St Kilda has ensured the Sydney Swans have remained winless after two rounds of the NAB Cup, storming home for a 23-point victory at Etihad Stadium on Sunday night.
However, the win for the Saints may have come at a cost after Rhys Stanley sustained a hyper-extended left knee midway through the third term. Stanley will have scans on Monday to determine the damage.
The 22-year-old, who missed 10 games with hamstring injuries last season, hobbled down the race with the club doctor and was immediately subbed out of the game for Jason Blake.
The Swans also appeared to break the cap of 20 interchanges allowed for the quarter in the final term, but did not appear to be penalised.
The Saints trailed by two points at the final change, but finished far stronger than their opponents with the final three goals of the game.
They ended up with a 0.13.12 (90) to 1.8.10 (67) victory.
The Saints' midfield managed to get on top in the second half, led by Leigh Montagna (28 disposals) and David Armitage (20).
Their forward line also functioned well in the absence of captain Nick Riewoldt with small forwards Ahmed Saad (two goals), Trent Dennis-Lane (two) and Sam Dunnell (two) all proving a handful.
Mike Pyke's early dominance of the ruck hit-outs gave the Swans first use coming out of the centre earlier in the contest, which they used to their advantage.
For the Swans, stand-in captain – in the absence of Adam Goodes and Jarrad McVeigh – Jude Bolton (27 touches) and Daniel Hannebery (30) led the way.
Lewis Jetta's influence could not be underestimated, with his run and carry and slicing foot skills becoming damaging in the second half.
Saad, though, stole the show with his third-quarter goal, after taking an impromptu bounce and then dodging an oncoming tackler to steer through his second for the afternoon.
Appropriately, the Saints' small forwards booted important last-quarter goals to ensure the victory.
Both teams were missing a whole host of stars, with Nick Dal Santo, James Gwilt, Lenny Hayes, Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Milne, Nick Riewoldt, Adam Schneider and Jack Steven all sitting on the sidelines for the Saints.
For the Swans, Craig Bird, Nick Malceski, McVeigh and Ryan O'Keefe, were also absent, while Goodes, Martin Mattner, Shane Mumford and Rhyce Shaw were also rested for the second weekend in a row.
ST KILDA 0.1.2 0.6.6 0.8.9 0.13.12 (90)
SYDNEY SWANS 0.3.2 1.5.6 1.7.9 1.8.10 (67)
SUPERGOALS
St Kilda: Nil
Sydney Swans: Rampe
GOALS
St Kilda: Dunnell 2, Saad 2, Dennis-Lane 2, Siposs, Maister, Ray, Montagna, Milera, Jones, Armitage
Sydney Swans: Everitt 2, Lloyd 2, White, Lamb, Towers, Reid,
BEST
St Kilda: Montagna, Jones
Sydney Swans: Hannebery, Bolton, Jetta
INJURIES
St Kilda: Stanley (hyper-extended left knee)
Sydney Swans: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Kamolins, Pannell, McPhee
