Spearhead Max King sparkled in his first match of the season as St Kilda held off a brave GIANTS side to snatch a 12-point triumph in an enthralling clash at GIANTS Stadium.
King was superb on return from a shoulder reconstruction and a hamstring injury to finish with four goals as the Saints secured a 13.14 (92) to 12.8 (80) victory on Sunday.
With King back as the Saints’ focal point their small forwards Jack Higgins (three goals), Dan Butler and Jade Gresham (both two) were also able to run free in a close contest in which the lead changed hands 13 times.
Vote for your Most Valuable GIANT
Jack Sinclair (game-high 37 disposals, two goals), Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (29) and Bradley Hill (20) were influential in the free-flowing contest, while first-year Saint Liam Stocker (24) was another to impress.
The hard-fought victory entrenches the Saints (7-3) in the top eight, while the GIANTS (3-7) will rue a missed opportunity after they held the greatest margin of the tense tussle when leading by 13 points in the opening term.
The GIANTS’ key forward Jesse Hogan was a threat in the air throughout and slotted two majors, but was off target with a set shot in the dying stages that would have reduced the margin to less than a goal.
GIANTS skipper Toby Greene also had two goals on his return from a stint on the sidelines, while Brent Daniels also lit up the forward half with 23 disposals and two goals.
Former co-captains Stephen Coniglio (26 disposals, one goal) and Josh Kelly (24 disposals, one goal) also led the way for the GIANTS, while Tom Green (29 touches) battled hard around the stoppages.
The match was put on hold for more than five minutes when Saints young gun Mitch Owens sustained an accidental knee to the head and had to be helped from the field in the second term.
Owens was jolted forward in a marking contest, collided with teammate Anthony Caminiti’s knee, and had to be replaced by substitute Ben Paton but watched the second half from the bench.
The GIANTS led by four points at the first change and the scores were level at the main break after the lead had changed hands eight times in an even opening half.
The tight contest continued through the third term, the lead changing three more times as the Saints took a three-point advantage into the last quarter before holding on late in the game.
St Kilda faces Hawthorn on Saturday, while the GIANTS head to Geelong to take on the reigning premiers later the same day.
GIANTS 4.1 8.3 11.4 12.8 (80)
ST KILDA 3.3 8.3 11.7 13.14 (92)
GOALS
GIANTS: Hogan 2, Greene 2, Daniels 2, O'Halloran, Kelly, Coniglio, Cadman, Briggs, Bedford
St Kilda: King 4, Higgins 3, Sinclair 2, Gresham 2, Butler 2
BEST
GIANTS: Coniglio, Green, Greene, Whitfield, Daniels, Hogan
St Kilda: Sinclair, Marshall, Wanganeen-Milera, Higgins, Wilkie, Gresham
INJURIES
GIANTS: Haynes (concussion), Himmelberg (concussion)
St Kilda: Owens (head)
SUBSTITUTES
GIANTS: Callan Ward (replaced Nick Haynes in the second quarter)
St Kilda: Ben Paton (replaced Mitch Owens in the second quarter)
Crowd: 7,508 at Giants Stadium
