FOUR goals to Jeremy Cameron have helped to lift Greater Western Sydney to a nine-point win over St Kilda in a dramatic season opener at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Giants held off the Saints in an emotion-charged final term during which captain Nick Riewoldt left the field with neck whiplash that landed him in hospital.
Two of the last three goals of the game sealed the win for the Giants, 12.15 (87) to 11.12 (78), with the Saints struggling for accuracy in attack, scoring four late behinds as they threatened to overwhelm the visitors.
Five talking points: St Kilda v GWS
An unsuspecting Riewoldt was bumped by Tomas Bugg deep in the Saints' forward pocket, and took time to get up as his teammates remonstrated with Bugg for cannoning into the skipper when he wasn't expecting contact.
After being examined for neck damage, Riewoldt was able to slowly jog off to the applause of Saints' fans, but critically he went straight into the rooms and didn't return.
He was cleared of concussion but sent to hospital for precautionary scans on his neck.
Seconds after play restarted, former Giant Josh Bruce ploughed into Bugg and left his former teammate crumpled and winded on the turf.
Giants coach Leon Cameron wouldn't elaborate on what he thought of Bugg's decision to bump Riewoldt, but praised his 18-disposal performance.
"I heard that Nick’s obviously all right, which is just fine," Cameron said.
"But until I actually have a look at the footage it'll be hard for me to comment.
"What I will comment on is I actually though Buggy's last quarter, in his 50th game, was really fantastic.
"He actually won really crucial moments and that experience that he's gaining is only going to hold us in good stead going forward."
It all happened after the Saints mounted a charge with three consecutive goals that moved them within eight points after they trailed by 26 late in the third.
However the ball went straight up the other end where a free kick gifted second-gamer Cam McCarthy his third goal, giving the Giants a 14-point lead at the 17-minute mark.
From there, Dylan Shiel, who was one of the Giants' best with 28 possessions, added another, which was enough to confirm the result despite a late long goal from Shane Savage.
All eyes were on Riewoldt as he took to the field after losing his younger sister Madeleine to a rare blood disease in late February.
Riewoldt, wearing bright orange boots that featured the statement #FIGHTLIKEMADDIE, didn't play in any pre-season matches and returned to the club in the middle of last month.
While his kicking looked limited at times – and he seemed to favour his non-preferred left foot around the ground - he ran everywhere and took 10 marks.
It was an encouraging performance from the Giants.
Nick Riewoldt is assisted from the field after hurting his neck. Picture: AFL Media
McCarthy took advantage of the space cleared by the departed Tom Boyd and kicked two goals as the Giants made a move in the second quarter after failing to capitalise on eight first-term scoring shots.
With midfield support from Adam Treloar (32 disposals) and Shiel, they were 19 points clear by half-time but had missed a number of chances to be further in front.
Toby Greene had 15 touches by the main break but had burned two shots at goal, while Treloar shanked an opportunity after he burst out of the centre and unleashed from 50m.
Despite lagging on the scoreboard, the Saints' intent remained.
Maverick Weller angered Callan Ward when he heavily tackled the Giants' co-captain at half-back, setting up another speedy rebound for the Saints.
Then Bruce got hold of Ryan Griffen in a similar position and won another free kick.
It wasn't a prolific return to Docklands for Griffen, with the former Bulldogs skipper struggling to shake the tag of Weller.
He spent time forward in the first in a bid to lose the hard-running Saint but returned to the midfield, where was kept to 15 possessions for the game.
Bruce also bagged an early contender for mark of the year in the third quarter when he took on three Giants and marked after planting his knees on Adam Tomlinson's shoulders.
He impressed in a new-look Saints' forward line alongside ex-Swan Tim Membrey, who took four marks and kicked two goals.
Saints coach Alan Richardson said there were positives from his team's final term application but highlighted their need to be better from the outset.
"It was a game we certainly could have won," Richardson said.
"I was pleased late we gave ourselves opportunities [in the fourth quarter], that we played really aggressive play to win footy.
"We need to learn from that … we can be proud of that but we need to stop being proud of last-quarter efforts when the scoreboard's not going our way.
"We need to be good at the start. That's when games of footy are won."
ST KILDA 3.0 5.2 7.5 11.12 (78)
GWS 3.5 7.9 9.12 12.15 (87)
GOALS
St Kilda: Schneider 2, Bruce 2, Membrey 2, Savage 2, Riewoldt, Dunstan, Armitage
GWS: Cameron 4, McCarthy 3, Whitfield, Ward, Treloar, Palmer, Shiel
BEST
St Kilda: Steven, Weller, Geary, Roberton, Montagna
GWS: Treloar, Ward, Cameron, Whitfield, Mumford, Shiel, Haynes
INJURIES
St Kilda: Riewoldt (neck)
GWS: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Jack Sinclair replaced Dylan Roberton in the third term
GWS: Stephen Coniglio replaced Tom Scully in the fourth quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Harris, Ryan, Mitchell
Official crowd: 18,794 at Etihad Stadium
