Veteran Andrew Thompson tried his heart out, but lacked support and the Saints' attack was unsighted after a promising start when the team booted five goals in the opening term, but then could manage only one in the final three quarters.
The Saints did not kick a goal in the second half and did not score in the final term as Brisbane overcame a 28-point deficit at quarter-time despite Cazaly Stadium becoming so waterlogged that any precise movement of the ball was impossible.
The hero for the Lions was 2002 Brownlow Medallist Simon Black, the only member of the famous "fab four" midfield currently playing for the club.
While the other members of that group in Michael Voss (retired) and Jason Akermanis (traded to the Bulldogs) have moved on and Nigel Lappin remains on the injured list, Black's hunger for success shows no signs of diminishing and he was the difference between the sides after half-time as he continually won the ball in the atrocious conditions.
The Saints, in their first game under their new coach, fielded five of their six rookies in a side that was missing a host of stars including Nick Riewoldt, Fraser Gehrig, Lenny Hayes, Robert Harvey and Luke Ball.
Barry Brooks was the only multiple goal-scorer for St Kilda with two, while Brendon Goddard kicked the only supergoal of the night after being brought within range following a Chris Johnson 50-metre penalty.
The Lions will now play the Western Bulldogs in the first NAB Cup quarter-final next Friday night, while St Kilda will meet Collingwood in a NAB Regional Challenge match at MC Labour Park next Friday afternoon.
BRISBANE LIONS: 0.1.0, 0.3.4, 0.5.5, 0.7.10 (52)
ST KILDA: 1.4.1, 1.5.1, 1.5.6, 1.5.6 (45)
NINE POINT GOALS: Brisbane Lions: Nil
St Kilda: Goddard
SIX POINT GOALS: Brisbane Lions: Sherman 2, Copeland, Kiel, Harding, Patfull, Tyler
St Kilda: Brooks 2, Milne, Allen, Montagna
BEST: Brisbane Lions: Black, Copeland, Moody, Rischitelli, Sherman, Patfull
St Kilda: Thompson, Montagna, S Fisher, McQualter, Ferguson, X Clarke
INJURIES: Brisbane Lions: Adcock (ankle)
St Kilda: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
UMPIRES: Sully, Nicholls, Ellis, Jeffrey
CROWD: N/A at Cazaly Stadium, Cairns
