AN EQUAL career-best nine-goal haul from Nick Riewoldt has carried St Kilda to a resounding victory over the Brisbane Lions at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, but the Lions had a win of their own, avoiding the wooden spoon by restricting the Saints' winning margin to 58 points.

The Lions started the game in 17th place, just 0.5 of a percentage point in front of Essendon (61.5 to 61.0), and seemed determined to avoid finishing on the bottom of the ladder when they sprung from the blocks to kick the opening two goals of the game.

The Saints soon took control of the game, however, and were never headed after regaining the lead through a Jack Lonie goal late in the first term, extending their lead at every break to record a 25.11 (161) to 15.13 (103) win.

But the Lions' battle to avoid the wooden spoon was the most absorbing contest on Sunday.

Talking points: Riewoldt like a fine wine

In what was probably Justin Leppitsch's last game as coach, the Lions were able to maintain their buffer over the Dons for the opening two terms, going into half-time with a 0.4 percentage lead when they trailed by 29 points.

The Lions held that same buffer when they went into three-quarter time 45 points down, but fell behind Essendon when the Saints kicked four of the first five goals of the final term.

However, the Lions ensured they did not 'win' their first wooden spoon since 1998, kicking five of the game's final eight goals to finish 0.6 of a percentage point in front of Essendon, ensuring the Dons ended with the prized No.1 pick into November's NAB AFL Draft and the potentially valuable first pick in the pre-season draft.

The Saints' win was their 12th for 2016, and represented a significant improvement on their six wins and one draw in 2015. It also meant they finished ninth on the ladder, missing out on eighth place to North Melbourne on percentage.

St Kilda captain Riewoldt, 33, played one of the best games of his storied career, signalling he will still be a force to be reckoned with in 2017.

After a quiet first quarter, Riewoldt exploded in the second quarter, taking 12 marks and kicking three goals.

He finished with 26 possessions, a career-high 21 marks and kicked nine goals for just the third time in his career.

Saints coach Alan Richardson was a master of understatement post-match when he light-heartedly described Riewoldt's game as "fair ".

"I'm not surprised because of the work that Nick puts in. He's not able to train as often as other players because of his age and he's had a cranky knee, although he's managing that really well.

"Accumulatively, he's probably dropped 10kg to lessen the load."

Richardson said the match had been a "tricky" one given St Kilda did not have the motivation of playing for a finals berth.

"We wanted to finish off positively. We wanted to make sure we had a winning season, and to go 12-10 is pleasing," the Saints coach said.

"If we're to park the fact that it's round 23 and there was nothing hanging on it, we'd be disappointed with the score that they kicked (and) we'd be really pleased with the score that we kicked."

Riewoldt's support cast was led by Jack Steven (31 possessions), Seb Ross (26) and David Armitage (30), who were all prolific through the midfield, while Jack Lonie (three goals) was an effective foil for his skipper in attack.

Lions coach Justin Leppitsch said the high-scoring encounter had reminded him of his side's round-one loss to West Coast, with the inability to defend turnovers a decisive factor.

"I sound like a broken record, but our defence from turnovers again was the difference, that was pretty much it," Leppitsch said.

"There were some good signs with ball movement. (It was) pretty obvious we make a few monumental turnovers and with training that will improve."

Leppitsch did not know his team had avoided the wooden spoon when he spoke to reporters after game and said no one at the club had addressed the issue.

"It wasn't a motivating factor for me, that's for sure," Leppitsch said.

"I guess it's always nice avoiding those things, (but) we've got some bigger-picture things to worry about as a footy club."

Tom Rockliff (37 possessions and two goals) and Dayne Zorko (30 and one) led the way for the Lions as they did for much of 2017, while Tom Cutler (27) also battled hard all day and Stefan Martin had the better of his ruck duel with Jason Holmes.

Assigned to Riewoldt for much of the game, Daniel Merrett had at least one moment of joy in his final AFL game, kicking a third-quarter goal after he turned back the clock with a spring-heeled mark.

MEDICAL ROOM
St Kilda: Shane Savage copped a heavy knock to his left hip in the third term. He returned to the ground soon after only to wear another heavy knock from Merrett late in the final term. Jarryn Geary came from the ground early in the final term after suffering a knock to the ribs.
Brisbane Lions: The Lions emerged with a clean bill of health.

ST KILDA                   5.5       11.7    17.8    25.11 (161)
BRISBANE LIONS     3.4       6.8       9.11    15.13 (103)

GOALS
St Kilda: Riewoldt 9, Lonie 3, Bruce 3, Wright 2, Membrey 2, Newnes, Steven, White, Gilbert, Geary, Armitage
Brisbane Lions: Walker 3, Dawson 2, Mathieson 2, Rockliff 2, Zorko, Rich, Hanley, Merrett, Keays, Bell

BEST
St Kilda: Riewoldt, Steven, Roberton, Ross, Montagna, Lonie, Acres
Brisbane Lions: Rockliff, Zorko, Cutler, Martin

INJURIES
St Kilda: Savage (corked left hip), White (right arm), Geary (ribs)
Brisbane Lions: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Fisher, Deboy, Fleer

Official crowd: 19,000 approx. at Etihad Stadium