The Saints led by 20 points at the final change but Swans cut the gap to just two points with the first three goals of the last term.
Nick Riewoldt responded with his fourth major to steady the Saints, who maintained their composure to record a 15.6 (96) to 13.10 (88) victory.
Riewoldt was clearly the game’s most influential player, while Jason Gram, Leigh Montagna and Sam Gilbert also starred for St Kilda.
The Swans fielded six new faces but it was the old hands who held the fort: Ryan O’Keefe, Brett Kirk and Jarrad McVeigh were prominent through the middle and Adam Goodes booted three goals from centre half-forward.
Saints coach Ross Lyon praised his side’s “will to win” but he cautioned that there was plenty of improvement to come from last year’s grand finalists.
“We certainly took our opportunities, but 20 points up at three-quarter time, and then we butchered a couple of opportunities early [in the last term],” he said.
“Schneider kicked it to them, Montagna kicked it to them and all of a sudden it was game-on and we had to try and win it again.
“We certainly think a lot of our young players have a lot of improvement like [David] Armitage and Sam Gilbert and [Zac] Dawson is only a 23-year-old full-back.”
Watch Ross Lyon's post-match press conference »
Swans coach Paul Roos vented his frustration at St Kilda’s ability to score easy goals when he gave his defenders a fearsome spray at three-quarter time.
He said the problem needed immediate attention before next week’s clash against Adelaide on Sunday.
“It’s probably a world record - I think they kicked 10 straight and those 10 goals were a combined total of 36 yards [out]… I did let them know that it probably wasn’t that flash.” he said.
Watch Paul Roos' post-match press conference »
However, Roos was far more pleased with the efforts of Daniel Bradshaw and returning defender Tadhg Kennelly, who ended the game in a daze after being concussed in a late collision with Saint Zac Dawson.
Both sides pride themselves on hard footy and Saints forward Justin Koschitzke set the tone when he flattened Nick Malceski with an old-fashioned shirtfront in the first contest of the night.
The Swans hit back by dominating the opening exchangees to take an early lead, but five St Kilda goals in 10 minutes reminded the crowd of the visitors’ potency and gave the Saints a nine-point lead at quarter time.
In a game filled with its share of skill errors, Adam Goodes provided more than his share of highlights in the second term with a brilliant volleyed goal from 30m, followed by a soccered cross to Bradshaw for the ex-Lion’s first goal in red and white.
However, the Saints’ flawless goalkicking - nine goals from nine first-half shots - ensured they maintained a slender advantage at half time.
The new look Swans dispelled any doubts about their ability to gel with a uplifting team goal in the third term that started at half back with Lewis Jetta and finished with Jesse White in the goal square, via recruits Josh Kennedy and Bradshaw.
That goal cut St Kilda’s lead to three points and coach Ross Lyon responded by playing Gilbert as a spare man in defence.
It worked a treat as the Saints booted the last three goals of the term to stretch their lead to a game-high 20 points and with the help of some undisciplined acts by the Swans’ defence, they were good enough to survive the home side’s late charge.
Sydney Swans 3.3 7.5 9.8 13.10 (88)
St Kilda 5.0 9.0 13.4 15.6 (96)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Goodes 3, Mattner 2, O’Keefe, Malceski, Kirk, Bradshaw, White, Jack, McVeigh, Moore
St Kilda: Riewoldt 4, Koschitzke 2, Gram 2, Dal Santo, Milne, Schneider, Geary, Peake, McQualter, Goddard
BEST
Sydney Swans: Goodes, McVeigh, O’Keefe, Seaby, Shaw, Malceski
St Kilda: Riewoldt, Gram, Montagna, Gilbert, Dal Santo, McQualter
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Kennelly (concussion)
St Kilda: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, McBurney, Grun
Official crowd: 31,330
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
