EAGLES KEEP SAINTS AT BAY

ST KILDA V WEST COAST

A TOP-four finish looms for a depleted West Coast after an against the odds 15-point AFL win over St Kilda at a wet Gabba in the round 17 opener on Thursday night.

But the Saints’ hopes of playing finals footy for the first time since 2011 have taken a hit after they failed to overcome an Eagles side already missing five premiership-winning midfielders and reeling from a first half hamstring injury to key defender Jeremy McGovern.

The Eagles (11-6 record) overcame a fourth term Saints fightback to not only lock up a finals spot but provisionally leapfrog Richmond into fourth spot with one regular season clash left with the 9.11 (65) to 6.14 (50) result.

The Saints (9-7) get one last chance to earn a finals spot if they defeat Greater Western Sydney next Friday.

St Kilda grabbed a 10point first term lead but were held scoreless in the second quarter as the Eagles secured a 5.6 (36) to 3.5 (23) halftime buffer.

After a goal-less third term, the Saints kicked three majors in the fourth quarter’s first seven minutes to lead by eight but the Eagles responded with the final four including one from best on ground Tim Kelly (29 touches).

Quite simply four-time All-Australian McGovern could not take a trick at the Gabba on Thursday night.

The key defender was already under an injury cloud coming into the round 17 clash nursing a dislocated thumb suffered in their last round loss to Western Bulldogs just four days ago.

And he quickly found himself in the wars against the Saints, copping a stray elbow from Max King vying for a pack mark midway through the first term.

A groggy McGovern was bleeding from the cheek as he was escorted from the field, sparking fears he may have suffered a facial fracture.