The Saints won by 15 points, 16.12 (108) to 14.9 (93), but the game was in the balance until late in the final quarter.
One point was the biggest margin at any of the breaks, with St Kilda ahead at quarter time, scores level at the half and Freo in front as they turned for home.
Four unanswered goals to begin the fourth quarter finally burst the game open for the Saints, but even then the visitors struck back with goals to David Mundy and Clancee Pearce.
For the Saints, Stephen Milne responded to a tumultuous week by booting five goals, as did Brendon Goddard.
Goddard, who has spent the past few years as an onballer/backman was the dominant forward for the Saints and managed to outbody key defenders Luke McPharlin and Chris Tarrant.
Greg Broughton and Paul Duffield worked hard out of the back half for Fremantle while the season’s surprise packet Michael Barlow broke even in his duel with relentless tagger Clint Jones. Nick Dal Santo did as he pleased throughout the game and seemed to escape the attention of Fremantle who were focused on shutting down acting captain Lenny Hayes.
The Saints seemed undersized around the ground without Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke. Their height deficiency was obvious, particularly when Aaron Sandilands was near the ball.
Matthew Pavlich was giving the Saints headaches and got the better of Zac Dawson, Sam Gilbert and James Gwilt.
St Kilda set the tone in the final quarter. An early goal to Goddard was quickly followed by another by Milne to give the home side the biggest lead of the day. The Saints kicked the next two but Fremantle would not go away easily.
St Kilda 4.3 7.4 12.7 16.12 (108)
Fremantle 4.2 7.4 12.6 14.9 (93)
GOALS
St Kilda: Goddard 5, Milne 5, Dal Santo 2, Schneider 2, Jones, McQualter
Fremantle: Pavlich 5, Hill 2, Pearce 2, McPhee, Ballantyne, Mundy, Mayne
BEST
St Kilda: Dal Santo, Goddard, Milne, Schneider, Jones, Geary, Montagna
Fremantle: Pavlich, Sandilands, Hill, Duffield, Hayden, Mundy, Barlow
INJURIES
St Kilda: Nil
Fremantle: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Vozzo, Ryan, Pannell
Official crowd: 29,814 at Etihad Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
