The Saints overcame a goalless first quarter and a 31-point deficit early in the second to win 12.12 (84) to 9.15 (69).
Stephen Milne and Nick Dal Santo, both banished to the VFL last week, returned in triumphant fashion to lead St Kilda to victory with outstanding individual efforts in the second half.
The Saints piled on six goals to one in the last quarter to overrun the Roos who had totally dominated the early stages of the match.
After leading by 16 points at half time, North Melbourne landed the first blow of the third term through Leigh Harding. A terrific snap from Sam Fisher -- who had earlier undergone some strenuous treatment during the second quarter -- answered for the Saints.
St Kilda were looking energised and seemed even more so after Milne got on the end of some good work up-field to grubber through his second from the tightest of angles.
But North, displaying the 'anything you can do' attitude hit back with a fantastic running goal to Daniel Wells to take its advantage back out to 16 points. Late pressure amounted to nothing for the Saints who went in trailing by that margin at three-quarter time.
Justin Koschitzke missed a golden chance to narrow the gap in the first minute of the final term, but Steven King set up a finish worthy of his thriller-writing namesake when he brought St Kilda to within eight points following a 50m penalty.
A desperate few minutes ensued. In a reversal from the start of the game, St Kilda were winning the contested ball and were rewarded when Koschitzke drilled through two in two minutes to put St Kilda in front.
But just like any Steven King story, a twist was in the tail. It arrived in the form of back-to-back 50s to North Melbourne thanks to an interchange infringement. The ball travelled from deep in defence to the Roos' forward 50, where Daniel Harris duly converted to put his team back in front.
But, in truth, it was the only way North Melbourne were going to goal in a final quarter in which their run had completely dried up.
Led by Dal Santo through the middle and Milne (who finished with four goals) up front, the Saints kicked the final three goals of the match to grab their best win of the season and a position in the eight going into next week's break.
Nick Riewoldt (one goal, 24 disposals) was inspirational for St Kilda. The skipper's work ethic was amazing as he overcame a poor start to rack up the miles, and the possessions, and along with Luke Ball (26 disposals) and Leigh Montagna (25), drag his team back into the match.
Brent Harvey (29 possessions) was once again brilliant for the Kangaroos although he uncharacteristically missed some gettable shots on goal. Adam Simpson also worked hard to gather 32 touches for the night.
In the first half, it initially seemed as if it would be a case of North Melbourne by how far.
After a very dull start the Roos found some flow, kicking the opening three goals to get the early break on a sorry and stagnant St Kilda outfit.
When Matt Campbell snapped his first, North led by 25 and St Kilda were goalless.
Campbell added another after the quarter time break to make the situation ugly for St Kilda but Milne applied some cosmetics with his team's first, nine minutes and 37 seconds into the second term.
It was the spark St Kilda needed. It put on four in a row to get within nine points, a margin that was stretched just before the main break by Campbell again.
Both teams now have a week off before North take on Port Adelaide and St Kilda meet Carlton in a game that could have ramifications on the make up of the finals.
St Kilda 0.3 4.3 6.7 12.12 (84)
North Melbourne 4.4 6.7 8.11 9.15 (69)
GOALS
St Kilda: Milne 4, Koschitzke 2, Riewoldt, Armitage, King, Montagna, Fisher, Eddy
Carlton: Campbell 3, Harris, Wells, Petrie, Harvey, Hale, Harding
BEST
St Kilda: Riewoldt, Ball, Montagna, Koschitzke, Milne
North Melbourne: Simpson, Harvey, Campbell, Gibson, Grant, Wells
INJURIES
St Kilda: nil
North Melbourne: nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McInerney, Sully, James
Official crowd: 9128 at Gold Coast Stadium.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the club or the AFL.
