REGARDLESS of this evening’s result, the fact 45,772 spectators turned up to support their clubs and Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision, illustrates the genuine good will of the football community.

Etihad Stadium seating on all three levels was draped in purple for this round 16 clash, with only pockets of the crowd resembling the red, white and black or yellow and black allegiances.

Ultimately, Damien Hardwick’s men prevailed by 16 points to nudge ahead of the Western Bulldogs into outright fifth place on the ladder.

But it was not without late drama, as St Kilda flirted with fate once again.

Trailing by 52 points at the final break and seemingly out of it, the Saints kicked six unanswered majors to reduce the margin to just 15 points with six minutes remaining. They held a seemingly top-four bound Tigers outfit goalless in a final term that epitomised St Kilda’s 2015 hunger and passion.

Jack Steven was yet again St Kilda’s best player, notching 30 possessions, while David Armitage, Shane Savage and Maverick Weller all performed admirably. Leigh Montagna also lifted late, collecting 11 disposals in the final term to bring his game tally to 26.

Hugh Goddard was rock-solid on debut; rotating on Richmond’s resting ruckmen Shaun Hampson and Ivan Maric.

Paddy McCartin booted his first AFL goal and showed significant improvements in the way in which he led high up the ground and presented closer to home.  

McCartin’s first mark was a result of Goddard’s first kick. Saints supporters will be hopeful this combination enjoys a fruitful partnership over the next decade.

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And while the scoreboard suggests inaccuracy as St Kilda’s primary downfall, what it does not take into account is the difficulty of these kicks at goal. Richmond did well to force Alan Richardson’s men wide, meaning a large majority of their shots in the first three terms were hurried and hopeful.

St Kilda controlled the majority of the first term but led by just two points at quarter time. Richmond laid just nine tackles for the quarter and trailed the Saints in clearances, disposals and tackles.

Jack Lonie and Luke Dunstan combined with an old fashioned one-two for the first goal of the game but it was Nick Vlastuin who replied for Richmond from the ensuing centre bounce.

The Tigers registered the next nine inside 50s, but St Kilda’s backline held strong before Weller got on the end of one up the other end.

Although more renowned for his in and under groundwork, Weller’s overhead skills make him a difficult proposition in the forward 50. He was also on the receiving end of a McCartin handball midway through the second quarter which resulted in his second for the afternoon.

But Weller’s most critical moment in the game came late in the final term, when faced with just grass ahead of him, he drilled home his third for the evening from long range to give his team a glimmer of hope. Unusually, he was St Kilda’s only multiple goal-kicker for the evening.

The Tigers booted six goals to St Kilda’s one for the third term and held a 28-point advantage at the main break.

The ascendancy that Richmond had gained in the second quarter morphed into dominance after half-time.

It took until the 12-minute mark for the Saints to kick a goal – via David Armitage – but by then Richmond had stretched the lead out to 40 points.

Dustin Martin’s ability to break the lines coupled with Brett Deledio’s eye for goal proved simply too much to handle for Alan Richardson’s men.

In terms of pure dash, only Jack Steven could match Martin and Deledio’s profound influence on the contest.

As was the case last week, the comeback demonstrated great resolve, but it was probably too little and definitely far too late.

The Saints have the ability to shock any team in the AFL this season, the next step is to bring tonight’s fourth quarter hunger from the start and hold it.  

ST KILDA: 2.5 3.8 4.10 10.13 (73)

RICHMOND: 2.3 8.6 13.8 13.11 (89)

GOALS: Weller 3, Dunstan, Armitage, Bruce, Savage, McCartin, Montagna, Riewoldt

BEST: Steven, Armitage, Dunstan, Weller, Savage

SUBS: Jack Sinclair replaced Jack Lonie at three-quarter-time