ST KILDA has held off a gallant Sydney Swans outfit to win a thriller by just two points in their season-opener at Telstra Dome.

Despite leading by just 12 points at three-quarter time and failing to kick a goal in the final term, the Saints kicked off their season in style by winning 6.15 (51) to 6.13 (49).

While it wasn’t pretty football for much of the night, the win was just what the doctor ordered down at Moorabbin two weeks after the club captured the NAB Cup premiership.

Sam Fisher racked up plenty of disposal across half back and through the middle, while Jarryn Geary and Robert Harvey worked hard for the Saints. Leigh Fisher also did a superb job blanketing Swans playmaker Adam Goodes.

In attack, captain Nick Riewoldt provided a reliable target all evening and booted two goals.

Tadhg Kennelly ran all night for the Swans while Amon Buchanan was another to impress for the interstaters.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon would have been relieved to escape with the four points after his team blew several kickable shots in front of goal, the scoreline an indication of his team’s missed opportunities in front of the sticks.

St Kilda headed into the last term knowing it would have a dogged fight ahead to claim the points.

Not only were they up against an opponent known for its love for a contest but the end in which they were kicking – the Coventry end – had netted just one goal all evening.

Goodes reduced the deficit to seven points eight minutes into the final term and after the Saints missed their chance to extend their lead mid-way through the term, Nick Davis brought the Swans to within a kick when he found the mark from outside 50m at the 16-minute mark.

Jarred Moore had his chance to pinch it for the visitors with under a minute remaining but his left-foot snap missed to the left, leaving the Saints to maintain possession and grab a memorable win.

Early on it looked like being a case of St Kilda by how far as Ross Lyon’s men outran, out-muscled and out-enthused the Swans.

Despite the late withdrawals of Fraser Gehrig and Jason Blake, St Kilda looked a million bucks in the opening term and led by 20 points at the first break.

The casual observer could have been forgiven for thinking it was 10 goals the difference such was the run of play as the Saints dominated the clearances and inside 50s.

Leigh Fisher wore Goodes like a glove as all the Swans’ big names struggled to make any impact on the clash.

St Kilda could not have asked for a better start, with Riewoldt goaling after just a minute.

When Stephen Milne pounced on a loose ball at the 10-minute mark – after three Swan defenders flew for the same ball – the Saints had the first two majors of the match.

Riewoldt added his second from a quick snap a couple of minutes later and it took until 23 minutes before the visitors – through Heath Grundy – opened their account.

Riewoldt’s partner-in-crime in attack, Justin Koschitzke, snuck one home from close range late in the term and the Saints looked on their way to an easy night.

However, such has been their way in recent years, the Swans somehow found a way to regroup and work their way back into the contest.

By half-time, scores were level as St Kilda was kept goalless in the second term despite having a couple of kickable chances.

Jude Bolton tied things up when he latched onto a well-weighted Darren Jolly pass, and somehow the Swans were back in it.

The match deteriorated as a spectacle in the third term but at least Saints fans got what they wanted, as their side grounded their way to a 12-point lead at the last break.

A piece of Clint Jones bravado – which Lyon will no doubt use at the team meeting this week – was the catalyst in setting up that lead as the youngster courageously ran back with the flight of the ball inside his own 50 to take what will be one of the great marks of the season.

Despite looking up and seeing Swans defender Martin Mattner approaching, Jones again re-focused on the ball and marked before taking a heavy hit.

Upon regaining his feet, he laid the ball off to former Swan Adam Schneider who goaled from near the paint.

The inspirational act gave the Saints a two-goal buffer approaching the last change, and while the Swans came again, Jones’ act would prove vital in the wash-up.

Next week St Kilda hosts Carlton at Telstra Dome on Saturday night, while the Sydney Swans meet Port Adelaide at the SCG the following afternoon.

ST KILDA       4.3  4.6   6.10   6.15 (51)
SYDNEY          1.1  4.6   4.10   6.13 (49)

GOALS
St Kilda: Riewoldt 2, Koschitzke 2, Schneider, Milne.
Sydney: Hall, Davis, Bolton, Buchanan, Goodes, Grundy.

BEST
St Kilda: Dal Santo, L Fisher, X Clarke, Riewoldt.
Sydney: Jack, O'Keefe, McVeigh, Kennelly.

Umpires: Vozzo, Ryan, Jeffery.
Official crowd: 36,614 at Telstra Dome.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.