WEST Coast star Josh Kennedy's last-quarter heroics have helped the Eagles avoid a major boilover at home, with the spearhead booting three late goals to snatch a hard-fought 19-point victory over a gallant St Kilda at Domain Stadium.
Despite trailing at every change and never hitting the front until the 21-minute mark of the final term, the Eagles got out of jail after Kennedy finally broke the shackles from a dogged Nathan Brown.
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The dual Coleman medallist didn’t even touch the ball until the 11-minute mark of the second quarter, but stood up when it counted most as the Eagles snuck home 18.8 (116) to 13.19 (97).
Kennedy booted his second goal at 13-minute mark of the final quarter to get West Coast within striking distance and added another two minutes later to level the scores for the first time since the opening bounce.
The Saints had led by as much as 25 points in the opening term but were wasteful in front of goal, and the Eagles snuck into the ascendancy when Josh Hill marked a tumbling ball into time-on in the last term.
But Kennedy wasn't done with yet. The star big man snapped his fourth from the pocket before Chris Masten put the icing on the cake with a long-range major to the relief of the partisan 37,749-strong crowd.
The Saints will feel desperately unlucky not to take the four points back to Victoria after dominating most of the contest, but only have themselves to blame for their missed opportunities.
The spotlight was on Alan Richardson's men after their round one capitulation against Melbourne and they responded with another red-hot opening term.
Inspired by dominant ruckman Tom Hickey, the Saints seized control of the midfield battle and did all the attacking early, with only West Coast's accuracy in front of goal keeping the home side in the hunt.
The Eagles' skills were deplorable around the ground, and St Kilda took full toll on two shocking kick-ins by Jeremy McGovern and Shannon Hurn, which sailed back over their heads with interest as the visitors took a 19-point lead into quarter-time.
St Kilda should have been further in front after booting 6.7 to 4.0 by the opening change.
The theme continued in the second stanza, with the Saints – who were without talisman Nick Riewoldt and David Armitage - threatening to break away but shooting themselves in the foot.
Seb Ross, returning veteran Leigh Montagna, tough nut Luke Dunstan and Jack Steven were winning the fierce battle for possession in midfield, providing St Kilda's forward line with ample supply to engineer an upset.
But West Coast's midfield started to turn the tide after half-time, with Andrew Gaff, Matt Priddis, Luke Shuey and Masten all influential as the Eagles vaunted forward line started to see some better quality supply.
Elliot Yeo also continued his excellent form across half-back with a strong-marking effort.
After bagging seven goals in last week's win against North Melbourne, Kennedy stepped up again to lead the Eagles to victory and deny the Saints an invaluable road win.
St Kilda's losing streak away from Victoria has now extended to 10-straight games stretching back to round nine, 2015 against the Brisbane Lions.
WEST COAST 4.0 8.3 13.5 18.8 (116)
ST KILDA 6.7 8.12 12.17 13.19 (97)
GOALS
West Coast: Kennedy 4, Hill 3, Shuey 2, Darling 2, Masten 2, Cripps, LeCras, Giles, Priddis, Vardy
St Kilda: McCartin 2, Lonie 2, Bruce 2, Weller 2, Membrey, Gresham, Montagna, Acres, Dunstan.
BEST
West Coast: Shuey, Gaff, Yeo, Masten, Priddis, Kennedy
St Kilda: Hickey, Dunstan, Ross, Brown, Gilbert, Montagna.
INJURIES
West Coast: TBA
St Kilda: TBA
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, O’Gorman, Harris.
Official crowd: 37,749 at Domain Stadium
