ST KILDA has held off a late surge from Port Adelaide to claim a famous 17-point win on the road and ensure they will finish the weekend in the top eight.
The Saints banked a third consecutive win with a gutsy 13.11 (89) to 10.12 (72) triumph at Adelaide Oval, just their fourth win at the venue from 20 games played, with the win also ending a run of 14 losses from 15 matches against the Power.
POWER v SAINTS Full match coverage and stats
After St Kilda led by 31 points late in the second term, the Power surged to within five points with eight minutes remaining in the game.
But the spirited Saints responded with the next two majors - a classy long bomb from the influential Jack Sinclair followed by a Lance Collard conversion after a strong mark.
St Kilda, powered by six consecutive goals in a first-quarter spree, are now entrenched in the top eight with three wins and a loss.
Saints forward Jack Higgins booted two of his goals in the first-term blitz and teammate Mitch Owens kicked two for the match.
Veterans Sinclair (25 disposals, one goal), recruit Jack Macrae (28 possessions) and classy halfback Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (25 touches) were instrumental in the victory.
Port's tall forwards Ollie Lord and Mitch Georgiades kicked three goals each, as did Jason Horne-Francis, who also collected 28 possessions in a best-on-ground performance.
Power vice-captain Zak Butters gathered 30 touches in his first game of the season since recovering from a knee injury and defender Miles Bergman (25 disposals) was busy.
But the home side paid the price for their first-term lapse when unable to halt the Saints' six-goal burst.
Horne-Francis walked into an open goal for the initial major of the game after a 50m penalty against Marcus Windhager for entering the protected zone.
A fracas followed, with the Saints going on to kick the next six goals in a 23-minute purple patch to create a 30-point lead.
The visitors led 6.4 to 2.4 at quarter-time but the Power made inroads by booting the initial two goals in the second term to trail by 13 points.
But the Saints kicked away again with three consecutive goals inside four minutes; Wanganeen-Milera goaled on the run from long range to put his side 31 points clear.
St Kilda led by 23 points at half-time, but the home side rallied with three successive majors and when Lord goaled after a free kick, they were 11 points down.
But Higgins converted a classy left-foot snap late to give his team a 17-point buffer at three-quarter time.
Port then charged with Lord and Georgiades kicking goals to trail by just five points and hold all momentum.
But Sinclair's brilliant goal on the run five minutes later steadied the Saints, who meet Greater Western Sydney next Sunday at Norwood Oval in Adelaide.
The greatest mark never?
Mitch Georgiades did all the hard work, but couldn't quite get himself into folklore for taking one of the greatest marks you'll ever wish to see. The Power forward looks full of confidence at the moment and his sit on Anthony Caminiti - almost on his head, if you don't mind - was pure athleticism. If only he'd held onto the pill!
PORT ADELAIDE 2.4 5.7 8.10 10.12 (72)
ST KILDA 6.4 9.6 11.8 13.11 (89)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Horne-Francis 3, Lord 3, Georgiades 3, Powell-Pepper
St Kilda: Higgins 3, Owens 2, Sharman, Wood, Wanganeen-Milera, Wilson, Hall, Travaglia, Sinclair, Collard
BEST
Port Adelaide: Horne-Francis, Georgiades, Butters, Bergman, Aliir
St Kilda: Macrae, Sinclair, Wanganeen-Milera, Higgins, Windhager
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
St Kilda: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Joe Berry (replaced Logan Evans in the third quarter)
St Kilda: Angus Hastie (replaced Isaac Keeler in the third quarter)
Crowd: 34,201 at Adelaide Oval
