THE SYDNEY Swans have boosted their bid for a top-four place with a 35-point win against St Kilda at the SCG.
The Swans established a handy four-goal break in the second term and hung on to win, 14.18 (102) to 9.13 (67).
Adam Goodes (23 touches, two goals) and Ryan O'Keefe (three goals) starred for the home side, while late inclusion Charlie Gardiner booted three goals for the Saints and Nick Riewoldt battled hard for 20 touches and eight marks.
It took the returning Barry Hall just 60 seconds to take his first grab on the lead, much to the delight of the parochial SCG crowd, but his long lay-off had clearly done little for his radar as he sprayed the resultant shot.
A clever gather and snap from Riewoldt broke the drought after 10 minutes without a goal, but the Saints didn't lead for long.
O'Keefe and Nick Dal Santo traded goals, before the busy Michael O'Loughlin goaled to cap a star-studded passage involving Goodes, Hall and Jude Bolton.
Hall, who had the better of both Max Hudghton and Brendon Goddard in the opening term, gave his side a nine-point break with his first goal just before the first change.
The Saints emerged from the huddle with redoubled intensity and with better finishing from Goddard and Jason Blake, they could have taken the lead.
Charlie Gardiner, a late replacement for Justin Koschitzke, finally gave them the goal they deserved to tie the scores.
While St Kilda's commitment to man-on-man defence was impressive, they couldn't quell the potent Swans' forwards.
Goodes drifted into attack to restore the Swans' lead and an O'Loughlin steal from the admirable Lenny Hayes created another goal for Jarrad McVeigh.
When Hall marked strongly and kicked truly soon afterwards, the red and white status quo had been restored.
St Kilda won its share of the ball and its rebound from defence equalled that of the Swans, but with no one except Riewoldt in the forward 50 most of the time, it was easy pickings for Tadhg Kennelly and company.
A late goal to O'Keefe from an acute angle gave the Swans four for the term and a deserved 26-point break at half time.
It would have surprised few at the SCG if the Swans had started the third term in the same fashion they finished the second.
But the Saints, to their credit, opened the quarter with purpose.
Jason Gram was instrumental in setting up the Gardiners, Michael and Charlie, for a goal each to halve the deficit.
Both sides exchanged the next four goals as the game, which failed to reach any great heights in the first half, opened up considerably.
With Kieren Jack relishing some rare freedom to create in the midfield, the Swans generated more opportunities but they struggled to convert for most of the term.
Late goals to Goodes, Craig Bird and O'Loughlin rectified that problem, pushing the Swans out to a 31-point lead at three-quarter time.
That margin proved too much for the Saints who struggled to find an alternative to Riewoldt up forward after Charlie Gardiner's influence faded.
The match petered out as a contest but that will be of little concern to the Swans, who travel to Manuka Oval in
St Kilda 2.2 3.5 8.9 9.13 (67)
GOALS
St Kilda: C. Gardiner 3, Riewoldt, Dal Santo, M. Gardiner, Goddard, Schneider, Milne
BEST
St Kilda: Hayes, Gram, Riewoldt, Jones, M. Gardiner, Dal Santo
INJURIES
St Kilda: S Dempster (leg) M Gardiner (hamstring). Koschitzke (knee) replaced in selected side by C. Gardiner,
Reports: Nil
Umpires: James, Kamolins,
