ST KILDA'S horror start to the season has continued with the Saints suffering a heartbreaking three-point loss to Carlton in a see-sawing contest at Etihad Stadium on Monday night.
The Saints were 28 points down halfway through the third quarter, yet they fought back and Jason Gram put them in front when he snapped a brilliant goal late in the final term.
But Andrew Walker's straight kick with just two minutes left in the match enabled the Blues to snatch an 11.18 (84) to 12.9 (81) victory.
Jeff Garlett kicked three goals for the winners, while Walker and Bryce Gibbs finished with two each.
Chris Yarran (27 possessions) was an outstanding performer in the midfield and across half-back. Defender Michael Jamison, who had the better of St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt, was also impressive.
Chris Judd was held to only nine touches by Sam Gilbert in the first half, but he broke free with 18 touches after the long break to help drag his team over the line.
Small forward Stephen Milne booted four goals for the Saints, while Adam Schneider (24 disposals and two goals), Leigh Montagna and Nick Dal Santo were other solid contributors.
Desperate to turn its faltering campaign around, St Kilda had adopted a physical approach from the outset and it led narrowly at the opening change thanks to three creative goals from Milne.
By that stage Gilbert had annoyed Judd to such an extent that the two-time Brownlow Medallist lashed out and sparked an all-in scuffle during the quarter time break.
Justin Koschitzke soared over Bret Thornton to take a great pack mark early in the second term, and when his long kick went straight through, the Saints were 10 points up.
Yet Carlton, wearing its new "baby blue" clash strip for the first time, booted six of the next seven goals to snatch 20-point lead at the long break.
Although they were forced to sub midfielder Ed Curnow out of the game after he suffered a suspected cracked collarbone, the Blues had extended their advantage to 28 points by the 15-minute mark of the third quarter.
Then the game swung again. With a bit of help from an interchange infringement, the Saints were within striking range at the final change.
And when Schneider snapped a miraculous goal four minutes into the last quarter it was just one point the difference.
The remainder of the match was an absorbing arm-wrestle, with the tired teams making plenty of mistakes as they tried to land the winning blow.
Influential players
While Chris Yarran was their driving force in the middle of the ground, and Jeff Garlett was always dangerous up forward, the slightly less dazzling Michael Jamison was certainly among the Blues' best players. The underrated defender kept Nick Riewoldt goalless while picking up 14 possessions himself.
Sam Gilbert was the Saints' most effective contributor in the first half, during which he held Carlton skipper Chris Judd to just nine possessions. Gilbert's influence diminished when Judd was allowed to run riot in the second half. During that period, Nick Dal Santo finally got the better of Andrew Carrazzo and his tireless running was the driving force behind St Kilda's second-half comeback.
Magic moment
In the ninth minute of the second quarter, St Kilda defender Steven Baker dribbled a kick across the face of Carlton's goal. Quick as a flash, Blues forward Eddie Betts pounced, gathering the ball one-handed before snapping a brilliant left-foot goal that handed his team a one-point lead.
What it means
The Saints' loss leaves them in 14th place on the ladder (behind even Gold Coast). Ross Lyon's men, who were grand finalists in 2009 and 2010, have only one win and a draw from their opening six games of the season.
Carlton, which has the bye next weekend, has soared to third. Brett Ratten's team has won five of its seven games. Having last year snapped their 12-game losing run against the Saints, the Blues have now beaten St Kilda in successive matches.
Toyota AFL Dream Team highlight
St Kilda: Ruckman Ben McEvoy's value had already rise by more than $30,000 and it's set to climb even high after he amassed an impressive tally of 103 points.
Carlton: Midfielder Ed Curnow has proven to be one of the bargain-buys of the competition. Thanks to his great form in the previous six games, his price had soared by $187,700. But the shoulder injury he suffered against the Saints, which could sideline him for up to a month, leaves Dream Team coaches facing a dilemma. Do you cash in on his success or simply shift him to the bench?
Next four: St Kilda: Hawthorn (MCG), Melbourne (Etihad Stadium), Fremantle (Patersons Stadium), Collingwood (MCG)
Carlton: bye, Geelong (Etihad Stadium), Melbourne (MCG), Port Adelaide (AAMI Stadium)
St Kilda 3.4 5.8 8.9 12.9 (81)
Carlton 2.6 8.10 9.15 11.18 (84)
GOALS
St Kilda: Milne 4, Koschitzke 2, Schneider 2, Cripps, Goddard, Siposs, Gram
Carlton: Garlett 3, Gibbs 2, Walker 2, Murphy, Betts, Waite, O'hAilpin
BEST
St Kilda: Schneider, Milne, Gilbert, Montagna, Dal Santo
Carlton: Yarran, Jamison, Garlett, Carrazzo, Judd
INJURIES
St Kilda: Cripps (knee)
Carlton: Curnow (collarbone), Walker (dislocated finger)
SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Jamie Cripps replaced by Raph Clarke during the third quarter
Carlton: Ed Curnow replaced by Dennis Armfield during the second quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Vozzo, McBurney, Findlay
Official crowd: 41,576 at Etihad Stadium
