St Kilda has stood up under the bright lights of Friday night football at Manuka Oval and ground out a 17-point win to notch up a fifth straight victory for the first time since 2011.

The Giants piled on the pressure in the final quarter, but the Saints were able to hold on to emerge victorious in the 8.12 (60) to 10.17 (77) contest.

The Saints haven’t been 5-1 since 2010. It might be too early to start dreaming about September, but after starting 2022 as one of the hardest sides to get a read one, St Kilda have been one of the most impressive teams across the first six weeks, banking the workmanlike win in the nation's capital.

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Six rounds into 2022 and Jack Higgins is mounting a case to be the in-form small forward in the competition after producing another dazzling performance.

After kicking a career-high five goals against Gold Coast last weekend, three rounds after kicking four against Fremantle in the west, the mercurial forward was in absolutely everything in Canberra.

This time the 23-year-old slotted four goals and should have kicked a few more, missing two set shots from within 20 metres in the first quarter much to his disbelief. He finished with four goals from 17 disposals and nine marks in another All-Australian quality performance.

Round 6 v GWS
  • 03:01

    RD6 | All the goals v GWS

    Watch all of the goals from our win against the Giants in Round 6

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  • 14:43

    RD6 | Mini-Match: GWS v St Kilda

    Extended highlights of the Giants and Saints clash in round six

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  • 02:07

    RD6 | Dare Coach's Message

    Senior Coach Brett Ratten's message to fans following our Round 6 win over Greater Western Sydney.

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  • 01:40

    RD6 | 'It was pretty contested and physical': Battle after Round 6 win

    Josh Battle spoke to STK Media after our Round 6 win over Greater Western Sydney.

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  • 01:27

    RD6 | 'We fought it out': Webster after hard-earned win in Canberra

    Jimmy Webster spoke to STK Media after our Round 6 win over Greater Western Sydney.

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  • 11:53

    RD6 | 'I thought our second half was very encouraging': Ratten post-match

    Watch St Kilda's press conference after round six's match against GWS

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  • 05:13

    RD6 | Highlights v GWS

    The Giants and Saints clash in round six

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  • 00:52

    RD6 | Higgins heats up with three in a row

    Jack Higgins raises havoc at Manuka Oval.

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  • 00:24

    RD6 | ACL fears for Hayes in cruel blow

    St Kilda's Jack Hayes is subbed out of the game after a suspected ACL.

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  • 00:33

    Team Song: St Kilda

    Watch the Saints celebrate their round six win

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  • 00:34

    RD6 | Class is in Gresham with this silky shot

    Jade Gresham shows off his stunning goalscoring ability again with a dazzling finish

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  • 00:41

    RD6 | Pair of Jacks paying off for Saints

    St Kilda gets off to a brilliant start with Jack Higgins and Jack Hayes finding some early goals

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Higgins now has 14 goals on the board after six rounds – three of Coleman Medal leader Max King, who missed the opportunity to kick a big bag – putting him ahead of Rising star contender Josh Rachele (12 goals), young Hawk Dylan Moore (11) and former first-round pick Cody Weightman (10).

King had a nearly-night of his own, almost leaving Greater Western Sydney defender Lachie Keefe with nightmares.

The 2018 No.4 pick kicked five behinds before he finally kicked straight in the third quarter, finishing with 1.7 from 11 touches.

St Kilda lost mature-age recruit Jack Hayes just before quarter-time with a potentially season-ending knee injury and No. 1 ruckman Rowan Marshall was forced to spend more time in the second half on the exercise bike on the bench than on the ground.

Marshall gritted it out late and so did the Saints who continue to deliver in 2022.

GWS GIANTS         3.4     7.7     7.9       8.12   (60)
ST KILDA               4.5     5.8     9.12     10.17  (77)
 
GOALS  
GWS Giants: Flynn 2, Ward 2, Greene, Hill, Preuss
St Kilda: Higgins 4, Crouch 2, King, Gresham, Hayes, Marshall,

BEST   
GWS Giants: Ward, Kelly, Preuss, Green, Kennedy, Coniglio
St Kilda:  Higgins, Steele, Crouch, Sinclair, Battle, Ross

INJURIES  
GWS Giants: Nil
St Kilda: Hayes (knee), Marshall (quad)

SUBSTITUTES  
GWS Giants:  Matt de Boer (unused)
St Kilda: Jarrod Lienert replaced Jack Hayes in the second quarter

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