BREAKOUT star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has underlined why he is the hottest player in football after leading St Kilda to a thrilling nine-point victory over North Melbourne on Sunday afternoon.

A week on from his last-gasp matchwinning heroics against Melbourne, Wanganeen-Milera was again the star of the show in the 11.12 (78) to 10.9 (69) win at Marvel Stadium.

Cam Zurhaar kicked a goal with 96 seconds left to cut the deficit to three points before the Saints held on, with Max Hall goaling after the siren.

St Kilda's second consecutive win came at a cost, with Mitch Owens suffering a hamstring injury in the third quarter that looks certain to end his season with just three games remaining.

He was replaced by skipper Jack Steele, who was a surprise substitute - just the fourth captain ever to start as sub.

Saints Hunter Clark (25 touches) and Jack Sinclair (26) were also busy, while Jack Higgins and Max Heath kicked two goals apiece.

Larkey kicked a goal on the quarter-time siren to send North out to a 14-point advantage, then delivered a 19-point lead early in the second term.

But the Saints reeled off the next three goals to take a one-point lead into half-time.

Kangaroo Zac Banch (ribs) was substituted at the main break while Owens made way in the third term.

The Saints kicked four consecutive goals to lead by 23 at three-quarter time and North couldn't complete the comeback.

St Kilda next plays Richmond at the MCG on Saturday while North travels to face Greater Western Sydney in Canberra on Sunday.

Nasiah the Messiah stars again
Last week's hero Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was outstanding, racking up the ball at will to once again be his side's best player. The uncontracted South Australian gun had 20 disposals, 11 contested possessions, six clearances and five score involvements in the first half alone. He finished with 36 touches, nine clearances and nine score involvements. St Kilda fans are doing their bit to retain the young gun, exuberantly cheering his every possession against the Roos, which included a dazzling turn of pace, unbelieveable evasiveness and silky kicking.

Saints' starting-sub surprise
St Kilda kicked off the day with a selection surprise, starting out-of-touch skipper Jack Steele as the sub. However, coach Ross Lyon told Fox Footy pre-game that it was all part of a management plan for Steele. "We've been conscious of managing our inside mids, he was really sore last week ... hopefully it goes our way and we freshen him up and he will definitely start (on the ground) next week as part of that plan," he said. While an early injury could have thwarted that plan, it went exactly how the Saints would have hoped with Steele coming on 10 minutes into the third quarter to replace the injured Mitch Owens (hamstring). Steele finished with eight disposals and two clearances from 29 per cent game time and will no doubt be better for the managed run ahead of the Saints' clash with Richmond next week.

ST KILDA                     1.2    4.6    10.11   11.12 (72)
NORTH MELBOURNE   3.4    4.5    7.6      10.9 (69)

GOALS
St Kilda: Heath 2, Higgins 2, Boxshall, Byrnes, Hall, Marshall, Owens, Sharman, Wood
North Melbourne: Larkey 3, Zurhaar 2, Darling, Davies-Uniacke, McKercher, Sheezel, Wardlaw, 

BEST
St Kilda: Wanganeen-Milera, Marshall, Sinclair, Macrae, Clark, Hill 
North Melbourne: Sheezel, McKercher, Zurhaar, Davies-Uniacke, Larkey, Powell

INJURIES
St Kilda: Owens (hamstring)
North Melbourne: Banch (ribs)

SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Jack Steele (replaced Mitch Owens in the third quarter)
North Melbourne: Robert Hansen jnr (replaced Zac Banch in the third quarter)

Crowd: TBC at Marvel Stadium