ST KILDA has given star midfielder Lenny Hayes a fitting milestone celebration by scooting clear of the Sydney Swans to win their match at Etihad Stadium by 28 points.
The Saints replied emphatically to speculation that they would be tired after losing to West Coast at Patersons Stadium last Sunday, running out 16.15 (111) to 12.11 (83) winners.
Hayes was among the best afield in his 250th game, gathering 27 disposals.
The victory lifted the Saints to a 5-4 record while the Swans are on 6-3.
Both teams face danger games next week, with St Kilda taking on Richmond and the Swans hosting the Western Bulldogs at the SCG.
Click here to watch the highlights from St Kilda v Sydney Swans from Etihad Stadium
Farren Ray was among St Kilda's best in his 150th game while David Armitage and Jack Steven gave further evidence they're ready to take over from their veteran teammates and lead the midfield.
Nick Dal Santo was quiet early because of the attention of Swans tagger Craig Bird but fought into the game as the Saints gathered momentum.
The Saints' supposed Achilles heel, its undermanned ruck division, performed credibly, with makeshift ruckman Jason Blake breaking even with the Swans' Mike Pyke.
The Swans tried to bottle up the game but the ball kept squirting out of congested areas into the hands of Saints runners.
The Saints led by as much as 50 points when small forward Ahmed Saad, who was again impressive, swooped on a ball that fell off the back of a pack and toe-poked a goal in time-on in the third quarter.
The Saints played with verve, a hallmark under the coaching of Scott Watters in his first year at the helm, while the Swans were completely listless.
Swans key defender Heath Grundy won the points in his battle with St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt, holding the Saints star to six marks and two goals.
St Kilda set up its victory when it kicked seven goals to two during the period from halfway through the first quarter until half-time.
The Saints' dominance enabled it to hold the Swans scoreless from seven minutes into the second quarter until half-time.
Their tenacity was typified by half-back Jarryn Geary's effort in throwing himself into the path of a leading Swan during the second quarter.
He took the mark, but later suffered a gashed forehead and was subbed off at half-time.
The Swans ended their scoreless streak when Lewis Roberts-Thomson kicked a goal 30 seconds into the third quarter, but the Saints replied 30 seconds later when Stephen Milne snapped truly from the goalsquare.
Milne was the Saints' leading goalscorer, with three, while Lewis Jetta kicked three for the Swans.
The Swans pulled back some credibility when they won the last quarter, kicking four goals to the Saints' two.
ST KILDA 3.1 8.7 14.14 16.15 (111)
SYDNEY SWANS 4.4 5.4 8.6 12.11 (83)
GOALS
St Kilda: Milne 3, Dal Santo 2, Riewoldt 2, Saad 2, Steven 2, Blake, Cripps, Siposs, Montagna, Milera
Sydney Swans: Jetta 3, Jack 2, McGlynn 2, Reid 2, Bolton, Kennedy, Roberts-Thomson
BEST
St Kilda: Armitage, Hayes, Steven, Blake, Dal Santo, Saad, Milne
Sydney Swans: Kennedy, McVeigh, Jack, O'Keefe, McGlynn
INJURIES
St Kilda: Geary (cut head)
Sydney Swans: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Aaryn Siposs replaced Jarryn Geary at half-time
Sydney Swans: Trent Dennis-Lane replaced Tommy Walsh in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Stewart, Hay
Official crowd: 34,737 at Etihad Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club
