Carlton has pushed through a barrage of injuries to secure a 15-point win over St Kilda at a packed MCG on Friday night.
The Saints were pushing hard in the final term and drew within a kick late, but the Blues managed to hold sway to secure the gutsy 11.11 (77) to 9.8 (62) victory.
The Blues jumped out to a 24-point lead in the second term and were piling the pressure on St Kilda before the game evened out, as the Saints started drawing level in contested possessions and gaining more territory.
Saints young gun Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was struggling with leg problems in the third quarter but stayed on the ground and had a game-high 30 possessions.
Cooper Sharman kicked his second goal and the Saints drew to within six points midway through the third term, but Carlton stood firm under the pressure.
It was a dour arm wrestle in the third term - after 28 stoppages in the first half, there were a whopping 35 in the third quarter alone.
In what proved to be a significant blow for St Kilda, small forward Jack Higgins was subbed out at three-quarter time, with club officials citing illness.
Higgins kicked an equal team-high two goals to take his season tally to 23 goals - one goal behind Coleman Medal leader Ben King.
Saints ruck Rowan Marshall was huge for his side as he battled his potential future teammate De Koning, finishing with 33 hitouts, 19 disposals and eight marks.
Phillipou returns with a bang
Young Saint Mattaes Phillipou was playing his first game of the season after recovering from a stress fracture in his femur. He took a bit to warm into things and had just the one disposal in the opening term, but got going after the first break and had plenty of influence. The 20-year-old kicked two goals from his 12 disposals (seven contested) along with four marks and four tackles in a promising return. Phillipou will be a crucial figure for Ross Lyon's side as it pushes for a return to finals.
Don't carry it alone
"When it comes to checking in on your mates, that's a non-negotiable. A one-percenter we would call it in footy - those small, but very, very critical tasks that need to be done." Those words were part of a powerful pre-game message from Tom Boyd, who joined Chelsea Frawley to address both side's in the middle of the ground ahead of Spud's Game. More than 65,000 people rolled into the MCG for the fifth instalment of the marquee match, which is inspired by the legacy of the late Danny 'Spud' Frawley. The annual event brings the AFL community together to spark life-saving conversations and break the stigma around mental ill-health, reminding everyone they don't have to carry it alone.
ST KILDA 4.0 6.4 7.6 9.8 (62)
CARLTON 4.3 8.6 9.8 11.11 (77)
GOALS
St Kilda: Sharman 2, Phillipou 2, Higgins 2, Sinclair, Hall, Caminiti
Carlton: McKay 3, Curnow 3, Young 2, White, Lord, Binns
SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Higgins (illness)
Carlton: McGovern (chest), Cowan (hamstring tightness)
SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Lance Collard (replaced Jack Higgins at three-quarter time)
Carlton: Cooper Lord (replaced Mitch McGovern at quarter-time)
Crowd: 65,680 at the MCG
