SEVEN weeks after being stung by a shock loss to St Kilda, the Western Bulldogs have exacted revenge by claiming a thrilling six-point win in the rematch at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

The Dogs won 9.8 (62) to 7.14 (56), but not before receiving an almighty scare from the plucky Saints, who narrowed a 21-point final term deficit to get within a goal.

Five talking points: St Kilda v Western Bulldogs

A vintage stand from Nick Riewoldt, where the captain kicked one goal and then landed the ball in Josh Bruce's arms in the goalsquare for another, got the Saints right in it. 

However Easton Wood, clearly the Bulldogs' best player on the night, took a game-saving mark with just under two minutes remaining when the Saints were pressing with Riewoldt and Bruce looming large. 

The magnitude of the win wasn't lost on Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge, who said it was a huge positive to prevail in such a hard-fought contest.

"We never felt like we had any air. To persist like our players did, and to come out with the win it becomes just a really meaningful victory," Beveridge said.

"It was a really different game. There weren't that many stoppages, a lot of turnovers and I just thought our defenders were incredible.

"They intercepted and cut [the Saints] off. With the amount of entries that they had, they should have scored more goals but on open play our defenders just really held it together so that will definitely hold our backmen in good stead."

Half-back Wood – and captain Bob Murphy – were the architects of the Dogs' resurrection as a running, free-flowing team after a congested arm-wrestle of a first half.

Match-winner Wood's form 'off the charts'

The Saints had opportunities as the game wore on but lacked polish with turnovers hurting them badly.

"It's very hard to defend when you kick it straight to them," coach Alan Richardson said post-match.

"Some of our entries were poor. Wood was outstanding in the role he played.  

"Collectively, they marked 21 of our kicks, 12 of those were on our entries (inside 50) and we had a few blokes trying to get it done.

WATCH: The final two minutes

"That was frustrating. He (Wood) is in good form but turnovers were very costly."

However, the Saints' pressure before half time was exceptional with the Dogs reacting with an old-fashioned flood that made scoring difficult. 

The tight, arm-wrestle of a first half bore no resemblance to the goal-fest played between the teams just last month.  

That afternoon, the Dogs slammed through 10 in the first half before the Saints' avalanche of 12 after the main break reversed a 55-point deficit into a seven-point win. 

On Saturday, there were just two goals kicked between the teams in the first quarter; six in the first half with no multiple scorers.

But there were signs things would be different 30 seconds into the third term when the first centre clearance – won by Leigh Montagna – resulted in a goal to Bruce. 

It was short-lived joy for the Saints. The next four goals went to the Dogs, with Wood and Murphy responsible for breaking open the game from half-back.

David Armitage finished with a nine-disposal final term and Seb Ross came on as the substitute for 11 possessions, but it was always going to be tough after the Dogs nailed the first two goals of the quarter.

Sam Fisher pulled out ahead of the game after hurting his back when he picked up some washing at home on Saturday morning, which saw Luke Delaney drafted in from outside the listed emergencies.

The Saints will find out this week if they face a fine for Delaney's late inclusion but they would have been pleased with his performance against Tom Boyd who was kept to one goal and four marks.

However, Richardson said Fisher and forward Jack Billings would be in the mix for next Sunday's clash with Essendon.

Former Bulldog Farren Ray waves to the crowd after his 200th game ended in defeat. Picture: AFL Media

ST KILDA                          1.5   3.7   5.9   7.14 (56)
WESTERN BULLDOGS   1.3   3.4   7.7   9.8 (62)

GOALS
St Kilda: Bruce 3, Riewoldt 2, Minchington, Weller
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Johannisen, Grant, T Boyd, Dickson, Picken, Dale, McLean, Webb 

BEST 
St Kilda: Montagna, Armitage, Steven, Riewoldt, Dempster
Western Bulldogs: Wood, M Boyd, Macrae, Murphy, Wallis 

INJURIES 
St Kilda: Sam Fisher (back) replaced by Luke Delaney before the game.
Western Bulldogs: Nil 

SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda:  Seb Ross replaced Darren Minchington at three-quarter time
Western Bulldogs: Lukas Webb replaced Will Minson at three-quarter time 

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Bannister, Hosking, Mollison

Official crowd: 26,511 at Etihad Stadium