalscorers with two apiece.
Nick Dal Santo was best for St Kilda and young Swan Kieren Jack was also very impressive.
The Saints beat the Swans at their own game early, "out-flooding" Sydney to lead by 20 points at quarter-time.
But Sydney then stopped St Kilda's momentum and then turned the match into the sort of tight, physical contest that is their specialty.
Jones, with Riewoldt-like snow-white hair, lifted the Saints with the sort of courageous act that has come to define Riewoldt's career.
Jones kept his eyes on a high ball into the Saints' attacking zone and was rewarded with the mark after he crunched into Swans midfielder Martin Mattner.
Jones then handballed to Schneider, playing his first game last night for the Saints, who goalled to put St Kilda two goals up 23 minutes into the third quarter.
The Saints had two late changes, leaving out full-forward Fraser Gehrig and Jason Blake for Leigh Fisher.
■ At Subiaco last night the West Coast Eagles held on to beat the Brisbane Lions by 16 points.
The Eagles jumped to a five goal lead at quarter-time, and led by 19 points at the long break.
But the Lions, largely through a six-goal haul from big forward Jonathan Brown, hit the lead during the third quarter.
The Eagles steadied, but when Brown slotted his sixth and last goal of the game with a tick over eight minutes left on the clock, there was less than two kicks in it.
A goal from Eagle Brent Staker with just under five minutes to play gave the Eagles the breathing space they needed. The Eagles won 14.8 (92) to the Lions 11.10 (76).
