WEST Coast has boosted its finals hopes with a hard-fought 33-point victory against a spirited St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The Eagles had to claw their way back after a tardy start, grafting their way to a vital win against the the bottom-of-the-ladder Saints.
A strong midfield showing helped sew-up the Eagles’ sixth win for the season - a victory that leaves them eight points behind eighth-placed Gold Coast.
The Eagles claimed it 15.13 (103) to 10.10 (70), with their prime ball-winners and tall forwards the eventual difference.
A pre-game directive from coach Adam Simpson was for his players to focus on contested ball, which they did to win the count 146 to 122.
Afterwards, the rookie coach was pleased with his side's ability to withstand the Saints' final surge.
"It was a dirty game," Simpson said.
"It wasn't high skills, we thought they really turned up to play and we were a bit off at the start but we did find a way and we did grind it out.
"In the last quarter they threw everything at us but we held up well enough."
For St Kilda coach Alan Richardson, he desperately wanted a better effort than he got last week in the Saints' 96-point loss to Geelong.
He got it, although it came in fits and spurts. The Saints started like a train – with Jack Billings nailing three early goals – and hung in there in the fourth to avoid a blow out.
But the Eagles' tall targets of Jeremy McGovern, Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy proved too much for James Gwilt, Sean Dempster and Luke Delaney eventually, as the Saints' own forward line woes were emphasised.
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It was an encouraging start by the Saints with Billings shining in his breakout game, Lenny Hayes in good touch and Clint Jones locking down on Shannon Hurn.
Consequently, the Saints led by seven points at the first change with the Eagles looking lethargic.
Mark Hutchings, a former St Kilda rookie who was delisted after one season in 2010, was the eye catcher for the visitors with 10 touches and one goal.
But it was the Eagles' midfield in the second that broke things apart with Matt Rosa finding the ball 14 times, Matt Priddis winning three clearances and Mark LeCras moving up the ground to collect 10 possessions through the middle.
It was here it became evident the Saints would continue to struggle in attack.
Riewoldt was shaky after landing heavily when tunnelled by Luke Shuey in the first quarter.
He kicked one for the game and played deeper than usual but lacked support around him.
Tom Simpkin played in attack and provided a contest – and one goal - but with Tom Lee managing his only major in the fourth after two shocking set shots that fell well short, there weren't many other options.
It didn't help when Simpkin was subbed off at three-quarter time after giving his shoulder a tweak when he bravely dove for a mark, which he converted into a goal.
Jones' reprieve came after being omitted came after Leigh Montagna went down with gastro before the game.
He made it count, keeping Hurn to 15 possessions and kicking two goals himself.
After the Eagles hit the front in the second quarter through Darling's second goal, they weren't headed again.
Priddis continued to win the ball on the inside with 18 of his 30 possessions contested, while Rosa shone on the outside with 37 touches.
Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett kept Billy Longer busy with the lone Saints' ruckman receiving only minimal support from Lee, which allowed for an Eagles' clearance win, 37 to 30.
Despite the three-quarter time margin of 27 points pushing out before the final siren, the Saints earned back some respect after last Sunday's debacle.
Richardson said he believed the Saints were playing better than a bottom-of-the-ladder side, and was pleased with their attack on the ball following the Cats' loss.
"Today was, whilst an incredibly small step given the performance of the team last week, it was really positive," Richardson said.
"Some of our young guys that need to continue to turn up and give that sort of performance week in week out was a real positive."
The Eagles are expected to recall Dean Cox for next Saturday's derby against Fremantle while Adam Schneider could push to play in the Saints' clash with Richmond after 33 touches in the VFL.
Chris Masten and Clint Jones battle for the ball during West Coast's important win. Picture: AFL Media
ST KILDA 4.3 6.5 8.7 10.10 (70)
WEST COAST 3.2 8.6 12.10 15.13 (103)
GOALS
St Kilda: Billings 3, Jones 2, Hayes, Riewoldt, Simpkin, Lee, Minchington
West Coast: McGovern 3, Darling 3, Lycett 2, Hutchings, Priddis, Brown, Shuey, Kennedy, Gaff, LeCras
BEST
St Kilda: Billings, Newnes, Jones, Steven, Hayes, Delaney
West Coast: Priddis, Hutchings, Darling, Rosa, McGovern, Schofield
INJURIES
St Kilda: Leigh Montagna (gastro) replaced in selected side by Clinton Jones
West Coast: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Brodie Murdoch replaced Tom Simpkin at three-quarter time
West Coast: Jamie Bennell replaced Xavier Ellis at three-quarter time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stephens, Nicholls, Harris
Official crowd: 17,317 at Etihad Stadium
