Hopes surge for Saints on a march

ST Kilda have given their chances of making AFL finals a big boost with a thrilling eightpoint win over West Coast.

The stakes were high at Etihad Stadium yesterday with the Eagles and Saints eighth and 11th going into Round 20.

St Kilda trailed by 14 points early in the last quarter but held their nerve and rattled through three unanswered goals to hit the lead then hang on for a 15.13 (103) to 14.11 (95) win.

There was just one point in it as the clock ticked down the dying minutes, but Jack Billings marked and kicked the sealer with less than 30 seconds left.

Jack Steele was outstanding for the home side with 26 possessions, 10 tackles and two goals, with Blake Acres (30 disposals) and Billings (25 touches, two goals) also vital.

Josh Kennedy kicked five goals for the Eagles, with Sam Mitchell (23 possessions) and Andrew Gaff (30) influential.

West Coast led by three points at the first break and seized the momentum midway through the second term.

Kennedy kicked his 50th goal of the season and 500th of his career as the visitors piled on four goals in seven minutes to open up a 22-point lead.