St Kilda and North Melbourne have played out a stunning draw at Arden Street Oval, the second of the 2026 VFL season.
The Saints will be kicking themselves after proving wasteful in front of goal on Sunday, finishing 11.20 86 to the Roos 13.8 86.
St Kilda took control of the contest through the first quarter, with Jayden Davey (two goals) opening the account in his usual fashion.
The kicking woes began early for the side, kicking six behinds in the opening term either side of a great finish from Tobie Travaglia (14 disposals, six tackles).
The second quarter saw the Roos fight back, kicking four goals in the term and punishing the inaccurate kicking at the other end. Liam O'Connell (13 disposals, five tackles) produced a stunning highlight however, with a running goal down the wing that rallied the side.
After the main break, the Saints returned with a renewed hunger and desire at the content and run across all areas of the ground.
Mattaes Phillipou (28 disposals, nine inside 50s, eight tackles) and Paddy Dow (32 disposals, 11 inside 50s, nine score involvements) asserted their dominance in the midfield, while Liam Henry (15 disposals, six tackles, three goals) showcased his prowess in front of goal and was excellent all day.
Despite their dominance in the quarter and goals from Henry, Jonah Campigli and Charlie Banfield, the side also added another seven behinds that saw them head into the final break with a 10-point lead.
North Melbourne jumped out of the blocks in the final term, kicking three goals in quick succession to regain the lead and force the Saints to charge home.
Isaac Keeler and Jayden Davey kicked a goal a-piece either side of another Roos goal, keeping the Saints in the hunt. Two more North Melbourne goals seemed to almost put an end to the Saints, before Henry and Josh Clarke stepped up in response to bring the margin back to a single point.
In the dying moments, another shot for goal from Keeler went just wide to level the scores, with the siren beating either side from being able to break the deadlock.
The Saints return to RSEA Park on Sunday 21 June, taking on the Western Bulldogs.
MATCH FACTS:
NORTH MELBOURNE: 1.3 5.6 7.7 13.8 (86)
ST KILDA: 2.6 3.10 7.17 11.20 (86)
GOALS:
NORTH MELBOURNE: Tarrant 4, Griffin 3, Dovaston 2, Lowe, Hansen Jr, George, Coleman-Jones
ST KILDA: Henry 3, Davey 2, Travaglia, O'Connell, Keeler, Clarke, Campigli, Banfield
