ST KILDA inched closer to playing finals with a win over Carlton yesterday, but not before the Blues rallied in a thrilling final quarter under caretaker coach Brett Ratten.
The Saints did just enough to secure their ninth win, while the Blues found another bright spot in a dismal year with Ryan Jackson picking up 23 touches in his third game.
Brad Fisher booted the opening goal inside the first minute and Brendan Fevola, under an injury cloud last week, kicked the second to give the Blues an early break.
Fevola looked lively early with three goals, but poor delivery in the second term reduced his influence, while the Saints lifted their intensity and slammed on five goals to one.
A 22-point margin at half-time blew out to 35 at the last break, but the Blues kicked the first two goals of the final term, finishing with six for the quarter to St Kilda's two.
After the Blues won a valuable clearance out of the middle through Eddie Betts and Jason Saddington booted the Blues' 15th goal, the margin was cut to 11 points.
Bryce Gibbs then had a shot at goal with less than a minute on the clock, giving his team a slim chance of scoring again and stealing a win in Ratten's first game in charge.
But Gibbs' kick went wide and the Saints, with five wins from their past six games, clung on to their finals hopes.
Carlton had all the momentum in the opening minutes, but the Saints posted their first goal through Nick Dal Santo and quickly steadied.
Fraser Gehrig booted the first of his six goals after easily stepping around Bret Thornton, giving the Saints a one-point lead 11 minutes into the match.
Gehrig's 250th game (including 115 at West Coast) was among his best this year and coach Ross Lyon said after the match he'd like the veteran to play on next year.
Co-captain Nick Riewoldt finished had 23 disposals and again showed why he's one of the game's most dominant forwards, taking 11 marks and booting four goals.
Leigh Montagna has helped drive St Kilda's recent improvement, but had just two touches in the first term due to close checking from Marc Murphy. Jackson had the job of minding star onballer Robert Harvey and kept the dual Brownlow medallist quiet by his lofty standards.
Ratten said afterwards he was thrilled with the 20-year-old's efforts and will continue to encourage his young players to simply keep trying over the remaining five rounds.
"We're not happy with the result, but happy with the effort and that's what's required at the Carlton Football Club," he said. "The players know if they don't put in they won't play, it's as simple as that."
Gehrig started the second term with the first of three St Kilda goals, but Riewoldt had 12 disposals for the quarter, dominating in the air.
When the Saints began pushing numbers back, Carlton's early quick ball movement ceased, with players chipping the ball around in defence.
The Blues managed just one goal in the second quarter, as Lenny Hayes and Dal Santo lifted their work rate through the middle and Jason Gram, Sam Fisher and Max Hudghton moved the ball quickly out of defence.
Carlton began the second half well through goals to Paul Bower and former Saint Matthew Lappin, also playing his 250th game.
But more direct football from the Saints was paying dividends, Gehrig's fifth goal 10 minutes into the quarter stretching the lead to 22 points.
Kade Simpson was dragged after kicking across goal directly to Gehrig, but the coach's message down the phone might have been harsher had Gehrig's shot been accurate.
Stephen Milne kicked an easy goal to stretch the lead to 35 points at the final break, but any chance to build their percentage was thwarted.
Fisher kicked his third goal, quickly followed by goals to Jackson and Jordan Bannister.
Fevola's fourth goal reduced the margin to 16 points with more than 20 minutes remaining and an upset looked likely.
Harvey, who had not returned to the field after three-quarter time, was thrown back into the fray and when Jason Blake goaled from close range the Saints again looked in control.
The 32,327 spectators probably felt they got more than they'd bargained for, but in the end St Kilda simply had too much experience and too many strengths for the young Blues.
ST KILDA5.4 10.7 14.12 16.15 (111) CARLTON 6.1 7.3 9.7 15.11 (101)
GOALS St Kilda: Gehrig 6, Riewoldt 4, Milne 2, Baker, Birss, Dal Santo, Blake. Carlton: Fevola 5, Fisher 3, O'hAilpin 2, Ackland, Lappin, Bower, Bannister, Saddington.
BEST St Kilda: Riewoldt, Hayes, Gehrig, Dal Santo, Fisher. Carlton: Murphy, Carrazzo, Betts, Fevola, Jackson.
INJURIES St Kilda: Nil. Carlton: Wiggins (hamstring), Koutoufides (leg).
UMPIRES: Ellis, M Nichols, Meredith.
CROWD: 32,327 at Telstra Dome.
