St Kilda has kept its finals hopes alive with an upset 29-point win over in-form Sydney on Saturday night.

The Saints' pressure was relentless at Marvel Stadium as they bucked a three-game losing run to snap the Swans' winning streak at five.

The 14.9 (93) to 10.4 (64) result puts St Kilda two points outside the top eight with matches still to be played on Sunday.

Small forward Jack Higgins slotted an equal career-high four goals for St Kilda, while teammate Dean Kent was next best with three in a match in which the Saints increased their lead at each change.

Saints captain Jack Steele was outstanding, topping the possession count with 34 to go with one goal, seven tackles and six clearances.

Swans superstar Lance Franklin was blunted and kept to two touches in the first half before finishing the game with just one goal.

07:53

Highlights: Sydney Swans v St Kilda, Round 21

The Saints and Swans clash in round 21

With a poor percentage, St Kilda must keep winning to make the finals with games against higher-placed Geelong and Fremantle in the final two rounds.

Max King, who was strong in the opening stages and nailed an impressive snap in the third term in a two-goal effort, didn't finish the match due to a groin problem.

Sydney's hopes of a top-four finish took a massive hit but they remain a chance of securing a double chance in September with matches against North Melbourne and Gold Coast, two sides outside the eight, to come.

Trailing 50-32 at half-time, the Swans slotted the first two goals of the third term to reduce the margin to just six points.

But St Kilda rebounded with a four-goal run to open up a 76-52 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

They squandered a number of opportunities early in the final term as the Swans got within 15 points before running away with the last three goals.

The Swans were forced into a late change when Callum Mills (achilles soreness) pulled out moments before the first bounce.

00:47

Dead-eye Dawson punishes Saints mishap

Jordan Dawson smothers Rowan Marshall's kick and makes him pay full price with a super shot

Dawson more than a defender
Jordan Dawson started the season as an attacking defender regularly setting up the Swans’ transitions with his penetrating left-foot kicking, but since the bye has often brought his skills further up the field and played off the wing. The 24-year-old lined up in the forward half and even offered a marking target inside 50 at times against the Saints, as he kicked two goals to go with 20 disposals that unusually included nine contested possessions, and showed that he has the versatility to have an impact at both ends. It wasn’t Dawson’s best game this season but he showed he can stand up when the Swans are struggling and his team needs him most.

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    Longmire: We didn't apply pressure

    Watch Sydney's press conference after round 21's match against St Kilda

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    Highlights: Sydney Swans v St Kilda, Round 21

    The Saints and Swans clash in round 21

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    Swans swarm Dunstan and catch him cold

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    Dead-eye Dawson punishes Saints mishap

    Jordan Dawson smothers Rowan Marshall's kick and makes him pay full price with a super shot

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    Papley's pure strike is pure magic

    Tom Papley curls through an absolute ripper on the run

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    What's In a Number?

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    Round 21 Team Selection, presented by QBE

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    Longmire press conference - 5 August, 2021

    John Longmire speaks to media ahead of our Round 21 clash against St Kilda on Saturday.

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    Injury Update - Round 21

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    What's In a Number? Callum Sinclair

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    What's in a Number? with Buddy Franklin

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ST KILDA    5.0     8.2    12.4    14.9 (93)  
SYDNEY      4.1     5.2      8.4    10.4 (64)

GOALS
St Kilda: Higgins 4, Kent 3, King 2, Membrey 2, Sharman 2, Steele,
Sydney: Gulden 2, Dawson 2, Papley 2, Hayward 2, Franklin, Florent,

BEST
St Kilda: Steele, Higgins, Marshall, Dunstan, Hill, Jones
Sydney: Parker, Dawson, Lloyd, Florent, Papley

INJURIES
St Kilda: King (quad)
Sydney: Nil

LATE CHANGES
St Kilda: Nil
Sydney: Mills (Achilles soreness) replaced in selected side by Clarke

SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Bytel (replaced King)
Sydney: Clarke (unused)