There is no bigger challenge in football than confronting the reigning premier.

However, there have been many instances in St Kilda’s history where the Saints have overcome the previous year’s flag winner and upset the pundits.

St Kilda historian Russell Holmesby has dusted off the history books to pick out St Kilda’s Top 5 wins against a reigning premier.

1. Round 14 - 18 July 1978  St Kilda 18.16 (124) to 19.7 (121) at Arden Street

Pre game: North Melbourne sat 2nd, with St Kilda in 9th.

A sensational game at Arden Street ended with a controversial goal after the final siren, St Kilda emerging three-point victors over North Melbourne.  

The goal was kicked by Robert Elliott amid chaotic scenes, but it appeared it was touched by Roo defender Stephen McCann a metre from the line. Angry Roo fans mobbed goal umpire Eric Brewer as he was escorted from the ground.

It was St Kilda’s first win after a run of six straight defeats. 

For three quarters St Kilda ruled the game despite an inaccurate start when they kicked six behinds before booting straightening up and bagging four goals by quarter time. In a powerful third quarter, the Saints slammed on nine goals including four in time-on thanks to the dominance of Carl Ditterich. A 37-point lead at three quarter time seemed enough for the Saints, but North hit back with a nine goal avalanche.

By the time Stephen Easton kicked his fourth goal at the 31-minute mark North had seized the lead, but a St Kilda fightback led to a stunning finale. The Saints took the ball from the bounce and landed it with Robert Elliott on the half forward flank, 50 metres from goal.

As he walked back to take his kick, the siren sounded and the crowd rushed on to the field. After fighting his way through the mob, goal umpire Brewer signalled a goal.

2. Round 14 -  5 May 1990 - St Kilda 15.14 (104) to 14 .17 (101) at Moorabbin

Pre-game: Hawthorn sat in 2nd place, with St Kilda in 6th. 

Hawthorn dropped their second match of the season in front of a full house at Moorabbin, as St Kilda ended their 20 match losing streak against the Hawks with a memorable three-point win.

It was a classic `nip and tuck' struggle. Hawthorn led by three goals in the second quarter and the Saints by three points at half-time, but the real story was a seesawing second half when first one side, then the other, grabbed the advantage.

St Kilda was leading by a kick deep in the final quarter when Hawthorn's Russell Morris ran into an open goal twice in as many minutes and, somehow, missed both chances. When the final siren sounded, the scenes of joy at the ground had to be seen to be believed.

Hawthorn had been unlucky at the very end but, as Ken Sheldon said afterwards, the Saints had been in that position many times themselves. They deserved a change of fortune.

3. Round 6 - 17 May 1958  St.Kilda 12.7 (79) defeated Melbourne 11.12 (78) at St Kilda

Pre-game: Melbourne were 1st, with St Kilda 6th. 

Melbourne was the dominant team of this era, having won three flags in a row – 1955, 1956 and 1957.

St Kilda inflicted Melbourne’s first defeat of the season in winning by a point at the Junction Oval. It was the Saints’ second consecutive one-point win as they had defeated South Melbourne by that margin the previous week.

Melbourne, renowned for its ability to finish games strongly and trailing by just 10 points at three quarter time, had a strong, swirling wind at their backs and it seemed that the Demons would come home strongly in typical style and overwhelm the young Saints.

In a hectic last quarter the Saint defence rose to the occasion. Brilliant centre half-back Neil Roberts was a towering force and he was well supported by the rugged Eric Guy, and fellow defenders Brian Walsh and Bob Kupsch. 

St Kilda's Neil Roberts (right) with Ted Whitten.

4. Round 11 – 16 June 1975  St Kilda 14.18 (102)  v Richmond 13.12 (90) at Waverley

Pre-Game: Richmond were 3rd on the ladder, with St Kilda in 8th.

The upset of the round was caused by St Kilda, who after trailing by eight straight goals at half time, brought on top utility Allan Davis and raced away from a lethargic Richmond to win the game comfortably.

The Saints kicked 13.10 to Richmond's 4.4 in the last half and won after having lost the previous eight matches against the Tigers. The reigning premiers had looked set for an easy win over a battling St Kilda at half time. The Saints had only registered one solitary goal in the first half and trailed an almost-arrogant Tiger combination by eight goals.

But the incredible happened. Brilliant half forward George Young, held almost kickless in the first half, came to life and inspired his fellow forwards Barry Breen and Trevor Barker into action. The Saints kicked 7.3 to 3.3 in the third term and left most of the Richmond side floundering.

Alan Davis, who replaced John Manzie at half time, was the catalyst to the Saints revival.

5. Round 11 - 10 June 1972 St Kilda 17.8 (110) Hawthorn 7.14 (56) at Moorabbin.

Pre-game: St Kilda were 4th, with Hawthorn  5th. 

St Kilda-Hawthorn matches of the early 1970s have come to be known as some of the toughest in football’s history.

The 1971 Grand Final battle between the two was a brutal encounter, and when the sides met for the first time the following year the ferocity escalated by another level again.

Hawthorn reversed their great form against Carlton the previous week, beaten by St Kilda by 54 points.

Despite Peter Crimmins dominating most of the contest and finishing off his afternoon with three goals, the Hawks had too many players down on form as St Kilda slammed on 17 goals, four coming from Shane Grambeau. With Allan Davis adding three more of his own for the Saints, Hawthorn’s shot at victory was done and dusted. Their 7.14 scoreline didn’t help their chances.

Hawthorn, simply couldn’t  match the firepower of St Kilda.