WEST Coast star Josh Kennedy's last-quarter heroics have helped the Eagles avoid a major boilover at home, with the spearhead booting three late goals to snatch a hard-fought 19-point victory over a gallant St Kilda at Domain Stadium.

Despite trailing at every change and never hitting the front until the 21-minute mark of the final term, the Eagles got out of jail after Kennedy finally broke the shackles from a dogged Nathan Brown.

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The dual Coleman medallist didn’t even touch the ball until the 11-minute mark of the second quarter, but stood up when it counted most as the Eagles snuck home 18.8 (116) to 13.19 (97).

Kennedy booted his second goal at 13-minute mark of the final quarter to get West Coast within striking distance and added another two minutes later to level the scores for the first time since the opening bounce.

The Saints had led by as much as 25 points in the opening term but were wasteful in front of goal, and the Eagles snuck into the ascendancy when Josh Hill marked a tumbling ball and goaled into time-on in the last term.

Kennedy goes from zero to hero

And Kennedy wasn't done with yet. The star big man snapped his fourth from the pocket before Chris Masten put the icing on the cake with a long-range major to the relief of the partisan 37,749-strong crowd.

Speaking post-match, Eagles coach Adam Simpson lauded Kennedy for his game-breaking efforts when the match was on the line.

"He's an A-grade player. I don't think the supply was there for him throughout the night really and that was a credit to St Kilda and what they were doing," Simpson said.

"The way we were moving the ball didn't help JK and in the last quarter we got a bit of supply and ascendancy out of the centre as well."

The Saints will feel desperately unlucky not to take the four points back to Victoria after dominating most of the contest, but only have themselves to blame for their missed opportunities.

The spotlight was on Alan Richardson's men after their round one capitulation against Melbourne and they responded with another red-hot opening term.

Inspired by dominant ruckman Tom Hickey (seven clearances), the Saints seized control of the midfield battle and did all the attacking early, with only West Coast's accuracy in front of goal keeping the home side in the hunt.

The Eagles' skills were deplorable around the ground, and St Kilda took full toll on two shocking kick-ins by Jeremy McGovern and Shannon Hurn, which sailed back over their heads with interest as the visitors took a 19-point lead into quarter-time.

St Kilda should have been further in front after booting 6.7 to 4.0 by the opening change.

The theme continued in the second stanza, with the Saints – who were without talisman Nick Riewoldt and David Armitage - threatening to break away but shooting themselves in the foot.

Seb Ross (29 disposals), returning veteran Leigh Montagna (21, one goal), tough nut Luke Dunstan (20) and Jack Steven (20) were winning the fierce battle for possession, providing St Kilda's forward line with ample supply to engineer an upset.

But West Coast's midfield started to turn the tide after half time, with Andrew Gaff (36), Matt Priddis (31, one goal), Luke Shuey (30, two goals) and Masten (27, two goals) all influential as the Eagles’ vaunted forward line started to see some better quality supply.

The Eagles closed the margin to nine points by the long break and down to just one straight kick when Shuey goaled on the three-quarter-time siren.

Elliot Yeo (25 disposals, 13 marks) continued his excellent form across half-back with a strong-marking effort after picking up 26 touches and booting two goals against North Melbourne in round one.

However, the Eagles have some defensive worries after conceding 93 and 97 points in their opening two games.

Kennedy was the difference against the Roos with seven goals in round one and proved that stumbling block that denied the Saints an invaluable road win.

St Kilda's losing streak away from Victoria has now extended to 10-straight games stretching back to round nine, 2015 against the Brisbane Lions.

The Saints – who controversially lost the free-kick count 23-8 – couldn't take full toll of Hickey's 44 hit-outs in the ruck and Richardson lamented the Eagles gaining the ascendancy in the centre square during the dying stages.

"About halfway through the last quarter, from then on when it was anyone's game we got beaten too convincingly at centre bounces," he said.

"It had nothing really to do with the run.

"Our concern would be more about the fact that their midfield were able to be much more proactive than our guys late in the game."

WATCH: Yeo's aerial show

MEDICAL ROOM
West Coast: Jeremy McGovern was sore after copping a knee in a marking contest during the third term but played out the match and the Eagles seemed to get through unscathed.

St Kilda: Star midfielder Jack Steven was taken to hospital for precautionary X-rays after the final siren following a knock to his chest late in the game. The club confirmed Steven had suffered a punctured lung and would stay overnight in hospital for observation.

NEXT UP
The Eagles travel to face the Tigers, who are also sitting pretty after a 2-0 start, at the MCG on Saturday afternoon. St Kilda hosts the Brisbane Lions at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

WEST COAST  4.0       8.3      13.5    18.8 (116)
ST KILDA        6.7       8.12    12.17  13.19 (97)

GOALS
West Coast: Kennedy 4, Hill 3, Shuey 2, Darling 2, Masten 2, Cripps, LeCras, Giles, Priddis, Vardy
St Kilda: McCartin 2, Lonie 2, Bruce 2, Weller 2, Membrey, Gresham, Montagna, Acres, Dunstan.

BEST
West Coast: Shuey, Gaff, Yeo, Masten, Priddis, Kennedy
St Kilda: Hickey, Dunstan, Ross, Brown, Gilbert, Montagna.

INJURIES 
West Coast: TBA
St Kilda: Jack Steven (punctured lung)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, O’Gorman, Harris.

Official crowd: 37,749 at Domain Stadium