ST KILDA has snatched a famous three-point victory from the jaws of defeat and claimed the scalp the club so desperately wanted by downing League leaders Geelong in a thrilling clash at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

In a nailbiting final term, St Kilda came back from nine points down at the 18-minute mark thanks to a miraculous soccer off the ground by Jack Steven, after Jade Gresham's stunning snap from the pocket.

Five talking points: St Kilda v Geelong

For the final five-and-a-half minutes the Cats surged in search of the match-winning goal, but the Saints held on grimly for an epic 14.9 (93) to 13.12 (90) triumph.

Geelong had numerous chances in the dying stages, repeatedly pounding the ball inside 50, but St Kilda's defence stood firm, forcing a stoppage in the frantic last seconds and the Saints celebrated wildly as the final siren sounded.

After a stunning opening half, it was nothing less than the Saints deserved, with Alan Richardson's developing outfit withstanding Geelong's inevitable and ferocious six-goal third-quarter comeback.

It was the first time this season the St Kilda has beaten a top eight team, and was arguably the greatest win in Richardson's 58 games in charge, with the victory lifting the Saints to a 6-7 win-loss record.

But the Cats will be lamenting some awful wasted opportunities in the final term, including two from Steven Motlop.

The livewire midfielder somehow missed a snap at the top of the goalsquare after a needless handball by Daniel Menzel, with the shot cannoning into the post.

Minutes later Motlop raced towards goal but a look-away handball missed Tom Hawkins and rolled out of bounds.

The Saints looked to have cost themselves the game when Tim Membrey hooked a set shot from 20m out directly in front at the 17-minute mark, with his side falling nine points behind a minute later when Motlop goaled from a metre out.

But after a three-point loss to Hawthorn in Launceston in round four, the Saints weren't going to fall short again and fittingly it was a mix of the old guard in Steven and the new in Gresham who secured the win.

St Kilda rattled the Cats with their pressure early and led by 16 points at the first change, before Darren Minchington bobbed up with three majors to extend the advantage to an even four goals at the long break.

Finally, Geelong awoke from its slumber after the long change, sparked by three team-lifting goals by Lincoln McCarthy.

After a downfield free-kick gifting Jordan Murdoch the go-ahead goal at the 15-minute mark, it looked as though the more experienced Cats – who had won 12 of 13 final terms in 2016 - would run over the top when it counted most.

But Mav Weller's back-to-back goals gave Alan Richardson's men some breathing space with an 11-point buffer at the final change and the Saints wouldn't be denied.

"The way we started, the team showed that it turned up to win, which had been a bit of an issue for us against good teams in the last six weeks," Richardson said post-match.

"To be smashed in the third quarter, they kicked five in a row and they had the first five shots of the last quarter, to respond a couple of times was really pleasing."

Seb Ross (33 disposals) was simply outstanding in the midfield for St Kilda – which won its first match over the Cats since the 2010 Qualifying Final - while Steven (25), Nick Riewoldt (26) and Mav Weller (19, two goals) were similarly influential.

Cats skipper Joel Selwood typically lifted after half-time, finishing with 29 touches and six clearances, while Corey Enright (25) and Lachie Henderson were rocks in defence and Tom Ruggles (21) arguably had the best game of his short career.

With Geelong conceding top spot, coach Chris Scott was bitterly disappointed with the underwhelming performance, but he refused to blame preparation for the loss.

"No, no, we were ready. Our preparation was good, we didn't play very well early," Scott said.

"Their pressure was really good."

While the Cats' record against top eight sides stands at 6-1, they've now lost three of their seven matches against sides outside the finals spots and will be searching for answers over the bye.

The club will also have its fingers crossed that superstar and Brownlow Medal favourite Patrick Dangerfield (29 disposals, one goal) escapes Match Review Panel attention for a knee to Jarryn Geary's head in the third quarter.

MEDICAL ROOM
St Kilda: First-quarter hero Nathan Wright hurt his shoulder in the second term but came back on, while Paddy McCartin needed treatment for a blood nose after copping a whack from Harry Taylor in a marking contest. Gun midfielder David Armitage hobbled off in the third quarter but returned after treatment. 
Geelong: Lincoln McCarthy hobbled off with an apparent ankle issue in the second quarter but returned to the action shortly after being taken to the rooms.

NEXT UP
Geelong will take stock over the bye before returning with a blockbuster Friday night clash with the Sydney Swans at Simonds Stadium in round 16, while the Saints have an excellent opportunity to keep their momentum rolling on the Gold Coast next Saturday.

ST KILDA          4.2    8.6    12.8    14.9 (93)

GEELONG          1.4    4.6    10.9    13.12 (90)

GOALS

St Kilda: Minchington 3, Wright 2, Newnes 2, Weller 2, McCartin, Bruce, Membrey, Gresham, Steven
Geelong: McCarthy 3, Hawkins 3, Kersten, Lonergan, Dangerfield, Menzel, Murdoch, Blicavs, Motlop 

BEST 

St Kilda: Steven, Ross, Riewoldt, Dunstan, Minchington, Gresham, Weller
Geelong: Selwood, Dangerfield, Henderson, Blicavs, Taylor, Guthrie, McCarthy 

INJURIES 

St Kilda: Armitage (corked calf),  
Geelong: McCarthy (ankle) 

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Farmer, Findlay, Fleer, Mollison

Official crowd: 28,745 at Etihad Stadium