NICK Dal Santo's tenure as St Kilda's AFLW coach has ended on a high with his brave Saints putting together a courageous two-point victory over Collingwood on Saturday afternoon.
The Saints Hall of Famer announced his resignation a day earlier following a disappointing 0-8 start to the season, but Dal Santo finished his six seasons in charge with four points, the Saints winning 5.9 (39) to 5.7 (37) in front of a crowd of 2,180.
From the first ball-up it was evident Dal Santo's troops had rallied following their difficult week, Saints players coming out with an intensity, laying 19 tackles in the first quarter and winning clearances 10-3.
St Kilda's coaches, players and supporters would have all breathed a sigh of relief when, less than three minutes into the game, the Saints hit the scoreboard, drawing equal with their total score from their previous game against the Western Bulldogs, with their behind coming in the final 40 seconds of the game.
At the first break, both sides had nine inside 50s, but neither team had a goal to show for their hard work, as several Saints opportunities went begging with skill errors and dropped marks.
Magpies skipper Ruby Schleicher finally kicked the game's first goal early in the second term, but Collingwood was dealt a blow shortly when Schleicher left the game cradling her right shoulder following a strong tackle by Saints defender Maya Louvel-Finn.
With Schleicher unable to take the free kick, 100-gamer Sabrina Frederick took the shot on goal and slotted the game's second, much to the delight of Collingwood fans who had turned out to celebrate her milestone.
The Saints peppered at goal before half-time, but couldn't capitalise, with Jesse Tawhiao-Wardlaw and Jaimee Lambert missing gettable opportunities, the Pies heading into the main break with a 12-point lead.
Quick goals after half-time through star midfielder Tyanna Smith and Tawhiao-Wardlaw drew scores level at the start of the third.
The Saints' Nicola Xenos, who returned to football just a week earlier from an ACL injury, out-bodied her opponent inside 50 to take a solid mark, earning herself a shot on goal, which she put through to give the home side the lead for the first time.
St Kilda went into the final quarter with a 10-point lead, but when the Magpies' Lucille Cronin kicked the opening goal of the term the margin was reduced to just four points, making the largely St Kilda crowd nervous.
Enter T.Smith. The Saints' best midfielder lifted with her strength in the contest and her ability to drive her legs to deliver the ball inside 50.
A second goal to Tawhiao-Wardlaw extended the lead back out to 10 points to give the Saints some breathing room, but from that point on it was all down Collingwood's end.
Tempers flared between Pies forward Bri Davey and Paige Trudgeon, with the two finding themselves in tussles throughout the final quarter. Davey was unable to make the most of her chances in front of the big sticks, finishing with two behinds.
With 30 seconds remaining, Ash Centra reduced the margin to two points, but the Saints won the final clearance to secure their first win of the year.
Saints fans cheer off Dal Santo
A solid crowd stuck around following the final siren to say thank you to head coach Dal Santo, who has coached the club's W side for the past six seasons. It was a nice moment that Dal Santo is sure to treasure.
Up next
Both teams have an eight-day break until their round 10 matches. Collingwood faces Sydney next Sunday afternoon at Windy Hill, while St Kilda has the hardest interstate trip in the competition, when it heads to Western Australia to take on Fremantle on Sunday evening at Cockburn Oval.
ST KILDA 0.3 0.5 4.9 5.9 (39)
COLLINGWOOD 0.1 2.5 3.5 5.7 (37)
GOALS
St Kilda: Tawhiao-Wardlaw 2, Smith, Xenos, McDonald
Collingwood: Schleicher, Frederick, Hogan, Cronin, Centra
BEST
St Kilda: Smith, Lambert, Richards, Trudgeon, Tawhiao-Wardlaw
Collingwood: White, Centra, Runnalls, Bonnici, Davey
INJURIES
St Kilda: Nil
Collingwood: Schleicher (shoulder)
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 2,180 at RSEA Park
